Columbia Divorce Attorney
A Columbia divorce is filed in Richland County Family Court. The Main Street office handles the grounds, the marital estate, custody and support under South Carolina law.
Columbia families often include state employees, university and healthcare professionals, and small-business owners. A divorce can involve a pension, a deferred-compensation account, a professional practice or a home in one of the surrounding counties.
The office handles contested and uncontested cases, separation agreements, mediation and the related custody and support issues. The first meeting confirms venue, the grounds and the financial inventory before the case is filed.
Divorce in Richland County
Richland County divorce and custody cases are heard in the Family Court in Columbia. Probate matters are handled by the Richland County Probate Court.
The office is at 1332 Main Street, Suite 201. It serves Columbia, Forest Acres, Irmo, Lexington and the surrounding Midlands communities.
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
A divorce or custody case in Richland County is filed in the Family Court in Columbia. The county depends on where the parties and the children live, so venue is confirmed at the first meeting.
A pension or deferred-compensation account earned during the marriage can be part of the marital estate. The plan documents and a valuation are reviewed before the division is negotiated.
Yes. A written agreement or mediation can resolve the case. If the agreement is complete, the court can incorporate it into a final order.
Prior orders or agreements, income documents, pension statements, a list of property and debts, and the children’s schedule. The full list is on this page.
Last updated November 2026. General information, not legal advice.