About Us

Fair Futures South Carolina is a grassroots, nonpartisan movement dedicated to ending permanent alimony and modernizing our state’s outdated family laws.

For decades, South Carolina has been one of the few states in America where alimony can last for life — and the last where it is the preferred award for longer term marriages - even when both parties are capable of rebuilding their independence. These laws incentivize family destruction and trap thousands of residents in financial dependency long after divorce, creating lifelong conflict instead of closure.

We believe in fairness, accountability, and second chances. Divorce, which is painful enough, should mark the end of a relationship, not the beginning of a lifetime obligation. By supporting House Bill H.3098, we’re working to bring South Carolina in line with the rest of the nation — promoting reasonable, time-limited support that helps people move forward, not remain stuck in the past.

Our mission is simple: restore fairness, protect families, and secure a future where everyone can rebuild their lives with dignity and independence.

Our Mission

Our Vision

We envision a South Carolina where fairness doesn’t expire at divorce — where every person has the right to rebuild, move forward, and live free from lifelong financial control.

A future where support after marriage is reasonable, time-limited, and focused on independence — not dependency.

We believe reform isn’t just about money; it’s about dignity, equality, and justice. By modernizing our alimony laws, we can create a fairer future for every family in South Carolina — one rooted in compassion, accountability, and common sense.

Who Are We?

We are the men and women of South Carolina — people who entered marriage with love, faith, and commitment. None of us ever imagined ours would end. And when it did, it was devastating.

But for many of us, the grief didn’t stop there. It began all over again with the court’s decision to impose permanent alimony — a lifetime tether to a relationship that had already failed.

We are not criminals, yet we live with a punishment that never ends. We work, we pay, we try to rebuild — but the system keeps us bound to the past, unable to move forward or heal.

Permanent alimony doesn’t promote fairness or compassion. It extends the pain of divorce indefinitely, turning closure into captivity.

We believe South Carolina can do better.
We believe in accountability, equality, and the chance for both people to rebuild their lives with dignity.

We are not asking for escape — we are asking for fairness.
We are the faces, families, and stories behind Fair Futures South Carolina.

“I worked two jobs to rebuild after my marriage ended, but the courts still call it ‘her need’ and ‘my ability.’ When does my life count again? When do I get to retire?”

— Healthcare professional, Charleston

Father of three, Spartanburg

“I believed in accountability, not revenge. But permanent alimony turned that belief upside down. It’s not helping families — it’s destroying them long after the divorce is over.”

— Former teacher, Columbia

“I thought the divorce was the hardest part. But realizing I’d spend the rest of my life paying someone who chose to leave — that broke me in ways I can’t describe. It’s not justice. It’s a sentence.”

“I stayed home for years raising our kids, then went back to work to support myself after the divorce. But I still see women my age relying on -and bragging about - lifetime alimony instead of rebuilding. That’s not empowerment — it’s entrapment.”

— Small business owner, Greenville

“I’m 78 years old and still working because I have to. My body hurts, but if I stop, I can’t afford the payments. I’ve paid far longer in alimony than I was ever married.”

— Retired tradesman, Lexington

“I didn’t ask for a handout when my marriage ended. I just wanted a fair chance to move forward. This system keeps people stuck — financially, emotionally, and spiritually.”

— Mother of two, Florence