Family Law Attorney Greenville, SC

Affordable legal help

Family Law Attorney Greenville, SC

Ending a marriage is a tough decision, especially when there are children involved. The various other cases that are attached with divorce, including child custody and support, can cause distress to the already unhappy couple. However, staying in a marriage that costs you your mental peace is also not advisable.

Therefore, if you're a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, you can reach out to the lawyers of Affordable Legal Help to provide you with unbundled legal services. Our family law attorneys Greenville, SC are experts in dealing with cases of divorce, child custody, child adoption, child support and grandparents rights.

Also, it is important to be familiar with the Greenville family laws, so that if you ever go through a similar situation, you know your legal rights.

Divorce Laws in Greenville, SC

Every state has its own family laws and rules regarding divorce. Similarly, according to the Greenville family laws, either one of the parties filing for divorce, should have been a resident of South Carolina for at least one year. If both are currently living in the state at the time of divorce, then only a three month residency is required.

The waiting period for the divorce to be finalized is three months from the date of filing. It can be finalized before that, only if both the parties have already been separated for more than a year before filing for a divorce.

Reasons for Filing for a Divorce 

South Carolina is also a no-fault state but the ground for a no-fault divorce is living apart for a year continuously without any cohabitation.

Other reasons for which a person can file for a divorce are:

• Adultery
• Domestic violence
• Abandonment for more than a year
• Addiction to drugs or alcohol
• Living apart without cohabitation for more than a year

Other than living apart for more than a year, one of the spouses is the culprit for the remaining four grounds. Our divorce lawyers in Greenville, SC will be able to shed light on this issue in a more detailed manner.

Child Custody Laws in Greenville, SC

The most common standard for determining child custody is based on the best interests of the child. According to the child custody laws in Greenville, South Carolina, a court must consider the following factors before passing a judgement regarding custody:

• Child's preferences
• The child's adjustment to their residence, school and community
• The parent's ability to understand the child's needs and be actively involved in their life
• The parents desire for custody
• The mental and physical health of the parents and child
• Child's relationship with parents, siblings and grandparents
• Manipulative behaviour of the parents
• Whether the child has been abused or neglected by either parent?
• Was domestic violence present between the parents?

Like other states, Greenville, SC also permits the parents to joint custody, in which both the parents are equally responsible for the care and custody of the child.

If you have any queries or confusion regarding these laws, our child custody lawyers in Greenville, SC will be glad to be of assistance.

Child's Preferences

In Greenville, SC, when the child is old or mature enough, they have the right to state their preferences, as to which parent they want to reside with. A judge considers a child's preference only if it is the best interest of the child. If the judge feels that the child's preference is not in their benefit, they won't consider it.

For example, if a child wishes to stay with their mother, who doesn't care for the child's wellbeing, while the father is a caring parent, the judge would probably decide in favour of the father, as it is in the best interest of the child.

Grandparent's Rights 

In Greenville, South Carolina, the grandparents of the child have visitation rights. They may also have custody rights as the psychological parents or de facto custodians of the child.

Grandparent's rights are also considered when the parent of the child drops them off at the grandparents’ house at a young age. The grandparents then raise the child as their own and develop a parent-like bond with them. After several years, when the parent comes back to take the child, the grandparents have the right to contact a child custody lawyer in Greenville, SC to determine their rights. These rights are known as fact-specific court determinations.

Child Support Laws in Greenville, SC

According to the laws in South Carolina, each parent is obligated to support their child. In most cases the non-custodial parent is required to pay child support for the care and wellbeing of the child. This obligation extends till the child turns 18 or graduates from high school.

Child Support Calculation 

In Greenville, SC, the payable amount of child support is calculated according to the South Carolina Child Support Guidelines. The gross income of the parents and the number of children is put into a Child Support Calculator which generates the total amount of child support payable by each parent.

Modification in Child Support 

Either parent can request for a modification in the amount of child support due to a substantial change in circumstances. These circumstances can be:

• Change in income
• Change in time-sharing arrangements
• Change in the needs of the child

Family law issues can be arduous to figure out. Consulting with an experienced child support lawyer, Greenville, SC could help with the process.

Our Services 

At Affordable Legal Help, we have a network of the most experienced and professional family lawyers Greenville, SC. Our lawyers are skilled and highly committed to solving any sort of family issues, so that the whole process of divorce or child custody is completed easily and smoothly.

We make sure that all pinpointed legal details are taken care of and everything is conveyed to the court in a proper way, so that the decision taken is favorable for you and your children.

So feel free to contact us for any sort of legal help. We are here to serve you.