Divorce and Family Law

Child Custody / Child Support / Alimony / Property Division

Coastal Law firm's family law practice includes divorce, child custody, visitation rights, the identity, valuation and division of assets and debts (including retirement plans, stock options, businesses and other complex financial issues). We also negotiate and draft premarital or prenuptial agreements on behalf of our clients. We can also assist with matters involving the failure of a party to comply with court orders regarding child or spousal support, property division, or other legal matters.

• Child Custody: Coastal Law represents fathers, mothers and third parties seeking legal and physical custody of minor children. We handle both contested and uncontested custody actions. If you believe there is a reason that your child's custody should be reviewed by the Court, call us at 843-488-5000 for an initial consultation or email your questions to attorney@coastal-law.com

• Child Support: If a significant change of circumstances exist, the Court can increase or decrease your child support. Things that can change child support include a significant increase or decrease in income, an increase or decrease in daycare costs, or special costs of a child. Our firm handles all types of child support cases, including paternity actions and child support enforcement actions. Our firm also deals with child support matters related to divorce or separation litigation.
• Support and Alimony: Coastal Law represents spouses seeking alimony related to ongoing divorce or separation litigation. Our firm also represents clients that need to modify or terminate  existing alimony orders, as well as clients defending such actions.
• Property and Debt Division: Coastal Law will help clients in the identification, valuation and distribution of assets, including real property, financial assets, business interests and personal property. We also assist clients in structuring final property settlement agreements.
• Premarital Agreements: Coastal Law negotiates and drafts Premarital Agreements for our clients.  A prenuptial agreement is also called a "premarital" or "antenuptial" agreement. It is a contract executed before the marriage between two prospective spouses in contemplation of their marriage. It establishes their marital property rights and financial responsibilities upon consummation of the marriage. In South Carolina, "post" nuptial agreements are also recognized.
• Visitation
  Visitation with children in the custody of another is also determined by the Court in its discretion based on the best interests of the children. The length and frequency of visitation with the children will vary based on each situation's facts and circumstances.
   

  ---

• Divorce

  • Separation
  • Custody
  • Other Marital problems

  Grounds for Divorce in South Carolina  

  Adultery:

  To prove grounds of adultery it must be shown that a spouse had sexual intercourse outside the marriage. The time(s) and place(s) must be specific, and the conduct may be inferred from circumstances. (i.e. Testimony and documentation that a spouse spent the night in a motel room with a person other than their spouse.)
  
  Physical Cruelty:

  To prove grounds of physical cruelty it must be shown that actual personal violence occurred or such a course of physical treatment that endangers life, limb, or health, and renders living together unsafe. A single act of physical cruelty does not ordinarily constitute grounds for divorce, unless it is so severe and atrocious as to endanger life, or unless the act indicates an intention to do serious bodily harm or causes reasonable apprehension of serious danger in the future.
  
  Habitual Drunkenness:

  To prove grounds for habitual drunkenness it must be shown that a spouse has a fixed habit of frequently becoming intoxicated, but does not necessarily imply continual drunkenness. Habitual drunkenness must exist at or near the time the lawsuit is filed. This ground for divorce also includes habitual drug use.
  
  Desertion:

  To prove ground of desertion, it must be shown that:
  The spouses have stopped living together
  Intent on the part of the party leaving not to resume living together.
  Absence of the opposite party's consent.
  Absence of justification.
  These elements must exist for the period of one (1) year.
  Constructive Desertion exists where the misconduct of one spouse compels the other spouse to leave.
  
  One Year Separation (No Fault):

  To prove this ground it must be shown only that the spouses have not lived together for a minimum of one (1) year. Consent, or lack of it, to live separately is not relevant for this ground. This is South Carolina's closest ground to a "no fault" divorce ground

  Property Division:

  South Carolina is an "equitable distribution" state. All other property acquired during the marriage is subject to division, based  the following factors: (1) the duration of the marriage; (2) the age of the spouses; (3) any marital misconduct; (4) any economic misconduct; (5) the value of the marital property; (6) the contribution of each spouse to the acquisition of the marital property, including the contribution of each spouse as homemaker; (7) the income of each spouse; (8) the earning potential of each spouse and the opportunity for the future acquisition of capital assets; (9) the physical and emotional health of each spouse; (10) the needs of each spouse for additional training or education in order to achieve their earning potential; (11) the non-marital property of each spouse; (12) any retirement benefits; (13) whether alimony has been awarded; (14) the desirability of awarding the family home to the spouse having custody of any children; (15) the tax consequences; (16) any other support obligations of either spouse; (17) any marital debts of the spouses; (18) any child custody arrangements; and (19) any other relevant factors. [Code of Laws of South Carolina; Chapter 3, Sections 20-7-472 and 20-7-473].