South Carolina Child Support Enforcement

state.sc.us, Feb 17, 2006

Income Withholding: Any child support order established or modified after January 3, 1994 and any child support order established or modified with the assistance of the CSED after October 31, 1990 is subject to being enforced through income withholding. If a non-custodial parent changes employers, the non-custodial parent must notify the appropriate clerk of court so that income withholding can be initiated by the new employer.

Rule to Show Cause Hearing: When a non-custodial parent does not make child support payments as ordered by the court, the judge will require that he/she appear before the court and explain why payments are not being made as ordered. If the non-custodial parent cannot provide a valid reason for not making the child support payments as ordered, the judge may order one of the enforcement remedies listed on this page. In addition, the judge has the ability to fine the non-custodial parent up to $1,500 and/or sentence the non-custodial parent to up to a year in jail for failure to pay child support.

If the non-custodial parent can provide a valid reason for not making the child support payments as ordered, the judge and the CSED staff will advise the non-custodial parent of the alternatives available in his/her case.

If the non-custodial parent fails to appear for the Rule to Show Cause Hearing, the judge will issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the non-custodial parent.

License Revocation: If the non-custodial parent accumulates an arrearage of at least $500 and has not made a payment within 60 days, any driver's, occupational, professional, business or commercial license issued by the State of South Carolina is subject to being suspended or revoked. Once a license has been suspended or revoked, the non-custodial parent cannot have the license reinstated until they have reached an agreement with the CSED to pay the arrearage.

The non-custodial parent is notified forty-five (45) days before any license is suspended or revoked. During this forty-five (45) day period, the non-custodial parent may contact the CSED and enter into an agreement to pay the arrearage and prevent the license from being suspended or revoked.