The appellate courts “may find bifurcation in family court is generally ill-advised”; I don’t
April 21, 2023
This week, for the second time in four years, the South Carolina appellate courts published an opinion noting it is generally “ill-advised” for the family
Court of Appeals reverses finding of common-law marriage
April 20, 2023
In the April 19, 2023, opinion in Sullivan-Carter v. Carter, 439 S.C. 406, 887 S.E.2d 146 (Ct.App. 2023), the Court of Appeals reversed a finding
Court of Appeals rejects textualist interpretation of South Carolina’s domestic abuse statute
April 12, 2023
The April 12, 2023, Court of Appeals opinion in Taylor v. Taylor, 439 S.C. 272, 886 S.E.2d 716 (Ct.App. 2023), attempts to fill an obvious
Don’t forget the “why” questions
March 21, 2023
I’ve recently been preparing for a number of custody trials while also working on a number of appeals I’ve inherited from trial counsel. These experiences
Do you prefer pop quizzes or open book exams?
March 18, 2023
A sizable minority of my clients still prefer the telephone over email to get their questions answered. I certainly understand the desire of dialogue to
In contested custody litigation, there’s no downside to kindness
March 4, 2023
One of the quickest, easiest, and most effective “fixes” I can counsel my clients to do in contested custody litigation is to be kind to
In a dysfunctional parenting relationship, there’s better than even odds that you’re the problem
March 4, 2023
Most of my contested custody litigation, especially those requiring trial, involve parents in a dysfunctional co-parenting relationship. The inability of these parents to get along
Bluntness with clients is an act of respect
February 24, 2023
If I am blunt with clients (and I often am), it reflects a belief that their goals will be more likely achieved if their behavior
