Domestic

One should consider very carefully the attorney he or she chooses to help guide them through any domestic matter.  A domestic attorney should be sensitive to the emotions of his client, truly care about the issues that are being litigated and be current on and knowledgeable of the ever-changing landscape of domestic law.  We at The Greene Law Firm care about you as a person as well as a client and know that this may be the happiest time of your life if you are adopting or the saddest time of your life if you are going through a divorce.  We can and will guide you through all the pitfalls and help you make the right decisions throughout the process.

We can give you excellent and caring representation in all of the following areas:

DIVORCE:

There are four grounds for divorce in South Carolina: the no-fault divorce (being separated for more than one year) and three fault-ground divorces: adultery, physical cruelty and habitual drunkenness or drug abuse.  The proof needed is different in each case, and we will discuss what is needed in your initial free interview.

LEGAL SEPARATION

DECREE OF SEPARATE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT

This action is available if you do not have one of the above grounds for a divorce.  It is usually used when children or marital property is involved of one party is seeking alimony.  It will not result in a divorce.

ADOPTIONS

If you are contemplating adopting a child, whether through a stepparent adoption or an adoption where neither adoptive parent is related to the child, choosing the right attorney is of utmost importance.  If any part of the process is not completed correctly, the adoption could be overturned at some later date.  The parental rights of both biological parents must be terminated through a very specific process and there are many other small procedures that must be followed.  We have successfully completed many adoptions, some even involving one or more of the parties being in a foreign country.  This area of our practice is definitely one of the most satisfying areas of our practice.

NAME CHANGE

We can assist you is obtaining a name change for either a minor or an adult.  The process has changed dramatically and is much more difficult than it used to be.

CUSTODY, VISITATION AND CHILD SUPPORT

These issues are usually handled as part of a divorce or legal separation.  Both sole custody and joint custody are possible in South Carolina.

Visitation for the non-custodial parent usually includes every other weekend, alternating holidays and several weeks in the summer.  Individual cases may warrant more or less than the “standard” visitation, and it may even be restricted or supervised in certain situations.

Child support is based on the gross income of both parties as well as any health insurance premiums or child care costs for the child.

MARITAL PROPERTY DIVISION

The law in South Carolina is Equitable Division of Marital Property.  This means that the Court will not look at just who holds title to property but instead will look at what each party has contributed to the maintenance of the property.

ALIMONY

Alimony is an issue that is unique to the circumstances of each particular case.  There are many factors that the judge considers, and as your attorney, we can present evidence in the best light for you to support or negate those factors.  Mere length of marriage is a factor but is not a determining factor.  Other factors include relative income levels of the parties, custody and fault.

ATTORNEY FEES

Many times a judge will award attorney fees to the prevailing party in a domestic action.