South Carolina Child Custody, Support, and Visitation Attorneys
Custody will be awarded in the best interests of the children
In South Carolina, both parents have equal rights regarding an award of custody of their children. The Family Court will make child custody decisions based upon the best interests of the child. To determine what the best interests of the child are, the Family Court will consider many factors including the following:
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Once a custody order is signed by a judge and filed with the court clerk, both parents are bound by it. If there is a major change in circumstances, custody may be changed.
Visitation
In South Carolina, visitation rights may be agreed upon by the parents. If parents cannot come to an agreement, the Family Court will set visitation rights. Once visitation is set, if a parent is denied court-ordered access to a child, the parent may bring the issue back before the court. When it is in the best interest of the child, a judge may decide to modify the visitation order, and the judge can also order makeup visitation for the time missed.
Child Support
Both parents have joint responsibility for child support. Generally, the non-custodial parent will be ordered to contribute to the support of a minor child. The South Carolina Child Support Guidelines delineate the amount of child support that is presumed correct. However, there are factors that may alter the amount of support. Some factors that allow for deviation from the state guidelines include the following:
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It is important to note that a South Carolina child support order can be modified if there is a substantial change in circumstances.
