How does PCS move affect stepparent adoption in South Carolina?

A PCS move does not stop a stepparent adoption in South Carolina, and the state has no minimum residency period to wait out after you arrive. The residency rule in S.C. Code § 63-9-60(A) says a South Carolina resident may adopt, and it sets no required number of months. A recent move into the state doesn't start a waiting clock. The details below depend on your orders and your county, so check them with the clerk.

If you just PCS'd to South Carolina:

• The adoption is filed in Family Court. Because there is no fixed residency period, you aren't required to wait a set number of months before filing.
• How the court treats military orders as proof that you live in South Carolina can vary by situation. The Family Court clerk in your county can tell you which documents to bring.

If you PCS away during the process:

• Whether your case can stay in the original Family Court, and whether you can attend the final hearing by phone or video, are questions for the clerk. Ask before you move, and get the answer in writing if you can.
• For anything specific to your situation, such as a contested case or a parent whose whereabouts are unknown, an attorney can advise you.

If you're about to PCS:

• Typical stepparent adoptions here take about 3 to 6 months, so build that into your moving timeline.
• South Carolina waives the home study for stepparent adoptions under S.C. Code § 63-9-1110(1). That removes one step that could otherwise be hard to schedule around a move.
• If your child is 14 or older, South Carolina's child consent age applies (S.C. Code § 63-9-310). Make sure your child will be available for any consent or hearing requirements, and ask the clerk how that works if your child will be elsewhere.
• If the other biological parent's rights are an issue, South Carolina uses a 6-month abandonment period (S.C. Code § 63-7-2570). Whether it fits your facts is something to review with an attorney.

Costs and paperwork:

• Court filing fees in South Carolina typically run $150-$350, and the total cost of a stepparent adoption is typically under $1,000, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ for an attorney.
• After the decree, you can order an updated birth certificate through South Carolina DHEC Vital Records. Keep certified copies of the decree in your family records, since you may need them for other agencies.
• Once the adoption is final, ask your installation's ID card office or benefits office what they need to update your child's dependent status and health coverage. Bring the decree with you.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your South Carolina county. You receive court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and you file them yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child, and we back the documents with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 942 South Carolina families.