The With-Children DIY Divorce Packet for South Carolina
Attorney-authored. Official SC court forms, parenting plan and child support worksheet, plain-English instructions, and sample filings, for uncontested divorces with minor children.
This packet is for South Carolina parents who have agreed on everything, including custody, visitation, and child support, and want to file their own uncontested divorce. It includes the official court forms, a parenting plan and child support worksheet, plain-English instructions, and sample completed filings, authored by a licensed SC family law attorney. Divorces involving children have more moving parts than divorces without them, so this packet spends more time up front confirming that your case actually qualifies as uncontested before you file.
Most parents filing their own divorce are not worried about paperwork speed. They are worried about getting the custody and support terms right, because those affect their children for years. This packet is built around that concern. It spends its first pages making sure your agreement is solid and guideline-consistent before you file anything.
Before you buy: confirm your case qualifies
Divorces with children fail as DIY projects for reasons that do not apply to childless divorces. Before you buy, confirm all of the following are true:
- You and your spouse agree on custody and a parenting schedule, in writing or close to it.
- You agree on child support, and the number is consistent with the South Carolina child support guidelines. A figure you both like but that the guidelines do not support can be rejected by the court.
- Neither of you expects a custody dispute to surface later. If custody is genuinely unresolved, your case is contested, and a packet will not help.
- No court has appointed, and neither of you is asking for, a Guardian ad Litem. GAL involvement means the case is not a simple uncontested filing.
- There is no active abuse, safety concern, or protective order.
If any of these is not true, stop. This packet is built for parents who are actually in agreement. Book a Strategy Session instead and I will tell you what your case needs.
Check your custody and support terms before you file
Not sure your custody and support terms will hold up? That is the most common reason a with-children DIY filing gets rejected. A 30-minute Strategy Session ($200) lets me review your parenting plan and support number before you file. If you retain me for flat-fee representation within 14 days, the $200 credits toward your fee. If you would rather I handle the whole case, flat-fee uncontested representation is available.
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.
What's in the packet
A Step-by-Step Guide
The main guide walks you through the entire process: preparing your paperwork, completing the parenting plan and support worksheet, filing, serving your spouse, attending the final hearing, and finalizing your decree. Written in plain English by a South Carolina family law attorney.
The Official Court Forms
Every form you need to file an uncontested divorce with children in South Carolina, including the child-related forms, organized in one folder. These are the same official SCCA forms attorneys use statewide.
A Parenting Plan Template
A ready-to-edit parenting plan covering custody, the visitation schedule, holidays, and decision-making. South Carolina requires a parenting plan in cases with minor children, and this one is built to meet that requirement.
A Child Support Guidelines Worksheet
Walks you through the South Carolina child support calculation so your number matches what the court expects. This is the single most common place with-children filings go wrong.
Plug-and-Play Templates
Ready-to-edit templates for the documents that are not standard court forms but still need drafting: settlement agreements, notices, and supporting documents.
Sample Completed Filings
A complete set of sample filings for a with-children case, so you can see exactly how a finished packet looks before it goes to the courthouse.
Decision Aids and Checklists
Decision trees and checklists tuned to the points where with-children DIY divorces get stuck: confirming your support number, confirming your parenting plan is complete, and preparing for the judge's questions about the children.
An Eligibility Checklist Before You Start
The Start Here document opens with the eligibility checklist above. You confirm your case fits a DIY path before you work through any of the guide. If it does not fit, you know immediately and can use the consult-credit off-ramp.
Is this packet right for your situation?
This packet is for you if:
- You and your spouse have minor children together and agree on custody, visitation, and support.
- You have been continuously separated for close to a year, or will be soon.
- You agree on property, debts, and all child-related terms.
This packet is not for cases involving unresolved custody, a support number that does not follow the guidelines, GAL involvement, domestic violence, military service, or retirement accounts requiring a QDRO. If any of those apply, the packet will not fit. Book a Strategy Session and I will tell you what will. Your purchase price applies as credit toward representation if you retain within 30 days.
Why this packet, specifically
Built for South Carolina Parents, Not Generic
The parenting plan and support worksheet match SC requirements.
Authored by a Licensed SC Attorney
Authored by a licensed SC attorney with over a decade of family law practice.
Designed to Prevent the Common Mistakes
Designed to prevent the mistakes that sink with-children filings: support numbers that miss the guidelines, vague parenting plans, and missing child-related forms.
A Built-In Off-Ramp If You Need It
If your case needs more than DIY, your $175 applies as credit toward representation if you retain within 30 days.
How to Get Started
1. Purchase the packet
You receive a download link by email within minutes.
2. Read "Start Here" first
It walks you through the eligibility checklist and tells you which sections apply to your situation.
3. Work through the guide
Complete the parenting plan and support worksheet first, then the rest of the filing. Most buyers complete the active work in a few hours spread over a few days.
Want attorney review before you file?
The DIY Packet Review Bundle includes this packet plus a 30-minute DIY Packet Review Session with a SC family law attorney, at $75 off the combined price. If you would like an attorney to review your case against the packet before you file, see the DIY Packet Review Bundle.
Common Questions
What if my child support number is different from the guidelines?
The court expects support to follow the SC guidelines unless there is a documented reason to deviate. The packet includes the worksheet so your number matches. If you want it checked, book a Strategy Session.
What if custody becomes disputed after I file?
Then your case is no longer uncontested, and the packet no longer fits. If there is any real chance of a custody dispute, resolve it before filing or get representation.
Do we need a parenting plan?
Yes. South Carolina requires a parenting plan in cases with minor children. The packet includes a template.
Will a Guardian ad Litem be involved?
In a genuinely uncontested case with an agreed parenting plan, usually not. If a GAL is appointed or requested, your case is contested and the packet does not fit.
Is the packet the official court forms?
Yes, the official SCCA forms plus instructions and samples.
Does buying make me your client?
No. The packet is legal information, not representation.
Do you offer refunds?
Because the packet is a digital download, all sales are final. Confirm fit before buying, or book a Strategy Session first.
About
Christopher J. Archer
I'm a South Carolina family law attorney with more than a decade of experience in divorce and family matters statewide. I understand what's possible under South Carolina law and, more importantly, what's realistic for your situation.
My practice focuses on uncontested divorce: flat-fee representation for buyers who want an attorney, and DIY products like this packet for buyers who'd rather handle the filing themselves. Both paths lead to the same outcome under South Carolina law. The difference is who carries the work.
This packet is built for buyers who are capable, motivated, and want to keep their costs down. It is not a substitute for legal counsel in cases that need it, and the eligibility checklist will tell you which category you're in before you commit.
What Clients Say
"Mr. Archer facilitated my uncontested divorce and was communicative and informative throughout the entire process. I felt very prepped for what to expect through the journey and what I would experience at family court."
"He made my divorce as pain free as it could possibly be. He walked me through every step and made the court room experience as stress free as it could be. His professionalism has outclassed all of the other lawyers I have ever met."
"Chris Archer went above and beyond my expectations. His responsiveness was extraordinary — a great relief when you are going through a difficult situation. He is always honest with you and will guide you through the entire process."
"Mr. Archer was very communicative and informative throughout the entire process. He facilitated an uncontested divorce and was very attentive, respectful and accessible. I felt very prepped for what to expect thru the journey and what I would experience at the family court."
"He made my divorce as pain free as it could possibly be... He walked me through every step and made the court room experience as stress free as it could be. In all honesty his professionalism has out classed all of the other lawyers I have ever met."
"Chris Archer went above and beyond my expectations. His responsiveness was extraordinary, which was a great relief when you are going through a difficult situation. He is always honest with you, and he will guide you through the entire process."
Not sure if the packet fits your situation?
Book a 30-minute strategy session. We'll work through your specific facts, confirm whether DIY is the right path, and if it is, the $200 session fee credits toward the packet purchase or toward flat-fee representation if you'd rather have me handle the case directly.