South Carolina § 20-3-80 Required delays before reference and final decree; exceptions.

South Carolina Statutes

§ 20-3-80 — Required delays before reference and final decree; exceptions.

South Carolina § 20-3-80

Title 20DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Ch. 3DIVORCE

This text of South Carolina § 20-3-80 (Required delays before reference and final decree; exceptions.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-80 (2026).

Text

No reference shall be had before two months after the filing of the complaint in the office of the Clerk of Court, nor shall a final decree be granted before three months after such filing. Provided, however, that when the plaintiff seeks a divorce on the grounds of desertion or separation for one year, the hearing may be held and the decree issued after the responsive pleadings have been filed or after the respondent has been adjudged to be in default whichever occurs sooner.

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No reference shall be had before two months after the filing of the complaint in the office of the Clerk of Court, nor shall a final decree be granted before three months after such filing. Provided, however, that when the plaintiff seeks a divorce on the grounds of desertion or separation for one year, the hearing may be held and the decree issued after the responsive pleadings have been filed or after the respondent has been adjudged to be in default whichever occurs sooner.