| Age of Consent |
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Males - 16 Females - 16 (Source)
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Minors under the age of 16 (but at least 14) may also consent to sex with other minors. |
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| Sex Toys |
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Must be displayed where minors will not see them and cannot be sold to minors. |
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| Availability of Plan B/EC |
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Plan B is available to those 18 and over OTC as provided by FDA regulations. Those under 18 require a prescription. SC state law requires hospitals to provide rape victims with EC upon request.
Locate a source for Plan B
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Access to contraceptive services by minors
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Minors aged 16 and older, "mature" minors, and those who are married may access contraceptive services without parental involvement. All others technically require parental consent.
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| Marriage Laws |
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AOC: w/ PC: 16 w/o PC: 18 (Source )
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Common Law Marriages: Yes |
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| Status of Gay Marriage/Civil Unions |
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Constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, and that no other form of civil union is recognized by the state, even if it is one from a state where same sex marriage is legal.
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| Abortion Laws |
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Legality |
Legal until 3rd trimester
(health exception)
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W/P* |
1 Hour
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P/N* |
Consent required for those 17 and under. Consent may be given by another relative. Judicial bypass option available.
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I/C* |
Yes |
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Other: |
SC has an unenforceable provision requiring a husband's consent before a wife can obtain an abortion.
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| Safe Haven Law |
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Either parent or an agent of the parents may drop an infant off at a hospital within 30 days of birth.
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| State Adoption Law & Regulations |
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South Carolina Adoption Law |
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SC Dept of Social Services Web Site |
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| Rape/Rape Shield Laws |
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South Carolina's rape shield law allows evidence of prior sexual contact with the perpetrator to be used against the victim, as well as evidence that the victim had committed adultery.
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| Sex Education Model |
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South Carolina has an archaic sex education law. Primarily abstinence only, but state requires that schools cover STIs and contraception. Pregnancy prevention may be covered, but must be done in gender-segregated classes. Abortion cannot be mentioned. Non-heterosexual relationships can only be discussed within the context of sexually transmitted diseases.
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| Other Sex/Sexuality Related Laws/Regs |
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N/A |
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