South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code

Section 63-3-545. Clerk of family court shall report the issuance, rescission, or termination of any permanent restraining orders and orders of protection. - (A) The clerk of the family court shall report to...

Section 63-3-550. Standing to institute a proceeding regarding neglected or delinquent child. - The parent or custodian of any child, an official of...

Section 63-3-560. Venue. - Venue of actions in the family courts shall be in...

Section 63-3-570. Service of summons. - Service of summons and any process of the court shall...

Section 63-3-580. Failure to obey summons. - If any person summoned as herein provided shall, without reasonable...

Section 63-3-590. Conduct of hearings. - All cases of children must be dealt with as separate...

Section 63-3-600. Rules for conduct of hearings. - Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of...

Section 63-3-610. Prosecutorial functions. - All prosecutorial functions and duties in the family courts shall...

Section 63-3-620. Penalties for adult violating title. - An adult who wilfully violates, neglects, or refuses to obey...

Section 63-3-630. Appeals. - (A) Any appeal from an order, judgment, or decree of...

Section 63-3-640. Post conviction proceedings. - Post conviction proceedings, including habeas corpus actions, shall be instituted...

Section 63-3-650. Power to issue writ of habeas corpus. - Any judge shall have the power to issue a writ...

Section 63-3-810. Appointment. - (A) In a private action before the family court in...

Section 63-3-820. Qualifications. - (A) A guardian ad litem may be either an attorney...

Section 63-3-830. Responsibilities. - (A) The responsibilities and duties of a guardian ad litem...

Section 63-3-840. Mediation prohibition. - A guardian ad litem must not mediate, attempt to mediate,...

Section 63-3-850. Compensation. - (A) At the time of appointment of a guardian ad...

Section 63-3-860. Disclosure. - A guardian ad litem appointed by the family court in...

Section 63-3-870. Removal. - A guardian ad litem may be removed from a case...

Chapter 5 - Legal Status Of Children

Section 63-5-10. Spousal and child support. - A husband or wife declared to be chargeable with the...

Section 63-5-20. Obligation to support. - (A) Any able-bodied person capable of earning a livelihood who...

Section 63-5-30. Rights and duties of parents regarding minor children. - The mother and father are the joint natural guardians of...

Section 63-5-40. Breastfeeding. - (A) A woman may breastfeed her child in any location...

Section 63-5-50. Parental immunity in cases of incorrigibility of seventeen year old. - A parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care...

Section 63-5-60. Parental civil liability for damage to State property. - (A) The State of South Carolina, a political subdivision of...

Section 63-5-70. Unlawful conduct toward a child. - (A) It is unlawful for a person who has charge...

Section 63-5-80. Cruelty to children. - Whoever cruelly ill-treats, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or...

Section 63-5-310. Ratification of minor's contracts. - No action shall be maintained whereby to charge any person...

Section 63-5-320. Minor's capacity to borrow for higher education. - Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, any...

Section 63-5-330. Married minors consent to health procedures. - The consent of a married minor or, if a married...

Section 63-5-340. Minor's consent to health services. - Any minor who has reached the age of sixteen years...

Section 63-5-350. Health services to minors without parental consent. - Health services of any kind may be rendered to minors...

Section 63-5-360. Minor parent consent to health services for child. - Any minor who has been married or has borne a...

Section 63-5-370. Consent not subject to disaffirmance. - Any consent given pursuant to this article shall not be...

Section 63-5-601. Short title. - This act shall be known and may be cited as...

Section 63-5-605. Definitions. - In this article: (1) "Adult" means an individual who has...

Section 63-5-610. Scope and jurisdiction. - (a) This article applies to a transfer that refers to...

Section 63-5-615. Nomination of custodian. - (a) A person having the right to designate the recipient...

Section 63-5-620. Transfer by gift or exercise of power of appointment. - A person may make a transfer by irrevocable gift to,...

Section 63-5-625. Transfer authorized by will or trust. - (a) A personal representative or trustee may make an irrevocable...

Section 63-5-630. Other transfer by fiduciary. - (a) Subject to subsection (c), a personal representative or trustee...

Section 63-5-635. Transfer by obligor. - (a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c), a person not...

Section 63-5-640. Receipt for custodial property. - A written acknowledgment of delivery by a custodian constitutes a...

Section 63-5-645. Manner of creating custodial property and effecting transfer; designation of initial custodian; control. - (a) Custodial property is created and a transfer is made...

Section 63-5-650. Single custodianship. - A transfer may be made only for one minor, and...

Section 63-5-655. Validity and effect of transfer. - (a) The validity of a transfer made in a manner...

Section 63-5-660. Care of custodial property. - (a) A custodian shall: (1) take control of custodial property;...

Section 63-5-665. Powers of custodian. - (a) A custodian, acting in a custodial capacity, has all...

Section 63-5-670. Use of custodial property. - (a) A custodian may deliver or pay to the minor...

Section 63-5-675. Custodian's expenses, compensation, and bond. - (a) A custodian is entitled to reimbursement from custodial property...

Section 63-5-680. Exemption of third person from liability. - A third person in good faith and without court order...

Section 63-5-685. Liability to third persons. - (a) A claim based on (i) a contract entered into...

Section 63-5-690. Renunciation, resignation, death, or removal of custodian; designation of successor custodian. - (a) A person nominated under Section 63-5-615 or designated under...

Section 63-5-695. Accounting by and determination of liability of custodian. - (a) A minor who has attained the age of fourteen...

Section 63-5-700. Termination of custodianship. - The custodian shall transfer in an appropriate manner the custodial...

Section 63-5-705. Applicability. - This article applies to a transfer within the scope of...

Section 63-5-710. Effect on existing custodianships. - (a) Any transfer of custodial property as now defined in...

Section 63-5-715. Uniformity of application and construction. - This article shall be applied and construed to effectuate its...

Section 63-5-900. Citation of article. - This article may be cited as the "Military Parent Equal...

Section 63-5-910. Definitions. - For purposes of this article: (A)(1) In the case of...

Section 63-5-920. Effect of military service on visitation and custody orders; temporary modification order. - (A) If a military parent is required to be separated...

Section 63-5-930. Temporary modification of support order for duration of military parent's military service. - (A) If a military parent is called to military service,...

Section 63-5-940. Mutually agreeable arrangements between military and nonmilitary parents prior to mobilization. - (A) Military necessity may preclude court adjudication before mobilization, and...

Section 63-5-950. Attorney's fees and costs; factors. - In making determinations pursuant to this article, the court may...

Chapter 7 - Child Protection And Permanency

Section 63-7-10. Purpose. - (A) Any intervention by the State into family life on...

Section 63-7-20. Definitions. - When used in this chapter or Chapter 9 or 11...

Section 63-7-25. Children in out-of-home care; age or developmentally appropriate activities. - (A) Every child placed with a caregiver for out-of-home care...

Section 63-7-30. Seeking assistance. - A person seeking assistance in meeting child care responsibilities may...

Section 63-7-40. Safe haven for abandoned babies. - (A) A safe haven in this State must, without a...

Section 63-7-310. Persons required to report. - (A) The following persons must report in accordance with this...

Section 63-7-315. Civil action created for wrongful termination based on employee having reported child abuse or neglect. - (A) An employer must not dismiss, demote, suspend, or otherwise...

Section 63-7-320. Notification; transfer; notice to designated military officials. - (A) Where reports are made pursuant to Section 63-7-310 to...

Section 63-7-330. Confidentiality of information. - (A) The identity of the person making a report pursuant...

Section 63-7-340. Previous reports. - When a report is referred to the department for an...

Section 63-7-350. Reports for lack of investigation. - If the department does not conduct an investigation as a...

Section 63-7-360. Mandatory reporting to coroner. - A person required under Section 63-7-310 to report cases of...

Section 63-7-370. Domestic violence reporting. - The law enforcement officer upon receipt of a report of...

Section 63-7-380. Photos and x-rays without parental consent; release of medical records. - A person required to report under Section 63-7-310 may take,...

Section 63-7-390. Reporter immunity from liability. - A person required or permitted to report pursuant to Section...

Section 63-7-400. Department of Social Services immunity from liability. - An employee, volunteer, or official of the Department of Social...

Section 63-7-410. Failure to report; penalties. - A person required to report a case of child abuse...

Section 63-7-420. Abrogation of privileged communication; exceptions. - The privileged quality of communication between husband and wife and...

Section 63-7-430. Civil action for bad faith reporting. - (A) If the family court determines pursuant to Section 63-7-2000...

Section 63-7-440. Knowingly making false report. - (A) It is unlawful to knowingly make a false report...

Section 63-7-450. Department of Social Services to provide information to public. - (A) The Department of Social Services Protective Services shall inform...

Section 63-7-610. Statewide jurisdiction. - (A) A law enforcement officer investigating a case of suspected...

Section 63-7-620. Emergency protective custody. - (A) A law enforcement officer may take emergency protective custody...

Section 63-7-630. Notification of Department of Social Services. - When an officer takes a child into emergency protective custody...

Section 63-7-640. Preliminary investigation. - The department shall conduct within twenty-four hours after the child...

Section 63-7-650. Risk assessment before placement; opportunity to be licensed as kinship foster parent. - (A) Before agreeing to or acquiescing in a corrective action...

Section 63-7-660. Assumption of legal custody. - If the department determines after the preliminary investigation that there...

Section 63-7-670. Returning child to parents; alternative procedures. - If emergency protective custody of the child was taken by...

Section 63-7-680. Emergency protective custody extension. - The period of emergency protective custody may be extended for...

Section 63-7-690. Relative placement. - (A) If within the twenty-four hours following removal of the...

Section 63-7-700. Emergency protective custody proceedings. - (A) If a law enforcement officer clearly states to the...

Section 63-7-710. Probable cause hearing. - (A) The family court shall schedule a probable cause hearing...

Section 63-7-720. Reasonable efforts to prevent removal. - (A) An order issued as a result of the probable...

Section 63-7-730. Expedited placement of child with relative. - (A) If the court finds at the probable cause hearing...

Section 63-7-735. Right to become a licensed kinship foster parent. - (A) Before the department places a child with a relative...

Section 63-7-740. Ex parte emergency protective custody. - (A) The family court may order ex parte that a...

Section 63-7-750. Doctor or hospital may detain child; civil immunity. - (A) A physician or hospital to which a child has...

Section 63-7-760. Protocols. - The department and local law enforcement agencies shall develop written...

Section 63-7-765. Required disclosure of information to kinship care providers. - Prior to and at the time the department places a...

Section 63-7-770. Required disclosure of information to residential health facilities. - (A) Prior to and at the time the department places...

Section 63-7-900. Purpose of the subarticle. - (A) It is the purpose of this subarticle to encourage...

Section 63-7-910. Duties of the department. - (A)(1) The Department of Social Services may maintain a toll-free...

Section 63-7-920. Investigations and case determination. - (A)(1) Within twenty-four hours of the receipt of a report...

Section 63-7-930. Classification categories. - (A) Reports of child abuse and neglect must be classified...

Section 63-7-940. Use of unfounded case information. - (A) Information concerning reports classified as unfounded contained in the...

Section 63-7-950. Withholding health care. - (A) Upon receipt of a report that a parent or...

Section 63-7-960. Consolidation and delivery of services. - The department is charged with providing, directing, or coordinating the...

Section 63-7-970. Children of incarcerated women. - The local office of the department responsible for the county...

Section 63-7-980. Cooperation between the department and law enforcement. - (A) The department must cooperate with law enforcement agencies within...

Section 63-7-990. Access to sex offender registry. - Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request of the...

Section 63-7-1210. Department investigation of institutional abuse. - (A) The Department of Social Services is authorized to receive...

Section 63-7-1220. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation of Department of Juvenile Justice and Department of Social Services institutional abuse cases. - The State Law Enforcement Division is authorized to receive and...

Section 63-7-1230. Immediate entry in Central Registry of name of person determined to have abused child; notification; challenge. - When the investigation performed pursuant to this subarticle results in...

Section 63-7-1410. Purpose. - The purpose of this subarticle is to provide a child...

Section 63-7-1420. Appeal of judicial determinations. - If a person requests an appeal under this subarticle and...

Section 63-7-1430. Notice and opportunity to be heard. - (A) If the department determines that a report of suspected...

Section 63-7-1440. Judicial review. - An appellant seeking judicial review shall file a petition in...

Section 63-7-1610. Jurisdiction and venue. - (A) The family court has exclusive jurisdiction over all proceedings...

Section 63-7-1620. Legal representation of children. - In all child abuse and neglect proceedings: (1) Children must...

Section 63-7-1630. Notice of hearings. - The department shall provide notice of a hearing held in...

Section 63-7-1640. Family preservation. - (A)(1) When this chapter requires the department to make reasonable...

Section 63-7-1650. Services without removal. - (A) Upon investigation of a report under Section 63-7-920 or...

Section 63-7-1660. Services with removal. - (A) Upon investigation of a report received under Section 63-7-310...

Section 63-7-1670. Treatment plan. - (A) At the close of a hearing pursuant to Section...

Section 63-7-1680. Approval or amendment of plan. - (A) If the court orders that a child be removed...

Section 63-7-1690. Placement plans; substance abuse issues. - (A) When the conditions justifying removal pursuant to Section 63-7-1660...

Section 63-7-1700. Permanency planning. - (A) The family court shall review the status of a...

Section 63-7-1710. Standards for terminating parental rights. - (A) When a child is in the custody of the...

Section 63-7-1720. Clerk of court and court administration progress reports. - (A) Beginning on January 1, 2000, or on the date...

Section 63-7-1730. Qualified residential treatment program placement; assessment; case planning; documentation requirements. - (A) A child in the department's custody who is placed...

Section 63-7-1740. Review of qualified residential treatment program placement. - (A) The court shall review the status of a child...

Section 63-7-1910. Purpose. - The purpose of this subarticle is to establish a system...

Section 63-7-1920. Department to maintain Central Registry. - (A) The Department of Social Services must maintain a Central...

Section 63-7-1930. Petition for placement in Central Registry. - (A) At any time following receipt of a report, the...

Section 63-7-1940. Court order for placement in Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect. - (A) At a hearing pursuant to Section 63-7-1650 or 63-7-1660,...

Section 63-7-1950. Updated records requested. - In cases where a person has been placed in the...

Section 63-7-1960. Destruction of certain records. - The names, addresses, birth dates, identifying characteristics, and other information...

Section 63-7-1970. Release of information. - Information in the central registry and other department records may...

Section 63-7-1980. Screening against the Central Registry. - (A) When a statute or regulation makes determination of a...

Section 63-7-1990. Confidentiality and release of records and information. - (A) All reports made and information collected pursuant to this...

Section 63-7-2000. Retention and disclosure of records of unfounded cases. - (A) Notwithstanding other provisions of the law affecting confidentiality of...

Section 63-7-2010. Annual reports. - The Department of Social Services must furnish annually to the...

Section 63-7-2310. Protecting and nurturing children in foster care. - (A) To protect and nurture children in foster care, the...

Section 63-7-2320. Kinship Foster Care Program. - (A) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise...

Section 63-7-2330. Placement with relatives. - (A) When the Department of Social Services has custody of...

Section 63-7-2340. Fingerprint review. - (A) A person applying for licensure as a foster parent...

Section 63-7-2345. Payment of costs of Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint reviews. - Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-7-2350, the department is authorized...

Section 63-7-2350. Restrictions on foster care or adoption placements. - (A) No child in the custody of the Department of...

Section 63-7-2360. Placement of minor sex offenders. - (A) No agency may place a minor in a foster...

Section 63-7-2370. Disclosure of information to foster parents. - Prior to and at the time the department places a...

Section 63-7-2380. Foster parent training. - The Department of Social Services shall establish standards for foster...

Section 63-7-2390. Loss for uninsured damages. - A state agency which places a child in a foster...

Section 63-7-2400. Number of foster children who may be placed in a foster home. - (A) A foster home may not provide full-time care for...

Section 63-7-2510. Purpose. - The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for...

Section 63-7-2520. Jurisdiction. - The family court has exclusive jurisdiction over all proceedings held...

Section 63-7-2530. Filing procedures. - (A) A petition seeking termination of parental rights may be...

Section 63-7-2540. Content of petition. - A petition for the termination of parental rights must set...

Section 63-7-2550. Service of petition. - (A) A summons and petition for termination of parental rights...

Section 63-7-2560. Representation by counsel; guardian ad litem. - (A) Parents, guardians, or other persons subject to a termination...

Section 63-7-2570. Grounds. - The family court may order the termination of parental rights...

Section 63-7-2580. Permanency of order. - (A) If the court finds that a ground for termination,...

Section 63-7-2590. Effect of order. - (A) An order terminating the relationship between parent and child...

Section 63-7-2600. Confidentiality. - All papers and records pertaining to a termination of parental...

Section 63-7-2610. Effect on adoption laws. - The provisions of this article do not, except as specifically...

Section 63-7-2620. Construction of law. - This article must be liberally construed in order to ensure...

Section 63-7-2700. Purpose. - The purpose of this article is to establish procedures for...

Section 63-7-2710. Definitions. - For purposes of this article: (1) "Administrative case review" means...

Section 63-7-2720. Creation and implementation of extended foster care program. - There is created within the Department of Social Services an...

Section 63-7-2730. Voluntary extension of foster care; jurisdiction; transition plan. - (A) Before a child's eighteenth birthday, the child may provide...

Section 63-7-2740. Proceedings for review of voluntary placement agreement. - (A) Within thirty days of entering a voluntary placement agreement,...

Section 63-7-2750. Court-ordered extension of foster care; annual review of child's status; guardian ad litem. - (A) A child who is in the legal custody of...

Section 63-7-2760. Administrative case review; development of transition plan. - (A) The department shall establish a developmentally appropriate administrative process...

Section 63-7-2770. Permanency planning hearings. - (A) If a child remains in the legal custody of...

Section 63-7-2780. Review of progress toward meeting goals in transition plan. - Upon motion of the child or the department at any...

Section 63-7-2790. Notice of adverse decision; right to appeal; judicial review. - (A) If the department denies, disqualifies, terminates, or suspends a...

Chapter 9 - Adoptions

Section 63-9-10. Short title. - This article may be cited as the "South Carolina Adoption...

Section 63-9-20. Legislative purpose. - The purpose of this article is to establish fair and...

Section 63-9-30. Definitions. - As used in this article unless the context requires otherwise:...

Section 63-9-40. Jurisdiction; venue. - (A) The family court has exclusive jurisdiction over all proceedings...

Section 63-9-50. Children who may be adopted. - Any child present within this State at the time the...

Section 63-9-60. Persons who may adopt. - (A) Any South Carolina resident may petition the court to...

Section 63-9-70. Advertising prohibited to place or accept child for adoption; exception; penalties. - (A) No person or entity other than the Department of...

Section 63-9-80. Biological parent medical history; disclosure to prospective adoptive parent and adoptee. - (A) Prior to and at the time the department places...

Section 63-9-310. Persons who must give consent or relinquishment. - (A) Consent or relinquishment for the purpose of adoption is...

Section 63-9-320. Persons not required to give consent or relinquishment. - (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-9-310, consent or relinquishment...

Section 63-9-330. Form and content of consent and relinquishment. - (A) Consent or relinquishment for the purpose of adoption, pursuant...

Section 63-9-340. Signing consent and relinquishment. - (A) The sworn document provided for in Section 63-9-330, which...

Section 63-9-350. Withdrawal of consent or relinquishment. - Withdrawal of any consent or relinquishment is not permitted except...

Section 63-9-360. Consent and relinquishment certification. - (A) With the exception of the persons provided for in...

Section 63-9-370. Adoption of a child in the custody of the Department of Social Services. - (A) Consent or relinquishment for the purpose of adoption, pursuant...

Section 63-9-510. Temporary placement and custody of adoptee. - Once a petitioner has received the adoptee into his home...

Section 63-9-520. Investigations and reports. - (A) Before the final hearing for adoption of a child,...

Section 63-9-710. Petition for adoption; use of fictitious names. - (A) A petition for adoption shall specify: (1) the full...

Section 63-9-720. Appointment of guardian ad litem. - Before any hearing is held on the adoption or any...

Section 63-9-730. Notice of adoption proceedings. - (A) Notice of any proceeding initiated pursuant to this article...

Section 63-9-740. Itemized accounting of disbursements. - (A) At the final hearing on the adoption, the petitioner...

Section 63-9-750. Final hearing. - (A) The final hearing on the adoption petition must not...

Section 63-9-760. Effect of final decree. - (A) After the final decree of adoption is entered, the...

Section 63-9-770. Attacks on final orders; appeals. - (A) Except as provided in subsection (B), after the final...

Section 63-9-780. Confidentiality of hearings and records. - (A) Unless the court otherwise orders, all hearings held in...

Section 63-9-790. Amended birth certificates. - (A) For each adoption handled through a child placing agency...

Section 63-9-810. State interest; purpose of registry. - The State has a compelling interest in promptly providing stable...

Section 63-9-820. Registry established; definitions; claims of paternity; promulgation of regulations; unauthorized use. - (A) There is established within the Department of Social Services...

Section 63-9-910. Foreign adoptions. - (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63-9-790(A) and (B), in...

Section 63-9-920. Effect of foreign decrees of adoption. - When the relationship of parent and child has been created...

Section 63-9-1110. Adoption by stepparent or relative. - Any person may adopt his spouse's child, and any person...

Section 63-9-1120. Adult adoption. - An adult person may be adopted by another adult person...

Section 63-9-1310. Declaration of purpose. - It is the purpose of this article to achieve the...

Section 63-9-1320. Department of Social Services adoption program only state public adoption program. - The Adoption and Birth Parent Services Program within the South...

Section 63-9-1330. Department of Social Services to administer program. - The Department of Social Services shall administer an adoption program...

Section 63-9-1340. Children's Bureau transferred; monitoring placements. - (A) The General Assembly finds that there should no longer...

Section 63-9-1350. Department of Social Services to obtain accreditation. - The department shall take all actions necessary to achieve accreditation...

Section 63-9-1360. Birth parent informational brochure; waiting period. - (A) The Department of Social Services, before it may accept...

Section 63-9-1370. Adoption services fees. - (A) The department shall establish fees for certain adoption and...

Section 63-9-1510. Statewide adoption exchange. - (A) The State Department of Social Services shall establish, either...

Section 63-9-1700. Short title. - This article may be cited as the "South Carolina Adoption...

Section 63-9-1710. Purpose. - The purpose of this article is to supplement the South...

Section 63-9-1720. Definitions. - As used in this article: (1) "Child" means an individual...

Section 63-9-1730. Program established. - The department shall establish and administer an ongoing program of...

Section 63-9-1740. Notice to adoptive parents. - At the time of placement for adoption, the department shall...

Section 63-9-1750. Eligibility criteria. - In order for a child to be eligible for supplemental...

Section 63-9-1760. Eligible children. - A child meeting criteria specified in Section 63-9-1750 for whom...

Section 63-9-1770. Adoptive parents; nature of supplemental benefits. - (A) When the department determines that a child is eligible...

Section 63-9-1780. Eligibility for supplemental benefits. - Only certain children who have been certified as eligible for...

Section 63-9-1790. Review of decisions. - A decision concerning supplemental benefits by the department which the...

Section 63-9-1800. Benefits to substitute caregivers. - Supplemental benefits may not end solely because the death or...

Section 63-9-1810. Authority to promulgate regulations. - The department shall promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions...

Section 63-9-2000. Compact authorized. - (A) The Department of Social Services may develop, participate in...

Section 63-9-2010. Compact contents. - A compact entered into pursuant to the authority conferred by...

Section 63-9-2020. Additional provisions. - A compact entered into pursuant to the authority conferred by...

Section 63-9-2030. Medical assistance identification. - (A) A child with special needs who is a resident...

Section 63-9-2040. Compliance with federal law. - Consistent with federal law, the Department of Social Services in...

Section 63-9-2050. Penalties. - A person who submits a claim for payment or reimbursement...

Section 63-9-2200. Compact enacted. - The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children is hereby...

Section 63-9-2210. Financial responsibility for children. - Financial responsibility for any child placed pursuant to the provisions...

Section 63-9-2220. "Appropriate public authorities" defined. - The "appropriate public authorities" as used in Subsection 3 of...

Section 63-9-2230. "Appropriate authority in receiving state" defined. - As used in item (a) of Subsection 5 of the...

Section 63-9-2240. Agreements with other compact states. - The officers and agencies of this State and its subdivisions...

Section 63-9-2250. Visitation, inspections by agreement. - Any requirements for visitation, inspection or supervision of children, homes,...

Section 63-9-2260. Out-of-state placements. - There shall be no legal restrictions on out-of-state placements made...

Section 63-9-2270. Placement of delinquent children. - Any court having jurisdiction to place delinquent children may place...

Section 63-9-2280. "Executive head" defined. - As used in Subsection 7 of the Interstate Compact on...

Section 63-9-2290. Promulgation of procedures governing interstate adoptive and foster care. - The Department of Social Services shall promulgate procedures to govern...

Chapter 11 - Children's Services Agencies

Section 63-11-10. "Child welfare agency" defined. - Any agency, institution or family home engaged in the business...

Section 63-11-20. Exemptions. - (A) This article does not apply to: (1) child welfare...

Section 63-11-30. Department of Social Services to administer article. - The department shall administer the provisions of this article and...

Section 63-11-40. Temporary crisis placements. - (A) The department is authorized to develop a network of...

Section 63-11-50. License revocation or refusal to renew. - The department may revoke the license of any child welfare...

Section 63-11-60. Placing children in family homes. - A licensed child welfare agency may place children in family...

Section 63-11-70. Background checks; pardons. - When a provision of law or regulation provides for a...

Section 63-11-80. Prohibition against certain disclosures of information; exception. - An officer, agent or employee of the department or a...

Section 63-11-90. Penalties. - Any person and any officer, agent or employee of the...

Section 63-11-310. Children's advocacy centers. - (A) "Children's Advocacy Centers" mean centers which must coordinate a...

Section 63-11-400. Short title. - This article may be cited as the "South Carolina Children's...

Section 63-11-410. South Carolina Children's Advocacy Medical Response System. - There is created the South Carolina Children's Advocacy Medical Response...

Section 63-11-420. Definitions. - For purposes of this article: (1) "Child" has the same...

Section 63-11-430. Program requirements. - (A) The program coordinates and administers child abuse medical service...

Section 63-11-500. Creation, purpose, and administration of program. - (A) There is created the Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad...

Section 63-11-510. Responsibilities of guardian ad litem. - The responsibilities and duties of a guardian ad litem are...

Section 63-11-520. Persons prohibited from appointment as guardians ad litem. - No person may be appointed as a guardian ad litem...

Section 63-11-530. Guardian ad litem to represent best interests of the child; removal of volunteer guardian ad litem. - (A)(1) The guardian ad litem is charged in general with...

Section 63-11-540. Right of access to information and records. - All reports made and information collected as described in Section...

Section 63-11-550. Confidentiality of records and information. - (A) All reports and information collected pursuant to this article...

Section 63-11-560. Immunity from liability for guardian ad litem. - After participating in the training program of the South Carolina...

Section 63-11-570. Funds. - The General Assembly shall provide the funds necessary for the...

Section 63-11-700. Division for Review of the Foster Care of Children; board. - (A) There is created, within the Department of Children's Advocacy,...

Section 63-11-710. Local boards for review. - (A) There are created sixteen local boards for review of...

Section 63-11-720. Functions and powers of local boards. - (A) The functions and powers of local foster care review...

Section 63-11-730. Background checks for employees and board members. - (A) No person may be employed by the Department of...

Section 63-11-740. Meetings of local boards; staffing. - Local boards shall conduct meetings in the judicial circuit which...

Section 63-11-750. Participation in child abuse and neglect proceedings. - (A) The Foster Care Review Board may participate, through counsel,...

Section 63-11-760. Immunity from liability. - After participating in a training program of the system for...

Section 63-11-770. Cooperation of public and private agencies. - All public and private agencies and facilities which provide for...

Section 63-11-780. Petitions for relief. - A person or agency aggrieved by an action or recommendation...

Section 63-11-790. Effect of article on other agencies. - The provisions of this article may not be construed to...

Section 63-11-910. Fund established. - (A) There is established the Children's Trust Fund of South...

Section 63-11-920. Board of directors; terms; filling vacancies; compensation; reports. - There is created the Board of Directors for the Children's...

Section 63-11-930. Powers and duties. - To carry out its assigned functions, the board is authorized,...

Section 63-11-940. Director. - The board of directors may employ a director and other...

Section 63-11-950. Disbursement of funds. - (A) The amount deposited in the trust fund from contributions...

Section 63-11-960. Deposit and distribution of contributions pursuant to Section 12-6-5060. - Funds from the receipt of contributions pursuant to Section 12-6-5060...

Section 63-11-1110 to 63-11-1160. Repealed. - HISTORY: Former Section 63-11-1110, titled Creation, had the following history:...

Section 63-11-1310. Purpose. - It is the purpose of this article to develop and...

Section 63-11-1320. Clients. - (A)(1) The Continuum of Care serves children: (a) who have...

Section 63-11-1330. Duties. - The Continuum of Care shall perform the following duties and...

Section 63-11-1340. Director and other staff; promulgation of regulations. - The State Child Advocate may appoint a Director of the...

Section 63-11-1350. Confidentiality. - (A) Records, reports, applications, and files kept on any client...

Section 63-11-1360. Annual report. - The Continuum of Care Division shall submit an annual report...

Section 63-11-1510. System established. - There is established the Interagency System for Caring for Emotionally...

Section 63-11-1520. State agency responsibilities. - The Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the other...

Section 63-11-1530. Services Fund. - There is established the Services Fund for Emotionally Disturbed Children....

Section 63-11-1710. Board established; administrative responsibilities. - (A) There is established the South Carolina First Steps to...

Section 63-11-1720. Board of trustees; composition; oversight. - (A) There is created the South Carolina First Steps to...

Section 63-11-1725. Advisory council. - (A) For the purposes of this article, "advisory council" means...

Section 63-11-1730. Board of trustees; promulgation of comprehensive long-term initiative; regulations; policies. - To oversee and be accountable for the South Carolina First...

Section 63-11-1735. Repealed. - HISTORY: Former Section, titled BabyNet; definitions; compliance with federal law,...

Section 63-11-1740. Director and staff; salary duties. - The South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of...

Section 63-11-1750. Funding. - (A) A separate fund must be established to accept nongovernmental...

Section 63-11-1900. Policy. - It is the policy of this State that: (1) every...

Section 63-11-1910. Definitions. - For purposes of this article: (1) "Child" means a person...

Section 63-11-1920. Department established. - There is created within the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED)...

Section 63-11-1930. Committee established. - (A) There is created a State Child Fatality Advisory Committee...

Section 63-11-1940. Purpose and duties of department. - (A) The purpose of the department is to expeditiously investigate...

Section 63-11-1950. Purpose and duties of committee. - (A) The purpose of the State Child Fatality Advisory Committee...

Section 63-11-1960. Access to information. - Upon request of the department and as necessary to carry...

Section 63-11-1970. Subpoena power. - When necessary in the discharge of the duties of the...

Section 63-11-1980. Confidentiality of meetings. - (A) Meetings of the committee and department are closed to...

Section 63-11-1990. Confidentiality of information. - (A) All information and records acquired by the committee and...

Section 63-11-2110. Military-Connected Children's Welfare Task Force. - (A) There is created the "Military-Connected Children's Welfare Task Force"...

Section 63-11-2210. Department of Children's Advocacy established. - There is created the Department of Children's Advocacy. The department...

Section 63-11-2215. Administrative support of department. - The Department of Administration shall provide administrative support to the...

Section 63-11-2220. Composition of department; salaries. - The department shall be comprised of deputy child advocates, investigators,...

Section 63-11-2230. Definitions. - For purposes of this article: (1) "Critical incident" means the...

Section 63-11-2240. State Child Advocate; responsibilities; qualifications. - (A) The State Child Advocate is responsible for ensuring that...

Section 63-11-2250. Confidentiality. - Any and all information and records acquired by the Department...

Section 63-11-2260. Compensation of State Child Advocate. - The State Child Advocate shall receive compensation as established under...

Section 63-11-2270. Duties; reports; access. - The Department of Children's Advocacy shall: (1) ensure that children...

Section 63-11-2280. Critical incidents; reporting requirements; investigation. - (A) A state agency shall inform the Department of Children's...

Section 63-11-2290. Toll-free public telephone number and electronic complaint submission form; agencies required to post number and web address. - (A) The Department of Children's Advocacy shall establish a toll-free...

Section 63-11-2295. Complaints regarding State Child Advocate and department. - (A) Complaints regarding any allegations against the State Child Advocate,...

Section 63-11-2400. South Carolina Child Abuse Response Protocol; failure to comply with protocol. - In the investigation of a known or suspected crime against...

Section 63-11-2410. Establishment of Child Abuse Protocol Review Committee; membership; meetings. - (A) The South Carolina Children's Justice Act Task Force and...

Section 63-11-2420. Maintenance of protocol. - The Department of Children's Advocacy shall maintain the protocol and...

Chapter 13 - Childcare Facilities

Section 63-13-10. Purpose. - (A) The intent of this chapter is to define the...

Section 63-13-20. Definitions. - For the purpose of this chapter: (1) "Caregiver" means any...

Section 63-13-30. Caregiver requirements. - (A) A caregiver who begins employment in a licensed or...

Section 63-13-40. Background checks for employment. - (A)(1) A licensed, approved, or registered childcare facility, or any...

Section 63-13-45. Notice to parents of childcare center provisional staff employment; statements from parents indicating receipt of notice. - (A) An owner or operator of a childcare center, group...

Section 63-13-50. Fingerprint exemptions. - The fingerprint reviews required by this chapter are not required...

Section 63-13-60. Criminal history review fee. - For conducting a state criminal history review as required by...

Section 63-13-70. Register required. - Every childcare center or group childcare home shall maintain a...

Section 63-13-80. Investigations and inspections. - (A) In exercising the powers of licensing, approving, renewing, revoking,...

Section 63-13-90. Zoning. - At the time of initial licensing, approval, or registration a...

Section 63-13-100. Provisional licensure, approval, and registration. - (A) The department has power to issue a provisional registration,...

Section 63-13-110. First aid and CPR certificates. - During the hours of operation all childcare facilities, except registered...

Section 63-13-120. Training on domestic violence. - The Department of Social Services in conjunction with existing training...

Section 63-13-130. Consultation. - The department shall offer consultation through employed staff or other...

Section 63-13-140. Compliance review. - Upon request of an applicant or operator, the department shall...

Section 63-13-150. Violation citations. - At any time the department cites a childcare center, group...

Section 63-13-160. Injunctions. - The department is empowered to seek an injunction against the...

Section 63-13-170. Penalties. - A person violating the provisions of this chapter is guilty...

Section 63-13-180. Regulations and suggested standards. - (A) The department shall with the advice and consent of...

Section 63-13-185. Childcare facility medication administration to children. - (A) For purposes of this section, "medication" means a drug...

Section 63-13-190. Fingerprint reviews of Department of Social Services personnel. - (A)(1) Before the Department of Social Services employs a person...

Section 63-13-200. Unlawful offenses near childcare facilities. - It is a separate criminal offense, and a felony, for...

Section 63-13-210. Notice to parents that childcare business does not carry liability insurance. - (A) An owner or operator of a childcare center, group...

Section 63-13-410. Licensure required for private centers and group homes. - No person, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, or other organization may...

Section 63-13-420. Licensure requirements. - (A) Application for license must be made on forms supplied...

Section 63-13-430. License renewal. - (A) Regular licenses may be renewed upon application and approval....

Section 63-13-440. Display of license. - (A) Each childcare center or group childcare home shall maintain...

Section 63-13-450. Deficiency correction notices. - (A) Whenever the department finds upon inspection that a private...

Section 63-13-460. License denial; nonrenewal; notice; hearings; appeals. - (A) An applicant who has been denied a license by...

Section 63-13-610. Approval required for public centers and group homes. - Every operator or potential operator of a public childcare center...

Section 63-13-620. Statement of approval requirements. - (A) Application for a statement of standard conformity or approval...

Section 63-13-630. Approval renewal. - (A) Regular approvals may be renewed upon application and approval....

Section 63-13-640. Deficiency correction notices. - (A) Whenever the department finds upon inspection that a public...

Section 63-13-650. Review meeting. - (A) An applicant or operator who has been denied approval...

Section 63-13-810. Registration required for family childcare homes. - (A) As used in this chapter, "family childcare home" means...

Section 63-13-820. Registration requirements. - (A) Registration must be completed on forms supplied by the...

Section 63-13-825. Training for daycare operators and workers. - (A) An operator of a family childcare home and any...

Section 63-13-830. Statement of registration. - (A) A statement of registration must be issued when the...

Section 63-13-840. Inspections of family childcare homes. - (A) When the department visits a family childcare home for...

Section 63-13-850. Appeals. - (A) A registrant whose statement of registration has been withdrawn...

Section 63-13-860. Consultation. - The department shall offer consultation through employed staff or other...

Section 63-13-1010. Registration required for church and religious centers. - (A) No church congregation or established religious denomination or religious...

Section 63-13-1020. Registration and inspections. - The childcare operator shall submit a formal request for inspection...

Section 63-13-1030. Statement of registration. - A statement of registration must be issued when the church...

Section 63-13-1040. Department of Social Services curriculum restrictions. - Notwithstanding the staff training requirements of Section 63-13-1010(A) and (B)(3),...

Section 63-13-1050. Deficiency correction notices. - (A) Whenever the health or fire safety agency finds upon...

Section 63-13-1060. Injunctions. - The department may seek an injunction against the continuing operation...

Section 63-13-1070. Appeals. - (A) When the registration of a facility has been suspended,...

Section 63-13-1080. Penalties. - An operator violating the provisions of this article is guilty...

Section 63-13-1110. Sex offender employment prohibitions. - (A) Notwithstanding another provision of law to the contrary, it...

Section 63-13-1210. State advisory committee established. - (A) A State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Childcare...

Section 63-13-1220. Committee duties. - The State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Childcare Facilities...

Section 63-13-1230. Federal funding waivers. - The provisions of Sections 63-13-180 and 63-13-1220(1) concerning the review...

Section 63-13-1240. Advisory committee staff support. - The department shall provide reasonable secretarial and administrative support to...

Chapter 15 - Child Custody And Visitation

Section 63-15-10. "Tender Years Doctrine" abolished. - The "Tender Years Doctrine" in which there is a preference...

Section 63-15-20. Religious faith. - In placing the child in the custody of an individual...

Section 63-15-30. Child's preference. - In determining the best interests of the child, the court...

Section 63-15-40. Consideration of domestic violence. - (A) In making a decision regarding custody of a minor...

Section 63-15-50. Domestic violence and visitation; payment for treatment. - (A) A court may award visitation to a person who...

Section 63-15-60. De facto custodian. - (A) For purposes of this section, "de facto custodian" means,...

Section 63-15-210. Definitions. - As used in this article: (1) "Joint custody" means both...

Section 63-15-220. Parenting plans. - (A) At all temporary hearings where custody is contested, each...

Section 63-15-230. Final custody determination; considerations. - (A) The court shall make the final custody determination in...

Section 63-15-240. Contents of order for custody affecting rights and responsibilities of parents; best interests of the child. - (A) In issuing or modifying an order for custody affecting...

Section 63-15-250. Telephonic and electronic communication between minor child and parents. - In addition to all rights and duties given to parents...

Section 63-15-260. Equal access to educational and medical records of child by parents. - Notwithstanding the custody arrangement and in addition to all rights...

Section 63-15-300. Citation. - This article may be cited as the "Uniform Child Custody...

Section 63-15-302. Definitions. - As used in this article: (1) "Abandoned" means left without...

Section 63-15-304. Exemption proceedings. - This article does not govern an adoption proceeding or a...

Section 63-15-306. Indian children proceedings exempt. - (A) A child custody proceeding that pertains to an Indian...

Section 63-15-308. Recognition of foreign country custody. - (A) A court of this State shall treat a foreign...

Section 63-15-310. Determinations binding. - A child custody determination made by a court of this...

Section 63-15-312. Jurisdiction issues take priority. - If a question of existence or exercise of jurisdiction under...

Section 63-15-314. Notice; proof of service; submission to jurisdiction. - (A) Notice required for the exercise of jurisdiction when a...

Section 63-15-316. Immunity. - (A) A party to a child custody proceeding, including a...

Section 63-15-318. Communication with out-of-state courts. - (A) A court of this State may communicate with a...

Section 63-15-320. Testimony of out-of-state witnesses. - (A) In addition to other procedures available to a party,...

Section 63-15-322. Request for hearing in another state; preservation of records. - (A) A court of this State may request the appropriate...

Section 63-15-330. Basis for jurisdiction. - (A) Except as otherwise provided in Section 63-15-336, a court...

Section 63-15-332. Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction. - (A) Except as otherwise provided in Section 63-15-336, a court...

Section 63-15-334. Custody modification by another state. - Except as otherwise provided in Section 63-15-336, a court of...

Section 63-15-336. Temporary jurisdiction. - (A) A court of this State has temporary emergency jurisdiction...

Section 63-15-338. Notice; obligation to join party and right to intervene. - (A) Before a child custody determination is made under this...

Section 63-15-340. Stays of other proceedings. - (A) Except as otherwise provided in Section 63-15-336, a court...

Section 63-15-342. Inconvenient forum. - (A) A court of this State, which has jurisdiction under...

Section 63-15-344. Unjustifiable jurisdiction. - (A) Except as otherwise provided in Section 63-15-336 or by...

Section 63-15-346. Information regarding other proceedings. - (A) Subject to local law providing for the confidentiality of...

Section 63-15-348. Persons requested to appear. - (A) In a child custody proceeding in this State, the...

Section 63-15-350. Definitions. - As used in this subarticle: (1) "Petitioner" means a person...

Section 63-15-352. Enforcement under Hague Convention. - Under this subarticle a court of this State may enforce...

Section 63-15-354. Enforcing other states' orders. - (A) A court of this State shall recognize and enforce...

Section 63-15-356. Visitation. - (A) A court of this State which does not have...

Section 63-15-358. Registration of out-of-state custody order. - (A) A child custody determination issued by a court of...

Section 63-15-360. Enforcement of registered order. - (A) A court of this State may grant any relief...

Section 63-15-362. Modification pending out-of-state. - If a proceeding for enforcement under this subarticle is commenced...

Section 63-15-364. Enforcement petition. - (A) A petition under this subarticle must be verified. Certified...

Section 63-15-366. Service of petition and order. - Except as otherwise provided in Section 63-15-370, the petition and...

Section 63-15-368. Physical custody of child. - (A) Unless the court issues a temporary emergency order pursuant...

Section 63-15-370. Warrant to take physical custody. - (A) Upon the filing of a petition seeking enforcement of...

Section 63-15-372. Costs. - (A) The court shall award the prevailing party, including a...

Section 63-15-374. Full faith and credit. - A court of this State shall accord full faith and...

Section 63-15-376. Appeals. - An appeal may be taken from a final order in...

Section 63-15-378. Remedies. - (A) In a case arising under this article or involving...

Section 63-15-380. Assistance of law enforcement. - At the request of a prosecutor acting under Section 63-15-378,...

Section 63-15-382. Assessment of assistance costs. - If the respondent is not the prevailing party, the court...

Section 63-15-390. Uniformity of application. - In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be...

Section 63-15-392. Severability. - If any provision of this article or its application to...

Section 63-15-394. Applicability to prior proceedings. - A motion or other request for relief made in a...

Section 63-15-400. Decisions on guardianship, custody, or visitation not to be based solely on person's blindness. - In making decisions on guardianship, custody, or visitation where a...

Section 63-15-410. Adoption petitions not to be denied solely because of person's blindness. - (A) When the Department of Social Services, a guardian, or...

Section 63-15-420. Regulations. - Within one year of the adoption of this act, the...

Section 63-15-430. Definitions. - For purposes of this act, the term "blind" or "blindness"...

Section 63-15-500. Short title. - This chapter may be cited as the "Uniform Deployed Parents...

Section 63-15-502. Definitions. - As used in this article: (1) "Adult" means an individual...

Section 63-15-504. Remedies for noncompliance. - In addition to other relief provided by the law of...

Section 63-15-506. Jurisdiction. - (A) A court may issue an order regarding custodial responsibility...

Section 63-15-508. Notice required of deploying parent. - (A) Except as provided in subsection (D), and subject to...

Section 63-15-510. Notification required for change of address. - (A) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (B), an individual...

Section 63-15-512. General consideration in custody proceeding of parent's military service. - In a proceeding for custodial responsibility of a child of...

Section 63-15-514. Form of agreement. - (A) The parents of a child may enter into a...

Section 63-15-516. Nature of authority created by agreement. - (A) An agreement under this subarticle is temporary and terminates...

Section 63-15-518. Modification of agreement. - (A) The parents may modify an agreement regarding custodial responsibility...

Section 63-15-520. Power of attorney. - If no other parent possesses custodial responsibility under the law...

Section 63-15-522. Filing agreement or power of attorney with court. - An agreement or power of attorney made under this subarticle...

Section 63-15-524. Proceeding for temporary custody order. - (A) After a deploying parent receives notice of deployment and...

Section 63-15-526. Expedited hearing. - If a motion to grant custodial responsibility is filed before...

Section 63-15-528. Testimony by electronic means. - In a proceeding brought pursuant to this subarticle, a party...

Section 63-15-530. Effect of prior judicial order or agreement. - In a proceeding for a grant of custodial responsibility pursuant...

Section 63-15-532. Grant of caretaking or decision-making authority to nonparent. - (A) On the motion of a deploying parent and in...

Section 63-15-534. Grant of limited contact. - On motion of a deploying parent and in accordance with...

Section 63-15-536. Nature of authority created by order. - (A) A grant made pursuant to this subarticle is temporary...

Section 63-15-538. Content of temporary custody order. - (A) An order granting custodial responsibility pursuant to this article...

Section 63-15-540. Order for child support. - If a court has issued an order providing for grant...

Section 63-15-542. Modifying or terminating assignment or grant of custodial responsibility to nonparent. - (A) Except for an order in accordance with Section 63-15-530,...

Section 63-15-544. Procedure for terminating temporary grant of custodial responsibility established by agreement. - (A) At any time following return from deployment, a temporary...

Section 63-15-546. Consent procedure for terminating temporary grant of custodial responsibility established by court order. - At any time following return from deployment, the deploying parent...

Section 63-15-548. Visitation before termination of temporary grant of custodial responsibility. - Following return from deployment of a deploying parent until a...

Section 63-15-550. Termination by operation of law of temporary grant of custodial responsibility established by court order. - (A) A temporary order for custodial responsibility issued pursuant to...

Section 63-15-552. Uniformity of application and construction. - In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be...

Section 63-15-554. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. - This article modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures...

Section 63-15-556. Savings clause. - This article does not affect the validity of a temporary...

Chapter 17 - Paternity And Child Support

Section 63-17-10. Purpose; definitions. - (A) The purpose of this article is to establish a...

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South Carolina Code of Laws Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code

South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 63 - South Carolina Children's Code