| Champ: |  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
| Runner: |  Barbara Paulus |
| Score: | 6–2, 2–6, 6–2 |
| Draw: | 32 |
| Seeds: | 8 |
| Type: | singles doubles |
| Before Name: | Family Circle Cup – Singles |
| After Name: | Family Circle Cup – Singles |
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario defeated Barbara Paulus in the final, 6–2, 2–6, 6–2 to win the singles tennis title at the 1996 Family Circle Cup.
Conchita Martínez was the two-time defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to Paulus.
A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated. The top four seeds received a bye to the second round.
Conchita Martínez (semifinals) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (champion)
Gabriela Sabatini (second round)
Jana Novotná (semifinals)
Mary Joe Fernández (second round)
Mary Pierce (second round)