Blog

Who gets to claim the children on taxes?  Parents in child custody cases often have a desire to claim the tax dependency of their children.  The benefit of claiming a child is well known as it stands to increase your tax refund or decrease tax owed; however, my office gets many calls regarding the rules […]

How do I modify Child Custody? Modification of Custody & Child Support Agreements A final order on child custody can be modified with proof of a substantial and material change in circumstances. What determines if a change is substantial and material? A substantial and material change is one that has a significant impact on the […]

Does the Court favor the mother over the father in child custody cases? No. In the past, the Courts employed a legal presumption referred to as the “Tender Year’s Doctrine.”  This Doctrine essentially states that it’s best to leave a child in his mother’s care during the early years of life.  However, this was repealed, […]

Joint Physical Custody in South Carolina   Many parents are interested in dividing the responsibility and time equally with a child.  This is often referred to as shared custody, shared placement or joint physical custody.  In a shared custody arrangement, the child spends an equal amount of time at each parent’s home. How likely am I […]

The Guardian ad Litem in South Carolina Family Court What is a Guardian ad Litem? In the Family Court of South Carolina, a Guardian ad Litem (often referred to simply as the “Guardian”) is someone appointed by a Judge to represent the interests of minor children in contested child custody and visitation cases.  The Guardian ad litem essentially […]