How to File Your Own Uncontested Divorce in South Carolina
If you and your spouse agree on the terms of your divorce and you meet the residency and grounds requirements, you can file your own uncontested divorce in South Carolina. These packets walk you through the process, from filing to final decree.
Written by Christopher J. Archer, licensed South Carolina attorney, SC Bar #101662.
Written by a South Carolina Family Law Attorney
Every form, template, and instruction in these packets was prepared by Christopher J. Archer, a licensed South Carolina attorney with over a decade of family law practice focused on uncontested divorce. He is a graduate of the USC School of Law and practices at Archer Swearingen Family Law.
Christopher J. Archer
Archer Swearingen Family Law
Licensed South Carolina attorney (SC Bar #101662)
USC School of Law
Over a decade of family law practice, focused on uncontested divorce and separate maintenance.
See a sample of what's inside
Download a free preview of either packet before you buy. Each preview shows the full table of contents and a representative section from the main guide, so you can judge the quality and format for yourself. No email required.
Two Packets, Chosen by Whether Your Case Involves Minor Children
Both packets are $175. The only sorting question is whether you and your spouse have minor children together. Pick the card that matches your case.
DIY Divorce Packet: No Children
Best for you if:
- You and your spouse have no minor children together
- You agree on how to divide your property and debts
- You meet SC's residency and grounds requirements for uncontested divorce
$175
DIY Divorce Packet: With Children
Best for you if:
- You and your spouse have minor children together
- You agree on custody, visitation, and child support
- You agree on how to divide your property and debts
- You meet SC's residency and grounds requirements for uncontested divorce
Adds the parenting plan template and the official child support worksheets the court requires.
$175
Want Attorney Review Before You File?
The DIY Packet Review Bundle pairs either packet with a DIY Packet Review Session, a private session with attorney Christopher Archer to confirm your case fits the uncontested process and walk through how to execute your packet. The bundle is $300. If your case turns out to need full representation, the session fee credits toward your flat fee.
See the Review BundleWhat You Get With Every Packet
Both packets are complete, step-by-step systems for filing your own uncontested divorce in South Carolina. Every packet includes:
- Start Here Document. An eligibility checklist and packet orientation, so you confirm fit before you begin.
- Main Guide. Step-by-step instructions covering filing, serving your spouse, the hearing, and the final decree.
- Official Court Forms. The SCCA forms your county clerk expects to see.
- Editable Templates. The Property and Debt Settlement Agreement and supporting documents, ready for your facts.
- Sample Completed Filing. A full example filing using fictitious facts, so you can see exactly what correct paperwork looks like.
- Report of Divorce or Annulment. The DHEC 0682 form the clerk requires before your Final Order is filed.
- Courtroom Aids. Final hearing questions, witness preparation, courtroom etiquette, and a post-divorce checklist.
Everything is delivered as a digital download, available immediately after checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know DIY fits my case?
DIY fits when your case is genuinely uncontested. That means you and your spouse agree on every issue: property, debts, and, if you have children, custody, visitation, and support. It also requires one year of living separate and apart. Each packet opens with an eligibility checklist so you can confirm fit before you start filling anything out, and the free sample previews on this page let you evaluate the packet before you buy.
What if I get stuck partway through?
The main guide takes the steps in order, and the sample completed filing shows what each document should look like when it is done. Most questions are answered by comparing your draft against the sample. If you want an attorney to look at your specific situation, the Strategy Session described at the bottom of this page is the next step.
What if my case turns out to be more complex than I thought?
Some cases stop being uncontested partway through: a spouse changes position, or an issue surfaces that the two of you cannot resolve alone. The work you have done does not go to waste, because the facts and documents you organized carry into whatever process follows. If you reach that point, book the Strategy Session at the bottom of this page. The $200 fee credits toward your flat fee if you retain me within 14 days.
Is the packet legal advice?
No. The packet is a self-help product prepared by a licensed South Carolina attorney, but buying it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and it is not advice about your specific case. If you want advice about your case, the DIY Packet Review Bundle includes a session that provides limited-scope legal advice under a signed engagement letter.
Do I still have to appear in court?
Yes. South Carolina requires a final hearing even in uncontested cases. In most uncontested cases the hearing is short. The courtroom aids in every packet, including the final hearing questions and witness preparation guide, exist to get you ready for exactly that appearance.
What is the refund policy?
The packets are digital documents delivered in full at purchase, so they are non-refundable. That is why the free sample previews exist. Download one first and judge the quality and format before you spend anything.
What if my spouse contests the divorce?
Then the case is no longer uncontested, and the packet process is not built for it. The packets assume both spouses cooperate and sign. If your spouse contests, or you expect they will, the right move is to talk to an attorney about representation before filing anything. The Strategy Session below is the place to start.
Not Sure DIY Fits Your Case?
If you want an attorney's read on your situation before you commit to anything, book a Strategy Session. It is a $200 private session with Christopher Archer to assess your case and map your options, whether that turns out to be the DIY process or full representation. The $200 fee credits toward your flat fee if you retain within 14 days.