South Carolina Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in South Carolina that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other South Carolina court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular South Carolina court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a South Carolina court ordered it?
South Carolina's domestic violence statute, S.C. Code § 16-25-20, lets a court suspend all or part of a sentence and place a person on probation with conditions that include completing a program "designed to treat batterers." Under § 16-25-20(G) these programs must be approved by the circuit solicitor or the Attorney General. The section reviewed does not set a program length or curriculum, so what applies depends on the judge and the probation officer.
On the civil side, the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act (§ 20-4-10 et seq.) lets a household member petition for an order of protection, and § 20-4-60 allows temporary custody, visitation and support terms. Family courts also weigh domestic violence when deciding custody under § 63-15-240. Because every order is different, confirm exactly what your own order or probation terms require before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, South Carolina included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a South Carolina court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, South Carolina-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — South Carolina civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Child custody: best-interest factorsS.C. Code §§ 63-15-230, 63-15-240
The court decides custody in the child's best interest and may award sole or joint custody. Listed best-interest factors include whether one parent has perpetrated domestic violence or child abuse and how that affected the child (§ 63-15-240(B)(15)).
Order of protection (Protection from Domestic Abuse Act)S.C. Code §§ 20-4-10 to 20-4-160
Household members can petition for an order of protection. The court may temporarily bar abuse and contact and address custody, visitation, support and possession of the residence (§ 20-4-60). Orders last a fixed period of at least six months and up to one year, and can be extended for good cause (§ 20-4-70).
Restraining orders for harassment or stalkingS.C. Code §§ 16-3-1750 to 16-3-1780
The code separately provides a civil action for a restraining order against a person engaged in harassment or stalking, including temporary orders without notice and rules for expiration and extension.
Criminal law
Criminal domestic violenceS.C. Code § 16-25-20
Third degree is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of $1,000 to $2,500 and/or up to 90 days. Second degree is a misdemeanor with a fine of $2,500 to $5,000 and/or up to 3 years. First degree is a felony with up to 10 years.
Domestic violence of a high and aggravated natureS.C. Code § 16-25-65
A felony carrying up to 20 years, applying to domestic violence under circumstances showing extreme indifference to human life or that cause fear of imminent great bodily injury or death.
Assault and battery, third degreeS.C. Code § 16-3-600(E)
A misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both.
StalkingS.C. Code § 16-3-1730
A felony. The base offense carries a fine of up to $5,000 and/or up to 5 years, with higher maximums when an injunction or restraining order is in effect or there is a prior conviction.