Best Child Support in South Carolina — 6 resources

About Child Support for Women

Child support is administered state-by-state under the federal Title IV-D program, with every state required to operate a Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agency. For custodial mothers, these agencies establish paternity, locate non-custodial parents, calculate orders under state guidelines, and enforce payments through wage garnishment, tax refund intercept, license suspension, and contempt actions. Services are free of charge. Mothers can also pursue retroactive support and modifications when income changes. The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) oversees the program. This directory includes each state's CSE agency, online support calculators, local enforcement offices, and modification resources.

Child Support in South Carolina

South Carolina family courts handle divorce, custody, and support in each of its 16 judicial circuits. The Child Support Services Division operates under the Department of Social Services. Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, and Mount Pleasant are the largest cities. South Carolina Legal Services and the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) serve women.

6 Resources

1. South Carolina Department of Social Services — Child Support — Free

SC DSS Child Support Services at 535 Harden Street Extension in Columbia opens cases, establishes paternity, and enforces orders statewide. Mothers can apply online or at any county DSS office; the application fee is 5 (waived for TANF recipients). Phone the statewide line 800-768-5858 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm.

800-768-5858 · 535 Harden St Extension, Columbia, SC 29203 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

2. National Child Support Enforcement Association — Free

NCSEA at ncsea.org is the professional association for child-support workers and policy advocates. Their public materials explain how the IV-D system operates, what enforcement tools states use, and how interstate cases work — useful background for a frustrated South Carolina custodial mother. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

3. Find Your State Child Support Agency — Free

OCSS's state-contacts page at acf.hhs.gov lists every state, tribal, and territorial IV-D agency. Essential when the noncustodial parent has left South Carolina and you need to route an interstate enforcement case under UIFSA. Free, updated by federal staff.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

4. Single Mother Guide — Child Support — Free

SingleMotherGuide.com is a plain-language blog by and for unmarried mothers, with step-by-step articles on opening child-support cases, arrears collection, and modification. Useful first read before approaching SC DSS. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

5. Healthy Children — Child Support Basics — Free

The American Academy of Pediatrics' healthychildren.org includes pediatrician-reviewed material on how child support intersects with health insurance, dental care, and other expenses for kids. A pediatric-perspective complement to legal information. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. National Family Support Network — Free

NFSN at nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org links state networks of Family Resource Centers — community hubs that combine child-support navigation with parenting classes and emergency aid. SC has affiliated centers in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville. Free directory.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many child support resources are in South Carolina?
Women's Corner tracks 6 child support resources for women in South Carolina.
Are child support resources in South Carolina free?
6 of the 6 listed child support resources in South Carolina are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in South Carolina have child support resources?
Listings span cities including Columbia.
What are some examples of child support resources in South Carolina?
Featured entries include South Carolina Department of Social Services — Child Support, National Child Support Enforcement Association, Find Your State Child Support Agency, Single Mother Guide — Child Support, Healthy Children — Child Support Basics.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
1 of 6 South Carolina child support listings include phone numbers.
How do I open a child support case?
Apply free through your state's Child Support Services agency — online, by mail, or in person at the local office. The agency establishes paternity if needed, locates the other parent, calculates the order, and enforces collection through wage garnishment, tax intercepts, and license suspension. You don't need the father's cooperation to open a case.
What if the father isn't paying?
Report non-payment to your state Child Support Services agency — they have enforcement tools you can't access alone, including wage garnishment, federal/state tax refund intercepts, passport denial, driver's license suspension, and contempt prosecution. Keep your contact info current with the agency so payments route to you correctly.
Can I get child support if we were never married?
Yes. You first establish paternity — voluntarily through an Acknowledgment of Paternity form, or through a court-ordered DNA test if the father disputes it. Once paternity is legal, the court issues a support order based on his income. The state agency handles the whole process at no cost.
What if my support order is too low?
File a Motion to Modify with the court if there's been a substantial change — his income went up, your costs went up, custody time changed, or it's been 3+ years since the last review. Your state Child Support agency will do a free review every 3 years on request. Modifications aren't retroactive, so file as soon as circumstances change.