Family Court cases can be expensive. Some of the questions that we are most frequently asked involve cost, but the question we get most often is, “Is possible to require the other side to pay my attorney’s fees and costs?” Some other variations we get are, “If we ‘win’ the case, will the Court automatically require the other side to…
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After twenty-six years as a family court attorney, I can tell you that no divorce or custody case is ever the same as the last. The facts and people involved in each case are always different. While there may be similarities in how the family found themselves involved in a Family Court case, every person approaches the situation differently. The…
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In our last post, I looked at three mistakes typically made by women during divorce, so now it’s time to focus on the men. (Yes, men do make mistakes sometimes!) Pursuing a new romantic relationship immediately after separation or while the divorce is pending While this seems to be obvious, it is by far the most common mistake I see…
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Divorce is a difficult process, even under the best circumstances when no mistakes are made by either party. However, in a typical case, each party will make certain mistakes no matter the amount of the advice, counseling, or warning they have received from their attorneys. This week we will examine the most common mistakes made by both women and men…
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After watching “reality” TV shows like The Kardashians or The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, it’s no wonder that the general public believes that the more property or money you have, the more contentious and expensive a divorce will be. However, not every high asset divorce has to be that way. In fact, by following some of these tips, it’s…
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Note: This blog post concerns false allegations of sexual abuse and is in no way intended to diminish the importance of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is real and happens. If you are an abuser, this entry is not for you. False allegations of sexual abuse have become more common in contested divorce and child custody cases. Many times, these allegations…
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While no two couples deal with stress in the same way, researchers have found that certain broad categories of life events have been shown to increase the likelihood of divorce. The hope is that by recognizing these contributing factors couples can acknowledge the difficulty surrounding them and take action to protect their relationship. So, what are the factors that increase…
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Private school tuition can be expensive, particularly after divorce. When you add the additional stress of divorce and subtract one income, the burden can become enormous. For these reasons, some parents understandably have questions about paying for private school tuition after divorce, especially how the Family Court determines who should pay for what. Is paying for private school always required? Though…
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Gone are the days when divorcing spouses could only rely on a private investigator in order to gather all the dirt on their soon-to-be-ex. A combination of suspicious husbands and wives along with increasingly affordable high-tech gadgets have made it much easier for ordinary people to spy on their significant others. Such technology used to be only available to law…
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Many people who notice serious trouble in their marriage are inclined to try a separation instead of moving towards a complete divorce. While this may be understandable as a bridge towards eventual change in the relationship, lengthy separations can become problematic if they linger on without end. Also, long-term trial separations without the benefit of a court order can lead…
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South Carolina Family Court Rule 20 requires that a current Financial Declaration must be filed whenever the financial condition of a party is relevant or is an issue to be considered by the Court. As you might imagine this covers the overwhelming majority of cases, including divorce, separation, child custody, visitation, child support, alimony, contempt, etc. This document includes detailed…
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For the majority of couples in South Carolina, it is relatively easy to determine how much child support must be paid. Our state has Child Support Guidelines that consider a number of factors when calculating the total child support owed by both parties. Though these calculations work well for most couples, there are some people at the upper end of the income…
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If you’ve already been through a contested child custody case, the thought of going through the same ordeal again could seem daunting. Ideally, your original agreement or Order was written with enough clarity and flexibility to last until your child or children become adults. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. If there has been a significant or substantial change of…
Read More Everyone knows how expensive divorce can be. In addition to attorney’s fees, there are other, potentially more expensive costs that can take a terrible financial toll months and years into the future. The following are some examples of what these costly divorce mistakes are and how to avoid them: Housing Expenses It’s understandable that during the tumult of a divorce,…
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You have probably heard the old saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know” before, but when you have made the decision to divorce, that saying becomes much more relevant in your day-to-day life as you work your way through the divorce process. Divorce is more than just deciding “we aren’t going to be married anymore,” as it involves making…
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