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Bill

H 3529

Family Court Judges, additional

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nathan Ballentine and 9 co-sponsors

South Carolina authorizes creation of additional family court judgeships to address caseload pressures and reduce delays in custody, divorce, and child support cases.

Act No. 7
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Bill Summary · H 3529

Legislative bill overview

H 3529 authorizes the creation of additional family court judgeships in South Carolina. The bill became law on April 28, 2025, and establishes new judicial positions to handle family law cases, which include matters related to divorce, custody, child support, and domestic relations.

Why is this important

Family courts in South Carolina face significant caseload pressures, and adding judges aims to reduce case backlogs, decrease wait times for hearings, and improve access to justice for families involved in custody disputes and other domestic matters. Faster case resolution can reduce legal costs for families and provide more timely resolution of child welfare issues.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact: Creating new judgeships requires funding for salaries, staff, and court infrastructure, raising questions about budget allocation and taxpayer costs
  • Judicial appointments: The method for appointing these new judges may be contentious if tied to political processes rather than merit-based selection
  • Workload distribution: Questions about whether new judges will be equitably distributed across districts or concentrated in high-population areas, potentially leaving rural areas underserved

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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