The no-fault divorce process in South Carolina can start when the parties physically separate from each other. A person does not have to wait one year to start a no-fault divorce. However, a South Carolina no-fault divorce cannot be completed until the parties have been living apart from each other for one continuous year. Most people do a South Carolina no-fault divorce in two steps: (1) one spouse will file immediately an action for separate maintenance and support (often identified as a legal separation); and (2) one spouse will file a no-fault divorce case after the parties have been separated for 12 months. In a South Carolina action for separate maintenance and support (a/k/a a legal separation), all matters will be resolved regarding: (a) financial issues, including division of marital property and alimony; and (b) child custody, including legal decision making authority, parenting time, and child support. A South Carolina legal separation case typically takes 3 to 8 months to complete. The parties will still be legally married after they complete the action for separate maintenance and support. They will remain married until one of them files a complaint for a South Carolina no-fault divorce and a judgment of divorce is entered. After the parties have been living separately for 365 consecutive days, either spouse can file a complaint for a South Carolina no-fault divorce. If the parties previously resolved their financial and child custody issues through an action for separate maintenance and support, the no-fault divorce hearing will require about 15 minutes of court time to complete. The final divorce hearing can be scheduled for 3 months after the date on which the no-fault divorce case has been filed. At the conclusion of the hearing, the parties will be legally divorced.