South Carolina allows divorce on the grounds of no fault, meaning that neither party needs to prove wrongdoing by the other to dissolve the marriage. To obtain a divorce based on these grounds, the parties must live separately and apart without cohabitation for a continuous period of one year. This is in contrast to fault-based divorces where grounds like adultery or physical abuse must be demonstrated.
The availability of this option can simplify the divorce process, potentially reducing conflict and associated legal costs. Parties can avoid the often complex and emotionally charged process of proving fault. Historically, divorce required proof of wrongdoing; the introduction of the no-fault option represents a significant shift in family law, providing a more streamlined path for ending marriages that have irretrievably broken down.