You stepped in to provide love and support when your grandchild needed it most. Whether due to their parents’ absence, incapacity, or other life challenges, you’ve become their primary caregiver. While this wasn’t a role you expected to take on at this stage in your life, it has been a rewarding experience. Now, you might be considering making this arrangement permanent. The benefits of adopting your grandchild Kinship adoption, where an extended family member adopts a child, is generally favored in South Carolina family courts. The court always considers what is best for a child and recognize ..read more

Divorce is an emotionally draining process, and navigating it can be even more challenging when children are involved. With the separation of their parents creating a sweeping wave of changes in their lives, it becomes more critical to develop a plan that can support their emotional and psychological health. One of the best ways to ease this transition is through the establishment of a robust co-parenting plan that can help maintain stability for children going through a divorce. What makes a successful co-parenting plan? Detailed scheduling A clear and detailed schedule outlining how the ..read more

Co-parenting can be easy for some divorced couples, especially if they are on good terms, allowing them to collaborate efficiently. Other times, the parents can have disputes or issues that may impact their ability to perform their responsibilities to their child. Specific scenarios can involve severe concerns that can put the child’s safety at risk, such as parental child abduction.  If a parent involved in a child custody case or arrangement shows tendencies to flee abroad with the child, the court can take measures as prevention. However, these preventative practices may only happ ..read more

Prenuptial agreements provide valuable protection for both parties. These agreements must be mutually beneficial because an agreement that overly favors one person could be thrown out in court. Understanding the basics of prenuptial agreements in South Carolina is important so that if you’re engaged, you can make informed decisions about your options. Reviewing the following concerns is a good way to get started. What to include in a prenuptial agreement In South Carolina, prenuptial agreements can encompass a variety of terms, primarily focused on property and financial matters. It’s advisabl ..read more

Adopting a child is a continuous journey of touching on several aspects of their life to ensure they truly feel like family. One of these aspects involve deciding whether to change their name to strengthen their feeling of familial inclusivity. If you are thinking of changing the name of your adoptee, here are some things you should know: A gist of the requirements While the requirements for changing a child’s name may vary depending on the county or court, some of the basic requirements you may need to accomplish include the following: Documentation: When petitioning for a name change, you ne ..read more

When spouses decide to end their marriage, the issue of whether one should receive spousal support or alimony from the other is a common concern for parties. Unfortunately, in extreme cases, some fall under the misconception that being a less-earning spouse automatically entitles them to alimony. Here are reasons why this is not always the case: Asking first why there is a disparity While courts do consider disparity in spouses’ incomes when deciding whether to award spousal support, they do so while taking into account other aspects of the disparity, such as its cause. Is there a disparity be ..read more

As child custody proceedings start to settle down, you might start thinking about how to support your child in the aftermath. The way you communicate with your child, ex and others after separation or divorce can play a role in your child’s development. Proactively preventing conflict is one small yet impactful step to safeguard your child’s well-being. The unseen scars of parental conflict In South Carolina, as in many states, family courts prioritize the child’s best interests when making custody decisions. Though you may agree that your child can benefit from having both parents involved, y ..read more

If you and your spouse are struggling to resolve your disagreements, you might be heading toward a contested divorce. In South Carolina, the law requires you to resolve these disputes through mediation. This process aims to help you and your spouse find solutions when you both can’t agree on key issues, such as child custody, division of assets, alimony and other related concerns. Working toward mutually acceptable terms In a regular divorce, each person’s lawyer typically handles disagreements that come up while ending a marriage, often leading to a court case if the parties can’t agree. Howe ..read more

In South Carolina, changing your name following a divorce is specific and guided by state laws. You can revert to your maiden name as part of the divorce proceeding. But, if you wish to adopt an entirely new name or didn’t include a name change request in your divorce petition, you must follow a different process. Understanding these steps is crucial for setting realistic expectations about this transition. Steps to adopt a new name The first requirement for changing your name is residency. Specifically, you must have been a resident of South Carolina for at least six months. Next, you must wr ..read more

Dealing with divorce in court can be taxing, often placing parties under heavy stress. Because of this, many states, including South Carolina, have turned to mediation to simplify the proceedings and reduce the mental, emotional and financial burden on the parties involved. Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that allows divorcing spouses to negotiate the terms of their separation with the assistance of a neutral third-party mediator. The question many South Carolinians face is whether this step in the divorce process is mandatory. Only mandatory in certain circumstances Whil ..read more