What Financial Documents Are Needed for Divorce in South Carolina

Gather Everything Before You Start the Process

South Carolina's Family Court requires both spouses to file a sworn SCCA 430 Financial Declaration disclosing all income, expenses, assets, and debts. Your attorney — if you have one — will need these same documents to negotiate effectively. Your mediator will want them on the table. And if your case goes to trial, you'll need to produce them in discovery.

Gathering financial documents is the single most productive thing you can do before engaging any professional. Arriving at a lawyer's office with organized records means they spend their billable hours on strategy, not data entry. With South Carolina family law attorneys charging $200 to $450 per hour, that preparation saves real money.

Income Documentation

• Pay stubs — last three months (or year-to-date for variable income)
• Federal and state tax returns — last three years, with all W-2s, 1099s, and K-1s
• Self-employment records — profit-and-loss statements, business tax returns (Schedule C, Form 1065, or 1120-S), quarterly estimated tax payments
• Social Security statements — available at ssa.gov, showing your earnings history and estimated benefits
• Other income documentation — rental income ledgers, royalty statements, trust distributions, pension or annuity statements, investment income summaries

If your spouse is self-employed or owns a business, you may not have access to their business records. Document what you can — personal tax returns show reported business income — and note what's missing. Your attorney can subpoena business records during discovery.

Asset Documentation

Real Estate

• Deed showing ownership and how title is held
• Current mortgage statement showing outstanding balance, interest rate, and monthly payment
• Home equity line of credit (HELOC) statements
• Property tax records from the county assessor
• Recent appraisal or comparable sales data for estimated market value
• Homeowner's insurance declaration page

Bank and Investment Accounts

• 12 months of statements for every checking, savings, and money market account in either spouse's name (or jointly)
• Brokerage account statements showing holdings, cost basis, and recent activity
• Certificate of deposit (CD) terms and maturity dates

Retirement Accounts

• Most recent statement for every 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Roth IRA, SEP-IRA, and pension account
• PEBA annual benefit statement if your spouse is a South Carolina public employee
• Military retirement statement if applicable
• Vesting schedules for any unvested employer contributions or stock options

Vehicles and Personal Property

• Vehicle titles and registration documents
• Loan statements for any financed vehicles
• Appraisals for valuable personal property (jewelry, art, collectibles, firearms)

Business Interests

• Business tax returns — last three years
• Operating agreements, partnership agreements, or corporate bylaws
• Buy-sell agreements between business partners
• Profit-and-loss statements and balance sheets — current year and prior two years

Debt Documentation

• Credit card statements for every open account (last 6 months)
• Student loan statements showing balance, servicer, and monthly payment
• Personal loan documents — promissory notes, payment schedules
• Medical bills outstanding or in collections
• Tax debts — IRS notices, state tax department correspondence
• Any judgments or liens recorded against either spouse

Insurance Policies

• Health insurance — current plan details, premiums, who's covered
• Life insurance — policy face values, beneficiaries, cash surrender values for whole/universal policies
• Auto insurance declarations page
• Disability insurance policy terms
• Long-term care insurance if applicable

Full Credit Reports

Pull all three credit bureau reports (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) for yourself. These reveal accounts you may not know about — credit cards opened by your spouse in their name alone, store accounts, personal loans. You're entitled to one free report per bureau per year through AnnualCreditReport.com.

If you suspect hidden accounts, note the inquiry section of the report — it shows which creditors have recently pulled your spouse's credit, which can identify new accounts.

How to Organize What You've Gathered

Create categories that match the SCCA 430's structure: income, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities. For each document, note whether it's in your name, your spouse's name, or joint. Flag anything you're missing or can't access — these are the items your attorney may need to subpoena.

The South Carolina Divorce Financial Split & Asset Division Guide includes a structured financial inventory checklist organized to feed directly into the SCCA 430's line items, so you're not just gathering documents — you're building your financial declaration as you go.

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