Divorce is one of life’s deepest pains — but in South Carolina, that pain can last forever. Our state enforces some of the harshest alimony laws in the nation, where Permanent Periodic Alimony remains the preferred award. This is not just a financial issue. It’s about mental health, freedom, fairness, and preserving the dignity of marriage itself by making divorce laws more equitable and predictable when the worst happens. Unlike nearly every other state — where permanent alimony has been eliminated or reserved only for extraordinary circumstances — South Carolina routinely awards permanent alimony to able-bodied, educated individuals, even when they are fully capable of supporting themselves. In other states, permanent alimony is typically limited to cases involving severe health issues or advanced age. But here, courts impose lifelong financial bonds even when the lower-earning spouse initiates the divorce. This outdated system creates lasting damage: • It prolongs emotional pain and prevents true healing after divorce. • It incentivizes leaving marriages for financial gain, rather than encouraging reconciliation. • It traps both parties in an unhealthy, involuntary financial relationship, breeding resentment and distrust. • It punishes the payor financially and emotionally, while demotivating the payee from seeking independence. South Carolina’s permanent alimony law reflects a bygone era when women had little economic opportunity. But today, financial prospects are far more balanced — and ironically, many women now find themselves trapped by these same laws. Permanent alimony is no longer about protection; it’s about control. It destroys lives, poisons co-parenting, and even leads to severe mental health crises, including self-harm and suicide. People have been forced to pay alimony for longer than their marriages lasted, with some unable to save for retirement or ever retire at all. Others live in fear of imprisonment for non-payment. No one should have to live under the permanent shadow of a past marriage. It’s time for South Carolina to join the modern world. No one marries expecting divorce. But if it happens, both parties deserve the chance to heal, move forward, and live independently — with dignity. Reasonable, fixed-term transitional alimony can help during a divorce recovery period, without chaining people together for life. We urge lawmakers to modernize our laws and bring consistency, fairness, and hope to South Carolina families. Nearly every other state has done it. We can too. Please sign this petition to eliminate permanent alimony in favor of transitional, time-limited support. Let’s fix an outdated, unjust system and create a better future for everyone. Final Note: Some legal professionals support reform, knowing it’s what’s best for families post-divorce. Others oppose change, profiting from the endless litigation permanent alimony fuels. And sadly, even within the legislature, conflicts of interest persist. It’s time for real leadership: for lawmakers to rise above personal interests and do what is right for the people, and the future of South Carolina’s families.