Certain divorces, child custody, and other family cases can benefit from the use of a private investigator. These trained experts can be very helpful in obtaining documentation about lifestyles, assets, incomes, roommates, friends, paramours, and parents. For instance, investigators can often find out someone’s criminal record, work history, hidden affluence, living arrangements, and travel. They can also locate and interview…
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It’s often said that technology makes things easier for us. While this is usually a good thing, technology has also made it easier for spouses to engage in extramarital affairs. The constant access to cell phones, laptops, and a range of online match-making websites has made it incredibly easy for those who are interested in straying to actually do so.…
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Over the years, my family law practice has developed a focus on handling cases that are considered “high conflict” or “complex” child custody cases. These cases often include allegations of “parental alienation” by one or both parents on either side of the case. It’s no secret that divorce has become a much more common part of our society, but also…
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When parties divorce later in life, it’s sometimes referred to as a “grey divorce”. The cause of these divorces can range from infidelity, to health issues that affect one or both spouses’ happiness, to financial insecurity, or simply to the effects of empty-nest syndrome. Whatever the reason, these divorces usually come after a couple has spent a couple of decades or more…
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Not so many years ago, it was almost a foregone conclusion in child custody cases in South Carolina that whenever custody was contested, mothers would win unless they were proven to be unfit. Is that still the case, or can fathers win child custody cases in South Carolina today? These days, fathers stand on equal footing with mothers in contested…
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When a couple goes through a separation or divorce, often one of the largest categories of assets they have are retirement and other employment benefits. Pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement plans can be worth a substantial amount of money, and they are also often crucial to securing your financial future. As a result, it’s important to understand what types…
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Though no one wants to think that they will ever engage in or experience the pain of adultery, the reality is that many couples will. In fact, some studies have estimated that in as many as 40 percent of marriages, one or both spouses engage in at least one affair. In many (but not all) cases, this infidelity can lead…
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A divorce is not an everyday occurrence for most individuals. Because of this, most of our clients come to us seeking help in a divorce with certain ideas and preconceived notions as to what they expect their divorce to look like. Whether they get these ideas and notions from television, magazines, or from friends and family members who have experienced…
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Given the increased concern that people have over personal privacy and fear of identity theft, experts often recommend shredding documents that contain sensitive information, to attempt to keep these valuable records out of thieves’ hands. Though you may know to include credit card statements among those heading to the shredder, it can be confusing to know whether to dispose of…
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Intimacy is a main reason why couples choose to get married; the feeling of closeness is something they want to share with another person for a lifetime. So what happens when that intimacy is difficult or impossible? Studies have shown that sexual dysfunction in a relationship is a common cause of divorce, but can that dysfunction also serve as a…
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If you find yourself constantly worrying that you’ll discover your soon-to-be-ex has cleaned out your joint bank account, keep reading. We talk with people every day who are considering separation or who believe their spouse might be considering it, and this is a fear at the top of every list. Given that it could leave you with no money to pay…
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There are thousands of divorced parents in South Carolina who are paying or receiving child support. Many of these people may not realize that the payments, meant to go towards food, shelter and clothing for the kids, can have an effect on how lenders view their applications for loans. One commonly encountered example is buying a car. Parents on both ends…
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One of the most frequently asked questions that many people have when they separate is “Can I change the locks on my house during a divorce?” The short answer is usually “yes” – but please keep reading the discussion below for a more complete explanation. When parties are married, both the husband and the wife have equal rights to all…
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In some cases, a person may believe he can handle a divorce on his own without hiring an attorney. This may happen for any of a number of reasons: He thought that there weren’t many assets or debts to divide, so it should be simple; There were no children, so he thought it wasn’t worth hiring a lawyer; He expected the divorce to…
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When two spouses divorce after a lengthy marriage and one spouse has considerably more income than the other spouse, an alimony award of some type is generally given to the lesser-earning spouse at the end of the case. While there are several new developments in alimony law, both in South Carolina and nationally, one of the most basic questions we get…
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