Charleston Family Law Attorneys
Child Custody and Support
For most parents, the most difficult issue in their divorce is child custody. The breakup of a family unit can be especially hard on children. Except in rare circumstances, we believe that children should have the opportunity to maintain close relationships and quality time with both their mother and father.
In North Carolina, if the parents cannot agree on where their children will live, the court will decide which parent will have custody based upon "the best interests of the children". In some cases a formal custody evaluation will be conducted by a third party who is paid to evaluate both parents and make custody recommendations to the court. In the past, one parent was granted primary physical custody and the other parent was granted visitation. Today, the courts usually award one parent primary custody and the other parent secondary custody.
Resolving Child Custody Disputes Through Mediation
At Query Sautter Gliserman & Price, our family law attorneys encourage clients to resolve disputes regarding child custody and child support through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. These methods of alternative dispute resolution are usually less expensive and faster than traditional court litigation, and let the parents themselves decide the issues rather than a judge. Another benefit is that parents who have been involved in creating a plan for parenting their children after divorce are more likely to abide by the agreement. However, when an out-of-court agreement is not possible, our lawyers have the experience and trial skills to present an effective case in court. For additional information about the benefits of retaining our firm to represent you in your child custody or support dispute, please visit our Firm Overview page.
Calculation of Child Support in South Carolina
Child support is calculated according to the South Carolina Child Support Guidelines, which is a formula which takes into consideration several factors, including the parents' incomes, the children's living arrangements, daycare expenses, and health insurance premiums for the children. Our family law attorneys are thoroughly familiar with the support guidelines. We are skilled at identifying hidden income, calculating irregular income for self-employed individuals or business owners, and dealing with all child support disputes, whether simple or complex.
More information about enforcement of child support orders can be found at North Carolina Child Support Central.
Schedule a free confidential consultation with an experienced child custody lawyer for information about child custody and child support in South Carolina by calling us in Charleston at 843-795-9500 or in Summerville 843-821-3000. You may also fill out our intake form. Put a team of compassionate, experienced professionals to work for you.
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Query Sautter Gliserman & Price
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