(A) Any able-bodied person capable of earning a livelihood who shall, without just cause or excuse, abandon or fail to provide reasonable support to his or her spouse or to his or her minor unmarried legitimate or illegitimate child dependent upon him or her shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be imprisoned for a term of not exceeding one year or be fined not less than three hundred dollars nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars, or both, in the discretion of the circuit court. A husband or wife abandoned by his or her spouse is not liable for the support of the abandoning spouse until such spouse offers to return unless the misconduct of the husband or wife justified the abandonment. If a fine be imposed the circuit court may, in its discretion, order that a portion of the fine be paid to a proper and suitable person or agency for the maintenance and support of the defendant's spouse or minor unmarried legitimate or illegitimate child. As used in this section "reasonable support" means an amount of financial assistance which, when combined with the support the member is reasonably capable of providing for himself or herself, will provide a living standard for the member substantially equal to that of the person owing the duty to support. It includes both usual and unusual necessities.
(B) Any person who fails to receive the support required by this section may petition to a circuit court of competent jurisdiction for a rule to show cause why the obligated person should not be required to provide such support and after proper service and hearing the circuit court shall in all appropriate cases order such support to be paid. Any such petition shall specify the amount of support required. Compliance with the circuit court order shall bar prosecution under the provisions of subsection (A) of this section.
HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code
Chapter 5 - Legal Status Of Children
Section 63-5-10. Spousal and child support.
Section 63-5-20. Obligation to support.
Section 63-5-30. Rights and duties of parents regarding minor children.
Section 63-5-40. Breastfeeding.
Section 63-5-50. Parental immunity in cases of incorrigibility of seventeen year old.
Section 63-5-60. Parental civil liability for damage to State property.
Section 63-5-70. Unlawful conduct toward a child.
Section 63-5-80. Cruelty to children.
Section 63-5-310. Ratification of minor's contracts.
Section 63-5-320. Minor's capacity to borrow for higher education.
Section 63-5-330. Married minors consent to health procedures.
Section 63-5-340. Minor's consent to health services.
Section 63-5-350. Health services to minors without parental consent.
Section 63-5-360. Minor parent consent to health services for child.
Section 63-5-370. Consent not subject to disaffirmance.
Section 63-5-601. Short title.
Section 63-5-605. Definitions.
Section 63-5-610. Scope and jurisdiction.
Section 63-5-615. Nomination of custodian.
Section 63-5-620. Transfer by gift or exercise of power of appointment.
Section 63-5-625. Transfer authorized by will or trust.
Section 63-5-630. Other transfer by fiduciary.
Section 63-5-635. Transfer by obligor.
Section 63-5-640. Receipt for custodial property.
Section 63-5-650. Single custodianship.
Section 63-5-655. Validity and effect of transfer.
Section 63-5-660. Care of custodial property.
Section 63-5-665. Powers of custodian.
Section 63-5-670. Use of custodial property.
Section 63-5-675. Custodian's expenses, compensation, and bond.
Section 63-5-680. Exemption of third person from liability.
Section 63-5-685. Liability to third persons.
Section 63-5-695. Accounting by and determination of liability of custodian.
Section 63-5-700. Termination of custodianship.
Section 63-5-705. Applicability.
Section 63-5-710. Effect on existing custodianships.
Section 63-5-715. Uniformity of application and construction.
Section 63-5-900. Citation of article.