Take the irreplaceables with you when you leave your spouse
Posted Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Divorce and Marriage, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants
South Carolina does not allow actions for separate maintenance until spouses actually separate. Thus, when an unhappy spouse who lacks fault grounds for divorce has
Clients who allow their attorneys to focus on “big picture” issues can hold down their fees
Posted Friday, June 23rd, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Attorney-Client Relations, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants
I like to think of myself as a “big picture” attorney, focusing on long- term solutions to my clients’ issues rather than addressing minor, one-time
Posted Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Attorney's Fees, Child Custody, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys, South Carolina Appellate Decisions, South Carolina Specific
In the April 26, 2023, opinion in Greene v. Greene, 439 S.C. 427, 887 S.E.2d 157 (Ct.App. 2023), finding exceptional circumstances, the Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals reverses finding of common-law marriage
Posted Thursday, April 20th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Divorce and Marriage, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys, South Carolina Appellate Decisions, South Carolina Specific
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
Posted Wednesday, April 12th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys, Protection from Domestic Abuse, South Carolina Appellate Decisions, South Carolina Specific
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
Posted Tuesday, March 21st, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Litigation Strategy, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys
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?
Posted Saturday, March 18th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Attorney-Client Relations, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys
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
Posted Saturday, March 4th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Child Custody, Litigation Strategy, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys
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
Posted Saturday, March 4th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Attorney-Client Relations, Child Custody, Litigation Strategy, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys, South Carolina Specific
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
Posted Friday, February 24th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Attorney-Client Relations, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants
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
