The General Assembly finds that the family is the fundamental building block of society. Within healthy families children are instilled with values essential to the vitality of our State. These values include personal responsibility, honesty, duty, commitment to others, a work ethic, respect for authority, and sound educational habits. Because the family plays such a crucial role in developing these and other civic virtues essential to self-government, parents have a duty to themselves, their children, and society at large to instill these virtues in their children. Therefore, as much as it is able, the State should promote strong families, for the family is the cradle of an ordered and vibrant republic. Self-government depends upon civic virtue, and civic virtue in turn depends upon healthy families. The purpose of this act is to emphasize the importance of families to the success and well-being of our State.
HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 4, Section 2, eff November 30, 2000.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Section 20-1-10. Persons who may contract matrimony.
Section 20-1-15. Prohibition of same sex marriage.
Section 20-1-20. Persons who may perform marriage ceremony.
Section 20-1-30. Cohabitation prior to emancipation as marriage.
Section 20-1-40. Cohabitation prior to emancipation as marriage; children.
Section 20-1-50. Legitimacy of children of marriages contracted after absence of previous spouse.
Section 20-1-60. Marriage of parents legitimates illegitimate children.
Section 20-1-70. Name of children legitimized after marriage of parents.
Section 20-1-80. Bigamous marriage shall be void; exceptions.
Section 20-1-100. Minimum age for valid marriage.
Section 20-1-210. License required for marriage.
Section 20-1-220. Written application required twenty-four hours prior to issuance of license.
Section 20-1-230. Issuance of license; premarital preparation course.
Section 20-1-240. Information to be provided to applicants for marriage licenses.
Section 20-1-250. Applicants under age of consent; consent of relative or guardian.
Section 20-1-260. Proof of age required of minor applicant.
Section 20-1-270. Proof of age required of applicant over age eighteen and under age twenty-five.
Section 20-1-280. Penalty for furnishing false affidavit.
Section 20-1-310. Form of license and certificate.
Section 20-1-320. Division of vital statistics shall distribute license forms.
Section 20-1-330. Issue of licenses in triplicate; disposition.
Section 20-1-340. Record of license and certificate kept by probate judge or clerk of court.
Section 20-1-360. Effect of article on marriage without license.
Section 20-1-370. Disposition of license fee.
Section 20-1-375. Marriage license fee.
Section 20-1-380. Disposition of fines.
Section 20-1-510. Jurisdiction to determine validity of marriage.
Section 20-1-520. Affirmation of marriage if validity has been denied or doubted.
Section 20-1-530. Declaration of invalidity.
Section 20-1-540. Adjudication of presumed death.
Section 20-1-550. Service on defendant in action to annul marriage.
Section 20-1-570. Establishment of official record of marriages.
Section 20-1-580. Effect of establishment of official record of marriage and record.
Section 20-1-700. Short title.
Section 20-1-710. Legislative purpose.
Section 20-1-720. Publication and distribution of "South Carolina Family Respect" pamphlet.