Charleston Divorce Attorney
A Charleston divorce is filed in Charleston County Family Court. The Meeting Street office handles the grounds, the marital estate, custody and support under South Carolina law.
Charleston divorces often involve a peninsula home, a waterfront property, a rental or a business tied to the Lowcountry economy. Those assets need to be valued before the case is negotiated, and the separation date needs to be documented from the start.
The office handles contested and uncontested cases, separation agreements, mediation and the related custody and support issues. Where the family also needs an estate plan or a probate administration, the same firm can handle both.
Divorce in Charleston County
Charleston County divorce and custody cases are heard in the Family Court in Charleston. Probate matters are handled by the Charleston County Probate Court.
The office is at 170 Meeting St., Suite 110. It serves Charleston, Mount Pleasant, James Island, West Ashley, North Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry.
How South Carolina handles divorce
South Carolina requires grounds for divorce: adultery, desertion for at least one year, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or narcotics use, failure to provide support, or living separate and apart for at least one continuous year. The one-year separation ground is the one most contested cases use when fault is not part of the strategy.
Marital property is divided equitably, not equally. The court considers the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, health, contributions to the marriage and the family, and the source of the property. Alimony can be periodic, lump-sum, rehabilitative or reimbursement.
Custody and child support follow the best interests of the child. Support is set under the South Carolina income-shares guidelines, and either can be modified when circumstances change materially.
What to bring to a first meeting
- Any prior separation agreement, court order or parenting plan.
- Recent pay stubs, tax returns and proof of self-employment, overtime or bonus income.
- A list of real property, vehicles, accounts, retirement plans and debts, with approximate values.
- The children’s current schedule, school and healthcare information.
- Records of the separation date and any safety or custody concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Adultery, desertion for at least one year, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or narcotics use, failure to provide support, or living separate and apart for at least one continuous year.
South Carolina divides marital property equitably, not equally. The court considers the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, health, contributions and the source of the property.
Yes. A settlement agreement or mediation can resolve the case without a contested hearing. If the agreement is complete, the court can incorporate it into a final order.
Prior orders or agreements, income documents, a list of property and debts, the children’s schedule and any records that establish the separation date. The full list is on this page.
Last updated November 2026. General information, not legal advice.