In order to institute an action for divorce from the bonds of matrimony the plaintiff must have resided in this State at least one year prior to the commencement of the action or, if the plaintiff is a nonresident, the defendant must have so resided in this State for this period; provided, that when both parties are residents of the State when the action is commenced, the plaintiff must have resided in this State only three months prior to commencement of the action. The terms 'residents' or 'resided' as used in this section as it applies to a plaintiff or defendant stationed in this State on active duty military service means a continuous presence in this State for the period required regardless of intent to permanently remain in South Carolina. HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 20-103; 1952 Code Section 20-103; 1949 (46) 216; 1951 (47) 539; 1975 (59) 310; 1987 Act No. 17 Section 1, eff March 31, 1987.
South Carolina Legal Code