TO AMEND SECTION 63-15-220, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PARENTING PLANS, SO AS TO CREATE A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF TIME WITH EACH PARENT WHEN BOTH PARENTS ARE WILLING, ABLE, AND FIT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 63-15-240, RELATING TO CHILD CUSTODY ORDERS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COURT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION CERTAIN FACTORS WHEN DETERMINING WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF A CHILD, TO REQUIRE THAT A CHILD CUSTODY ORDER INCLUDE FINDINGS OF FACT IF THE TIME-SHARING SCHEDULE DOES NOT ALLOCATE APPROXIMATELY EQUAL PARENTING TIME TO EACH PARENT, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS TO MODIFY CHILD CUSTODY ORDERS.

The Tender Years Doctrine was removed in 2008, yet still child custody typically goes to the outdated model of the mother getting primary custody by default where the father has every other weekend and a smidgeon of time across the calendar year. 

20 states in the United States start with 50/50 custody. South Carolina is ranked #34 in parenting time for fathers (https://www.custodyxchange.com/topics/research/dads-custody-time-2018.php

I myself was the primary caregiver for my daughter while married. Stuck in a bad marriage being held hostage in fears of not seeing my daughter. When separated my ex-wife withheld visitation from my daughter. It was until I had a court order from a judge that gave me my every other weekend visitation. From a judge that had no idea of our family, who contributed what for our daughter, or what our lives were like. The mother won majority custody in default which is typical unless the father can prove that the mother is unfit by means of violence, mental instability, or substance abuse. It is a father's disadvantage to show that he deserves just as much time with his child. He is in fact 50% of the child's parentage, but receives much less consideration.

Let's please build support through this petition and show how equality runs both ways and not only protect father's rights, but also the best interest of the child seeing both parents equally.