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South Carolina Child Custody Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: Is it a violation if I can't meet my child's father for his visitation, if I no longer have transportation to meet him?

My car was totaled a couple months ago. so I've been renting cars to meet him (he lives 2hrs away), but I can't afford to keep renting and pay for gas. So I'm saving to get another vehicle. He's now threatening to take me back to court although he knows my situation, what should I do?

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Feb 7, 2023

Get a consultation with a lawyer to review your court order and advise you on how to proceed. The lawyer may be able to help you work out an agreement or modification of your court order.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Civil Litigation for South Carolina on
Q: My fiances ex keeps calling dss on us and now calling on the daycare where I work? She is doing this trying to get cust

She wants custody of the kids who my fiance has primary custody

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Jan 30, 2023

Your best course of action is to document, document, document. You might also benefit from having a consultation with a lawyer who is experienced in both DSS investigations and private custody cases.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: Can you regain primary custody before a final hearing?

If you lost primary custody temporarily before the final hearing, but a third party had come forward and filed for emergency custody against the other parent, are you able to regain custody instead of the third party before the final hearing?

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Jan 30, 2023

You have not provided very many facts of your specific situation so it's impossible to suggest what might be appropriate for your case. That being said, custody determinations (either temporary or final) are always modifiable by the Family Court.

1 Answer | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law, Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: Can I appeal as a mother if my lawyer missed the date to file an appeal and I didn't know about it until 1week b4 adopti
Charles William Michaels
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Charles William Michaels
answered on Sep 2, 2022

First, I am not a South Carolina lawyer. That being said, unfortunately if the appeal deadline has been missed -- for whatever reason-- I think your appeal period has closed.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: In child custody when a court order is needed can I file papers to refute such an order based on the children’s needs?

This involves the custodial parent moving more than 15 miles from a present location which would encumber all the details of the custodial agreement.

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Aug 25, 2022

I'm a little bit confused by your question, but it seems like you are asking whether a court order can be modified based on the custodial parent moving more than 15 miles from their current location because the relocation would make the terms of the agreement difficult to follow.

Court...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for South Carolina on
Q: What can I do?

During a separation I started seeing a girl, decided that didn't work out. Over a year later she's wanting a DNA test for a child I didn't know about. She has another man on the certificate, I also want to sign my rights over if the child is mine. What can I do? What happens if her... View More

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Aug 25, 2022

It's unclear whether the mother of the child has filed an action in Family Court. If she were to do so, then the Court could order you to undergo DNA testing. Assuming you are the biological father of the child, and you want to terminate your rights, then you would need to sign a "Consent... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: How to ask judge to make defendant fill out "financial verification (SCCA 430)" form and let me have the info?

In the case the defendants will have to pay us child support but the court is going to use a statum of minimum wage as a basis. I know that they have a higher income, so would like the judge to make them fill out a financial verification form so that I could use the information as part of the... View More

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Aug 25, 2022

It sounds like you may have placement of a child as part of an action brought by the Department of Social Services.

SCRFC Rule 20 requires a financial declaration to be completed in any action in which the financial condition of a party is relevant. If you are a party to the case, you can...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: I'm in SC, baby was born in Florida and lives with mother in NC. Where do I go to court to get shared custody?
Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Aug 25, 2022

Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, which each state has a version of, only the "home state" of the child has jurisdiction to decide custody of the child.

If the child has never lived in SC, then SC does not have jurisdiction to decide custody....
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: Can autism cause extenuating circumstances in a child custody cause ? If child is getting diagnosis during the case?

My two year old is being diagnosed with autism and speech delay. The biological father has been in and out of her life since birth and now has been no contact with the child in question since march and it's now almost September... By the time the next court hearing happens it will be close to... View More

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Aug 25, 2022

S.C. Code Ann. Section 63-15-240(B) requires the Family Court to consider the best interests of the child when determining custody, including the temperamental and developmental needs of a child, the capacity and disposition of the parents to understand and meet the needs of the child, and the past... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: I am in the middle of a custody battle and I received some disturbing news from my children about their visitations.

What should I do?

July 15th through 17th 2022

Aidyn told me his father fed him twice this last weekend between Friday to Sunday.

K'Ami said he left them Friday evening and came back 5am Saturday morning leaving her to babysit her 8 year old disabled brother and 11... View More

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Aug 3, 2022

If you have a lawyer, then this is information you need to share with them. If there is a Guardian ad Litem appointed to your case, then you should share the information with them too.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: can both parents agree outside court I have sole physical custody and sole discretion of visitation?

shared legal custody and I have sole physical custody.

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Aug 3, 2022

Parents can agree on anything they want with regard to their children. However, if the agreement is not part of a court order, then neither party can really enforce the agreement if the other parent chooses not to follow it.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: In the state of south Carolina if my baby daddy gives up his parental rights will he still have to pay child support?
Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Aug 3, 2022

When parental rights are terminated, then the obligation to support the child is also terminated; however, if the parent has past due child support, then those arrears continue to be owed (unless there's a Court order otherwise).

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: My ex wife has full custody. She said "Don't touch my kids" because I spanked our son. Can I legally discipline kids?
Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Jul 6, 2022

Based on S.C. Code Ann. Section 63-7-20(4)(a), generally, corporal punishment is allowed in South Carolina as long as it is administered by a parent or person in loco parentis; is perpetrated for the sole purpose of restraining or correcting the child; is reasonable in manner and moderate in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Appeals / Appellate Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: How soon can I file an appeal for family court after the first hearing? Judge made decision but haven't received final.
Brittany Holmes
Brittany Holmes
answered on Mar 30, 2022

Was your first hearing a final hearing or a temporary hearing? If it was a temporary hearing you cannot file an appeal, unfortunately. The good news, however, is that you still have a chance at a favorable outcome in the next hearing so try not to worry too much.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: When a family member has temporary custody of your child and visitation is on their discretion and they want let you

Can I go to there school to see or eat lunch with them seeing how it's just a temporary order?

Brittany Holmes
Brittany Holmes
answered on Mar 19, 2022

What does your order say? Stick to that. While it’s heartbreaking to not be able to see the child, I would advise against doing anything that the order may prohibit or even that could cause an issue. Do you have an attorney? Maybe speaking to one about your exact situation could get you quicker... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: What is there to do after co parent has already been found in contempt & lost primary custody but still violating order?

Co-parent has been found in contempt of court and lost primary physical custody and sole legal custody of very young child for violating custody order and mostly for severely denying visitation. Immediately after, went right back to denying visitation. What can I do? What should I be requesting In... View More

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Dec 2, 2021

The only available remedies for contempt are imprisonment (for a period of up to 1 year), a fine (of up to $1500), and/or community service. However, in determining whether a parent should have custody of a child, the Family Court often considers whether each parent has complied with court orders,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Criminal Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: What is the best type of attorney for a DSS/CPS case? Family law seems too broad...

I need an affordable attorney that has experience dealing with and winning cases with DSS involvement. I need to know exactly what my rights and options are.

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Dec 2, 2021

You can ask any attorney you consult with about how much experience they have defending DSS cases.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Domestic Violence for South Carolina on
Q: Can I move in with my mother at 17 without my father's permission?

I live in a toxic household with my grandmother. My dad kicked me out 2 years ago. I really want to live with my mom. I have been asking since i was 14 ,but my father and grandmother told me know because they don't like my mother. My mother has no reason for why I can't live with her she... View More

Brittany Holmes
Brittany Holmes
answered on Nov 10, 2021

In SC, in order to be able to make this decision on your own you would need to be 18 or older. However, if 18 is pretty far away, you could always speak with you mom about requesting custody of you through the family court.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: unmarried 2 month old baby boyfriend trying to take him what is the legal way to prevent this we both live in sc

i live in sc with my boyfriend and my parents house he keeps telling me he wants to take are son back to pa with out me what are my legal choices how can i prevent him from doing this

Brittany Holmes
Brittany Holmes
answered on Oct 9, 2021

If the two of you are not married, it is likely that the father of your son has no legal rights to your 2 month old and cannot take him to PA without your consent.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: We have joint custody, rotating every Friday. Do I have to let the mother call all the time during my week?

The Custody is joint switching on Fridays and I (Father) have primary placement. This wouldn't be a problem but the mother tends to be harassing me about whatever petty detail she can. And I feel like she is trying to turn my children against me.

Megan Hunt Dell
Megan Hunt Dell
answered on Aug 26, 2021

Typically, South Carolina court orders for joint custody include provisions detailing each parent's rights to communicate with the child while he/she is in the care of the other parent. If you are not sure how to interpret the terms of your Order, the best course of action is to schedule a... View More

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