South Carolina H 4651: James "Jimmy" Olanda Ruff Sympathy

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4651 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 17, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4651

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 
63-15-115 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN FEES AND COSTS IN 
ACTIONS INVOLVING PARENTAL ALIENATION, WITH EXCEPTIONS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 15, Title 63 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
63-15-115. (A) In an action 
affecting the parent-child relationship, if the court finds that a party has 
engaged in behavior constituting parental alienation, the court shall order 
that the targeted parent be reimbursed by the offending party for:

 (1) 
all reasonable and necessary attorney's fees incurred by the targeted parent as 
a direct result of litigating the issue of alienating behavior;

 (2) 
all costs associated with supervised visitation, reunification therapy, 
parenting facilitation, counseling, or any other professional services ordered 
by the court to address or remedy the harm caused by the alienating behavior; 
and

 (3) 
all fees charged by court-appointed professionals, including custody 
evaluators, parenting coordinators, guardians ad litem, or other experts 
necessitated by the alienating conduct.

 (B) 
The court may not waive reimbursement of such fees and costs unless it finds by 
clear and convincing evidence that reimbursement would result in an undue 
financial hardship on the offending party and that such hardship substantially 
outweighs the need for accountability in the best interest of the child.

 (C) 
An order issued under this section is in addition to, and does not limit, any 
other remedies or sanctions available pursuant to law, including modification 
of custody, visitation, or parental responsibilities based on the best interest 
of the child.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 17, 2025 at 01:13 PM