South Carolina Laws
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Are Autopsy Reports Public in South Carolina? (2026)
South Carolina autopsy reports are not public records. They are restricted to legal next of kin. Learn who can request a coroner or autopsy report, the fee, and how.
Are Brass Knuckles Legal in South Carolina? (2026 Law)
South Carolina has no general ban on owning or carrying brass knuckles, but they are a felony on K-12 school property, in prisons and in armed robbery.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in South Carolina? Psilocybin Laws (2026)
Psilocybin is Schedule I in South Carolina. Possession is a misdemeanor, while sale, manufacture or intent to distribute is a felony under S.C. Code 44-53-370.
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Bankruptcy in South Carolina (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
South Carolina opted out of federal exemptions. The inflation-indexed homestead is about $80,125, the vehicle exemption is about $8,000, and see the means test income.
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Common Law Marriage in South Carolina: Is It Recognized? (2026)
South Carolina abolished new common law marriages on July 24, 2019, in Stone v. Thompson. Pre-2019 CLMs remain valid but require clear and convincing proof. Learn the rules.
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Does South Carolina Allow Legal Separation? Separate Maintenance
South Carolina has no stand-alone legal separation action. Spouses use separate support and maintenance under S.C. Code 20-3-130. See what the court can order.
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How Long Is a Life Sentence in South Carolina? (2026 Guide)
Complete guide to life sentences in South Carolina: parole eligibility, LWOP rules, notable cases, recent legislative changes, and sentencing statutes. Updated March 2026.
How to Find a Cause of Death in South Carolina (2026)
Learn how to find someone's cause of death in South Carolina, where it is recorded, whether it is public, and who can request the death certificate.
How to Get a South Carolina Death Certificate (2026)
Get a South Carolina death certificate from the SC DPH Office of Vital Records: $12 first copy, $3 per extra. See who is eligible and how to order.
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Is Blackmail Illegal in South Carolina? Blackmail Laws and Penalties
South Carolina makes blackmail a Class E felony under S.C. Code 16-17-640, up to 10 years. See the threats covered and the Gavin's Law sextortion penalties.
Is Jaywalking Illegal in South Carolina? Rules and Penalties (2026)
South Carolina pedestrians may cross outside a crosswalk if they yield (S.C. Code 56-5-3150), subject to local bans. Misdemeanor: up to $100, plus a court assessment.
Is Kratom Legal in South Carolina? (2026 Law)
Kratom is not listed as a controlled substance in South Carolina. The 2025 Kratom Consumer Protection Act bars sales to anyone under 21 and sets product and label rules.
Is Lane Splitting Legal in South Carolina? (2026 Law)
Lane splitting and filtering are illegal in South Carolina under S.C. Code 56-5-3640(c), a misdemeanor with a fine up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail.
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Medical Malpractice Laws in South Carolina (2026): Caps
South Carolina medical malpractice in 2026: a 3-year deadline, 6-year repose, an inflation-indexed noneconomic cap, plus a Notice of Intent and affidavit.
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South Carolina Adoption Records: Affirmative Consent for the Original Birth Certificate
South Carolina requires a biological parent's affirmative consent, or proof of death, to release an adult adoptee's original birth certificate. Forms and fees.
South Carolina Age of Consent Laws: Statutes, Penalties and Reporting
How South Carolina criminal law protects minors by age, with criminal sexual conduct degrees, school-personnel rules, penalties, registration and reporting.
South Carolina Age Verification Law: Child Online Safety Act Explained
South Carolina's Child Online Safety Act requires age verification for adult content, enforced by private damages suits and AG injunctions. Key dates explained.
South Carolina AI Laws and Regulation (2026)
Guide to South Carolina AI laws, regulation, and legislation covering deepfakes, employment AI, healthcare AI, and more.
South Carolina AI Meeting Recording Laws (2026)
Learn how South Carolina consent laws apply to AI meeting recorders. One-party consent rules, penalties, and compliance.
South Carolina Alimony Laws: Types, Fault, and Permanent Alimony (2026)
South Carolina still allows permanent periodic alimony under S.C. Code 20-3-130. Learn the five types, the adultery bar, the 90-day cohabitation rule, and the 13 factors courts use.
South Carolina Annulment Laws: Grounds, Cohabitation and Filing
South Carolina annulments go to family court under S.C. Code 20-1-530, and cohabitation usually bars them. See the void-marriage statutes, fees and support rules.
South Carolina Assault and Battery Laws: Degrees and Penalties (2026)
South Carolina grades assault and battery in four degrees under S.C. Code 16-3-600, from a 30-day misdemeanor to a 20-year felony. See elements and penalties.
South Carolina At-Will Employment Laws: Exceptions and Your Rights
Is South Carolina an at-will state? Yes. Learn the public-policy and implied-contract exceptions, right-to-work status, and federal protections that still apply.
South Carolina Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties (2026)
South Carolina audio recording laws allow one-party consent under S.C. Code 17-30-30. Learn the rules for recording conversations, penalties for violations, and key exceptions.
South Carolina Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
South Carolina background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
South Carolina Biometric Privacy Laws: Collection, Consent & Penalties (2026)
South Carolina has no standalone biometric privacy law. Learn about breach notification under SC Code 39-1-90, the Insurance Data Security Act, and pending legislation.
South Carolina Birth Certificate: How to Order, Fees and Eligibility
South Carolina DPH Vital Records charges $12 by mail or $17 expedited for a birth certificate search and copy. How to order, who is eligible, and how to amend.
South Carolina Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim
South Carolina is an at-fault state with modified comparative negligence (51% bar), 25/50/25 minimum insurance, mandatory UM coverage, and a 3-year injury SOL.
South Carolina Car Seat Laws (2026): 4 Stages & Fit Test
South Carolina runs 4 car seat stages: rear-facing under 2, forward-facing, booster, then a belt fit test at 8 or 57 inches. See the $150 fine and waiver.
South Carolina Child Custody Laws: 17 Best-Interests Factors and Your Rights
South Carolina custody uses 17 statutory best-interests factors under S.C. Code 63-15-240. No joint-custody presumption. Learn the rules, relocation factor, and modification standard.
South Carolina Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & Calculator
South Carolina child support uses the Income Shares Model. 2024 guidelines raised amounts 25%, expanded income cap to $40k/mo. Learn calculation, modification, and enforcement rules.
South Carolina Court Records: County Public Index Search and Expungement
How to search South Carolina court records by county on the Public Index, the new home-address redaction rule, and how expungement works.
South Carolina Dashcam Laws: Mounting Rules, Audio Recording, and Evidence (2026)
Dashcams are legal in South Carolina. Learn the mounting rules, the one-party consent law for in-vehicle audio, and how dashcam footage can be used as evidence.
South Carolina Data Breach Notification Laws: Reporting Rules & Timelines (2026)
South Carolina requires data breach notification without unreasonable delay under S.C. Code 39-1-90. Learn about the private right of action, $1,000 per-resident fines, and CRA reporting at 1,000+.
South Carolina Data Privacy Laws: Breach Notification & Consumer Rights (2026)
South Carolina data privacy laws explained. Covers the breach notification statute (S.C. Code 39-1-90), Insurance Data Security Act, FIFITPA, and federal protections.
South Carolina Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One
South Carolina is a closed-record state: only immediate family or a legal representative can buy a certified death certificate until records open to the public after 50 years.
South Carolina Debt Collection Laws: The Wage Garnishment Bar and the Tax-Levy Exception
South Carolina bars consumer wage garnishment, but SCDOR still levies 25% of gross pay for taxes and public debts. SOL, revival, and repo cure rights.
South Carolina Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)
South Carolina enacted H 3058 in May 2025, criminalizing nonconsensual intimate deepfakes (NCII) under S.C. Code ss. 16-15-330 to 16-15-332. Learn the penalties, civil remedies, and gaps in SC deepfake law.
South Carolina Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
South Carolina defamation laws: a 2-year deadline to sue under S.C. Code 15-3-550, no anti-SLAPP statute, per se categories, damages, and how to file.
South Carolina Disorderly Conduct, Breach of Peace and Trespass Laws
South Carolina public disorderly conduct (16-17-530) carries up to $100 or 30 days. Breach of the peace, trespass notice, purple paint and 2026 felonies.
South Carolina Divorce Laws (2026): Grounds, Residency, and Process
South Carolina divorce laws: the only no-fault route is 1 year of separation in separate residences. Learn residency rules, fault grounds, equitable distribution, and filing steps.
South Carolina Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights
Learn South Carolina dog bite laws under S.C. Code 47-3-110, including strict liability rules, damages, defenses, and the 3-year filing deadline.
South Carolina Drone Laws: 2027 Prison-Drone Act & Privacy Rules
South Carolina's Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act, signed May 2026 and effective January 1, 2027, sets a 1,500-foot prison buffer with new felonies.
South Carolina DUI Laws: Penalties, BAC & License (2026)
South Carolina DUI laws under 56-5-2930: the 0.08% BAC limit, first-offense fines and jail, the all-offender interlock rule, refusal penalties, and look-back.
South Carolina E-Scooter Laws: Sidewalk, Helmet & Age Rules (2026)
South Carolina's EPAMD statute requires self-balancing devices, so a standard kick e-scooter is not covered by state law. Riding an EPAMD on a freeway is a misdemeanor punishable by fine or jail.
South Carolina Easement and Eminent Domain Laws (2026)
South Carolina prescriptive easements take 20 years under case law, and the constitution limits economic-development takings. See the deadlines and fee rules.
South Carolina Emancipation Laws: How Minors Become Emancipated in South Carolina (2026)
South Carolina has no general emancipation statute. Learn how SC minors become emancipated through marriage, military service, or a Family Court order, and what rights apply under South Carolina law.
South Carolina Embezzlement Laws: Breach of Trust, Forgery, Penalties
South Carolina names only public-funds embezzlement (16-13-210). Private embezzlement is breach of trust, a felony above $2,000. Forgery carries up to 10 years.
South Carolina Employee Monitoring Laws: Workplace Surveillance and Social Media (2026)
South Carolina employee monitoring laws explained: why there is no social media password law, one-party consent recording, and GPS tracking under the stalking law.
South Carolina Expungement Laws: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
South Carolina expungement under S.C. Code § 17-22-910 covers first-offense misdemeanors, PTI completions, conditional discharge, and certain drug convictions. Learn waiting periods, fees, and how to apply.
South Carolina Felony Classes and Misdemeanor Penalties (2026)
South Carolina classes felonies A to F (up to 30 years) and misdemeanors A to C (up to 3 years). See exempt offenses, repeat-offender rules and probation limits.
South Carolina Final Paycheck Laws: The 48-Hour-or-30-Day Rule
South Carolina requires final wages within 48 hours of separation or the next payday, capped at 30 days, with treble damages for willful violations.
South Carolina Fireworks Laws (2026): Two Statutes, Penalties
South Carolina permits licensed CPSC/APA 87-1 consumer fireworks year-round, but a separate 2-grain loud-device ban carries up to $10,000 and 2 years.
South Carolina Freedom of Information Act: How to Request Public Records
South Carolina FOIA explained: the 10 or 20 business day determination, the 30 or 35 day production clock, fee caps, and why body camera footage is excluded.
South Carolina GPS Tracking Laws: Is It Legal to Put a Tracker on a Car? (2026)
South Carolina has no GPS tracker statute. See how the harassment law (S.C. Code 16-3-1700) treats car trackers, the PI exemption, and the penalties.
South Carolina Grandparents' Rights: Visitation and Custody Laws
South Carolina grandparent visitation law under Section 63-3-530(33): the Camburn v. Smith standard, the de facto custodian track, and the honest odds.
South Carolina Guardianship Laws: Adults, Minors and Conservators
How South Carolina guardianship works: probate court for adults, family court for children, clear and convincing proof, appointed counsel, and alternatives.
South Carolina Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do
Learn South Carolina hit and run laws, penalties from misdemeanor to 25-year felony, driver duties, insurance claims, and how to protect your rights.
South Carolina Homestead Exemption: Amount, Deadline and How to Apply
South Carolina exempts the first $50,000 of home value ($75,000 in 2026 if eligible in 2025) for owners 65+, disabled or blind. Apply by July 15.
South Carolina Identity Theft Laws: Mandatory Police Reports
South Carolina requires police to take an ID theft report under Section 37-20-130. Victims can recover treble damages or $3,000 per incident.