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H5200 • 2026

Child Custody

Child Custody

Children
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Reps. Martin and Guest
Last action
2026-02-19
Official status
Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Guest
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Child Custody

Child Custody

What This Bill Does

  • Child Custody

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-19 House

    Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Guest

  2. 2026-02-18 House

    Introduced and read first time ( House Journal-page 47 )

  3. 2026-02-18 House

    Referred to Committee on Judiciary ( House Journal-page 47 )

Official Summary Text

Child Custody

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
2025-2026 Bill 5200: Child Custody - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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This Bill
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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 5200
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Martin and Guest
Document Path: LC-0426VR26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 18, 2026
Currently residing in the House
Summary: Child Custody
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/18/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 47
)

2/18/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
House Journal-page 47
)

2/19/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Guest

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/18/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
63-15-215
SO AS TO ESTABLISH THAT JOINT
PHYSICAL CUSTODY IS PRESUMED TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF A MINOR CHILD, WITH
EXCEPTIONS; TO DEFINE "JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY"; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
A
rticle 2, Chapter 15, Title 63 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:

S
ection
63-15-215
.
(
A) Upon the petition of
either parent for the initial determination of physical custody of a minor
child, there is a rebuttable presumption that joint physical custody is in the
best interest of a minor child. This presumption may be rebutted by evidence showing
that joint physical custody is not in the best interest of the child based on
the factors set forth in Section
63-15-240
.

(
B)
The court shall consider the factors set forth in Section
63-15-240
, and shall
make written findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding the best
interest of the minor child, unless waived by both parties or the parents have
stipulated to the terms of an agreement resolving the petition.

(
C)
The presumption set forth in subsection (A) is not applicable if the court
finds that a parent has a history of committing domestic violence or has a
conviction for assault or criminal sexual conduct, creating instead a
rebuttable presumption that joint physical custody is not in the best interest
of the minor child.

(
D)
For purposes of this article, "joint physical custody" means a division of time
with the child that is approximately and reasonably equal for each parent, as
agreed to by each parent or as ordered by the court.

S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on February 18, 2026 at 1:06 PM