Does the Family Court in South Carolina Use a Person’s Net or Gross Income in Determining Child Support?

The court uses gross income in determining child support. However, the court should consider whether a parent is employed to full capacity, or the potential income of the party if they are unemployed or underemployed. According to the South Carolina Child Support Guidelines, “gross income” includes income from any source including salaries, wages, commissions, royalties, bonuses, rents (less allowable business expenses), dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, Social Security benefits (but not Supplemental Social Security income), workers compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, veterans benefits and alimony, including alimony received as a result of another marriage and alimony which a party receives as a result of the current litigation.

-Source The South Carolina Child Support Guidelines