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

How to better survive cross examination

Posted Saturday, February 18th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Litigation Strategy, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

Too often witnesses, especially litigants, treat cross examination as a battle of wits with the attorney questioning them.  This is a mistake. The easiest way

How a family court client can assist counsel during trial

Posted Tuesday, February 14th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Attorney-Client Relations, Litigation Strategy, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

This is part two of a two-part blog inspired/encouraged by a client whose custody case I tried this week.  Whereas part-one focused on what the

Trial preparation a family court client should do before trial (or how to save yourself tens of thousands in fees and get a better result)

Posted Sunday, February 12th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Attorney-Client Relations, Litigation Strategy, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

This is part one of a two-part blog inspired/encouraged by a client whose custody case I tried this week.  Throughout the process she found trial

Praising the other parent in a custody trial

Posted Saturday, February 11th, 2023 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Child Custody, Litigation Strategy, Miscellaneous, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

The past few years I begun a practice of having my custody clients develop a few solid minutes of testimony praising the other parent.  Such

How to get 50/50 physical custody when you don’t have custody (and why it’s unlikely to happen)

Posted Friday, August 26th, 2022 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Child Custody, Litigation Strategy, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys, South Carolina Specific

A significant number of potential custody clients come to my office with the goal of 50/50 physical custody.  Often these are fathers who are not

Picking good witnesses for custody cases

Posted Friday, July 29th, 2022 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

Some custody cases can be tried with the parents being the primary witnesses.  But when there are substantial disputes about who the children are more

Collect evidence before filing for contempt

Posted Thursday, July 28th, 2022 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Contempt/Enforcement of Orders, Litigation Strategy, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys, South Carolina Specific

Earlier in my career I lost a sizable number of contempt petitions I prosecuted because my client lacked the evidence to substantiate his or her

The pitfalls of mandatory pre-litigation mediation provisions

Posted Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Litigation Strategy, Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

I increasingly see provisions in custody or support agreements that require mandatory mediation before either party can file a mediation case. Sometimes these agreements are

The vital distinction between dismissal with prejudice and dismissal without prejudice

Posted Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Family Court Procedure, Litigation Strategy, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

In family court there is a vital distinction between dismissal with prejudice and dismissal without prejudice. “A dismissal of a case without prejudice means that

Put Mr. Forman’s experience, knowledge, and dedication to your service for any of your South Carolina family law needs.