South Carolina Financial Declaration Form SCCA 430

What the SCCA 430 Is and Why It Matters

Every South Carolina Family Court action involving money — property division, debt allocation, alimony, child support — requires both spouses to file a completed, notarized Financial Declaration on Form SCCA 430. This isn't optional. Rule 20 of the South Carolina Rules of Family Court mandates that you file and serve your SCCA 430 prior to or at the first hearing, or no later than 45 days after service of the complaint, whichever occurs first.

The form is your sworn financial snapshot. Judges rely on it to divide your marital estate, set support obligations, and evaluate credibility. Errors or omissions don't just weaken your case — they can trigger sanctions, monetary fines, or unfavorable rulings.

Where to Get the Form

The SCCA 430 is available through the South Carolina Judicial Branch website (sccourts.org). Many county Family Court clerk's offices also provide printed copies. The form itself is standardized statewide, so you can use the same version regardless of which county you file in.

Documents You Need Before Starting

Gather these before you sit down with the form:

• Three most recent pay stubs (or profit-and-loss statements if self-employed)
• Three years of federal and state tax returns with all W-2s, 1099s, and K-1s
• Bank statements for every checking, savings, and money market account (last 12 months)
• Credit card statements for every open account (last 6 months minimum)
• Mortgage statements showing current balance, payment amount, and escrow
• Retirement account statements — 401(k), 403(b), IRA, pension summary from PEBA if applicable
• Vehicle loan statements and current payoff amounts
• Insurance declarations — auto, homeowner's, health, and life
• Monthly utility bills — electric, water, gas, internet, phone

Missing even one category creates gaps in your declaration that opposing counsel will exploit at hearing.

Walking Through the Major Sections

Income

Report all sources of gross income, not net. This includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment income, rental income, interest, dividends, Social Security benefits, and any other recurring payments. If your income fluctuates (commission-based work, seasonal employment, freelance), average the last 12 months rather than using the most recent pay stub alone.

Monthly Expenses

The SCCA 430 asks for your current monthly expenses across dozens of categories: housing, utilities, food, clothing, transportation, medical, insurance, personal care, and miscellaneous. The single biggest mistake people make is estimating instead of calculating. Pull your bank and credit card statements and add up what you actually spent over the last three months, then divide by three.

Judges notice when someone claims $200 a month in groceries for a family of four, or when housing costs don't match the mortgage statement already in evidence. Internal consistency matters more than you think.

Assets

List every asset you own or have an interest in, including real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investments, business interests, personal property of significant value, and money owed to you. For each asset, you'll need the current fair market value and how much debt is attached to it.

The form separates "All Marital Property Known to Parties" from "Any Non-Marital Property Known to Parties"; disputed classifications still need to be tracked and supported separately. South Carolina defines marital property as anything acquired during the marriage and owned as of the date of filing, regardless of whose name is on the title. Non-marital property includes premarital assets, inheritances, and gifts from third parties — but only if you can trace them and they haven't been transmuted through commingling or joint titling.

Liabilities

Every debt goes on the form: mortgages, auto loans, student loans, credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, tax obligations. List the creditor, total balance, monthly payment, and whose name is on the account. Whether a debt is in one spouse's name or both doesn't determine who pays it in the divorce — the court divides marital debts equitably based on the same factors it uses for assets.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Case

Rounding everything. Judges and attorneys can tell when someone filled out the form from memory. Use actual figures from actual statements.

Omitting assets. Failing to disclose a bank account, a retirement plan, or even a vehicle title can lead to sanctions or adverse rulings. The obligation is full disclosure under oath.

Inflating expenses. Some people pad their monthly expenses hoping to justify a higher support award. If your claimed expenses exceed your documented income and you can't explain how you've been surviving, you lose credibility on everything else in the form.

Forgetting to get it notarized. The SCCA 430 must be signed under oath before a notary public. An un-notarized declaration won't be accepted by the court.

What Happens After You File It

Once both sides have filed their SCCA 430, the financial declarations become part of the case record. Attorneys use them to identify discrepancies, negotiate settlements, and prepare for hearings. If your case goes to mediation (which South Carolina requires before a contested trial can be scheduled), both mediators and attorneys will work from these declarations as the baseline.

If the other side's declaration doesn't match what you know about the marital finances, your attorney can subpoena records, request depositions, or file a motion to compel. The court takes incomplete or dishonest financial disclosures seriously — sanctions can include paying the other side's attorney fees.

Getting Organized Before You Start

The South Carolina Divorce Financial Split & Asset Division Guide includes a structured walkthrough that matches the SCCA 430's line items, helping you reconcile your bank statements, track monthly expenses, and compile your document checklist before you sit down with the form. Having your financial inventory organized before you start the SCCA 430 transforms it from an intimidating legal requirement into a straightforward data-entry exercise.

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