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South Carolina Child Custody Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: My ex is the custodial parent, I’m suffering hardships; loss of job, He equates visitation by support payments, can he?

Even phone calls hes denied, whilst married I stayed at home and homeschooled, this is extremely abusive and immoral in my opinion.

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Nov 26, 2018

Support and visitation are separate issues. If he is violating a provision of a court order, you can file a rule to show cause to compel compliance with the order.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: What is the punishment for 3rd offense shoplifting? Also what would be the best case scenario for the defendant?

My mother is 62. She's has quite a bit of medical problems. She also takes care of my 86yrs grandmother, who has dementia. She also has custody of my sisters children. She got a third offense shoplifting charge. Her public defender wants her to take a plea of 18 months. Is that the... View More

Stephen Grooms
PREMIUM
Stephen Grooms
answered on Oct 30, 2018

A shoplifting 3rd offense is a 0-10 year felony. The State must prove the prior convictions are proper enhancement convictions. For example whether or not she had an attorney could mean the prior conviction can not be used to enhance this current charge. Even if the necessary prerequisites... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Adoption for South Carolina on
Q: Do my boyfriend and I have to be married in order for him to adopt my son and get full custody?

My boyfriend has been in my child’s life since he was born but he isn’t the biological father. The biological father and i does not associate with each other, and hasn’t since the beginning of my pregnancy out of me being scared of him and what he may do to my and my child.

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Oct 19, 2018

A spouse of a biological parent can adopt that parent's child, but I don't know of a situation where a boyfriend adopted a child. The point of adoption a step-parent adoption is to provide two parents in a stable home for a child. A marriage shows a commitment between two people and a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: I have daughter with a man I was with for 5 years but not married to. I want to move with her out of state. Process?

Our daughter has spent equal amounts of time in each household, however, the relationship between the father and I has become increasingly strained. I have taken a travel physical therapy position in Texas and want to move there with my daughter. At first her father agreed, but then fought me about... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Oct 11, 2018

You question does not state whether there has been previous family action, so I am assuming there has not. Your question doesn't state how long your daughter has been living with the father. I'm assuming she and he are in South Carolina. You would have to file a case in family court... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: Son lives in Connecticut with his mother and he wants to stay with me but his mother isn't allowing this. What can i do

He was born in Columbia, sc and I currently pay child support.

He makes it known verbally that he wanted to come with me.

They have been in Connecticut for the past 5 years possibly.

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Oct 8, 2018

Your question doesn't state whether there is a South Carolina court order granting custody to the mother and, if so, whether you still live in the county where the order was issues, and whether the mother ever registered the order in Connecticut. And your questions does not state the age of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: I have kids with my ex bf we were never married. He sees the kids whenever he wants too. Can I file for child support?

My ex has threatened to take my kids away. He has a police record and was admitted to the hospital for trying to committed suicide. He lives with his parents. I'm a good mother in the medical field and I have my own place. Does he have any rights? I consider myself as the legal guardian(full... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Sep 29, 2018

Putting someone's name on a birth certificate only raises a rebuttable presumption that the person named is the biological parent. For a child born out of wedlock, the mother's paternity is accepted since she gave birth to the child, but the father's paternity has to be established... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Divorce and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: I have been married in South Carolina have 2 children 8 and 6. I want to leave my husband

Would it be considered abandonment If i leave without my children due to not knowing if i have a place to live and can he prevent me from taking them. Not leaving state just moving out of the marital house and filing

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Sep 28, 2018

Under South Carolina law, if you move out of the marital home and leave your children with your husband you increase the chance that he will be awarded temporary custody of the children if he files for divorce or separate support and maintenance. It's best to plan your move, get a place to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption, Child Custody and Child Support for South Carolina on
Q: I’m having a baby with another man but plan on marrying my current fiancé of 7 years does that terminate bio dads right

The biological father has been emotionally abusive and unstable on whether he wants to be a part of the child’s life. I have stopped all contact with biological father because of this. I plan on doing an adoption and want to know if he will be able to fight against the adoption if child is born... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Sep 9, 2018

Marriage to someone other than the putative father does not terminate his parental rights. As for adoption, the putative father's parental rights must be terminated as part of the adoption case. Under South Carolina law, if a parent fails to support or visit a child for a continuous six month... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Divorce and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: I am trying to see what forms I need to file I have sole physical custody and my ex has visitations for summers

I sent my kids up there for the summer and she kept one of my kids with out me saying that it was okay I didnt approve that he could stay now I'm trying to fight to get her to give him back the court stated I neneeneneed to fill a paper but not sure what to do or how to go about it . I know... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Sep 5, 2018

Your question doesn't say if you have a court ordered custody. If you have a court order granting you custody and setting out the mother's visitation rights, you can file a Rule to Show Cause. That form can be obtained from the clerk of court's office in the family court. The Rule to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: Can I require my ex-wife to move my son from Montessori to Traditional? She has educational decisions, but nothing else.

I am primary custodial parent and have all decisions except education. Montessori is not suited for my son, in my opinion. The Montessori school he attends is a public school. I would think the court would side with a traditional setting instead of Montessori, even though she has educational... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Aug 23, 2018

If you ex-wife has the authority to make educational decisions pursuant to a court order, you would have to file a new court case seeking to modify that provision of the order. Modifications cases all have the same requirement which is a showing that there has there been a substantial change in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for South Carolina on
Q: I left my child's father (unmarried) and moved to SC after my son was attacked by his pitbull. Can I file in SC?

My son was attacked by my boyfriend's pitbull and kept making excuses about getting rid of the dog. A few days later I found out he was cheating on me so I left and moved to SC to be with my parents because I have been unemployed since having my child. My father has cancer and they are unable... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Jul 12, 2018

Your question does not state whether there has been prior child support or custody court action in Virginia. If there has been, Virginia has continuing jurisdiction. If there has been no prior court action, Virginia will still be considered the child's home state under the Uniform Child... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: Can I legally move my son out of state without his father's consent? We were never married.
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Jun 20, 2018

A child born out of wedlock is presumed to be the child of the mother, but the father's paternity has to be established in a family court case in order for him to assert his parental rights. A father whose parental rights have not been judicially established has no say concerning the child.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: What kind of rights does my child’s father have if we never married

He is on the birth certificate

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on May 24, 2018

An unwed father's paternity, and therefore his parental rights, has to be established by a family court order even if his name is on the birth certificate. Paternity will be the first issue that will need to be addressed in an initial child support, visitation or custody case. Paternity can be... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Domestic Violence and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: My daughter has a child with a man she does not want to marry because he’s a drunk w/ potty mouth. Can she get custody?

Man lives at her house does not pay rent or expenses but buys food and groceries at times. When he gets drunk-almost daily, very aggressive punching wall, cursing all the time and call her disrespectful names. My daughter is friend with man’s mother who told her to never marry him, call the cops... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Apr 14, 2018

Your daughter can file for an order of protection through family court to ask the court to order him out of her house, to grant a restraining order, to grant her custody of her daughter and child support. The petition for an order of protection can be obtained from the family court clerk of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: if a temp. custody order was granted and the case was dismissed ... shouldnt i have my child back

my daughters paternal grandma had a temp custody order granted to her in 2008 .. it was dismissed in 2009... i do not have my daughter back, she collects child support via scdss from me on my daughter, she withholds that temp order's visitation rights from me and also locked my daughter away... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Apr 14, 2018

The better approach would be to file a case in family court seeking return of your daughter and dismissal of child support action and naming grandmother and SCDSS as defendants

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: My soon to be 4 yr old son's biological father has never been present in his life. He didnt sign the birth certificate.

But he does pay child support only when his freedom is in jeopardy. My son doesnt know him let alone as his father. My fiance however wants to legally adopt him place his name on the birth certificate and give my son his last name. This is the man my son knows as daddy. How do i go about getting... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Mar 27, 2018

The father may be willing to sign a consent to relinquish his parental rights in turn for the dismissal of his child support obligation. Alternatively, the grounds to terminate parental rights is if the father has failed to visit or support the child for six months, but the failure to visit or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: Where do you file for a childs name change, birthplace or state of residency?

Not sure if anyone knows the answer. Almost 3 years ago I moved from VA to SC with my son. I have full physical and legal custody and have since my 6 year old was less than a year old. Recently my son has been asking about changing his last name from his (absent) dads to my last name (never... View More

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Mar 11, 2018

Virginia has continuing jurisdiction because the custody order was issued there. You can register your custody order in family court in the county where you live and ask the court to take jurisdiction which would then allow you to file for a name change in that county. Having South Carolina take... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: I was told I can either willingly sign over my rights to my kids and get visitation or fight it and not see them,

my sister has custody and she told me this is the legal?

Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Feb 13, 2018

A written consent to terminate parental rights must state that you are signing over your rights freely and voluntarily AND a lawyer must review the consent with you and explain your rights before you sign and your consent must be witnessed. You mention nothing about how your sister came to have... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for South Carolina on
Q: can my sister force me to sign over my rights even if she has custody?
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Feb 8, 2018

No, to relinquish parental rights, the law requires that the relinquishing parent be represented by a lawyer in executing the relinquishment document and the relinquishment must be voluntary.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for South Carolina on
Q: dss closed my case in 2015. my mother has custody. does courts ruling of supervised visits still apply?
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
Cheryl Ann Truesdale
answered on Feb 8, 2018

The Court's order will remain in full force and effect until it is replaced by a subsequent order modifying it. Child custody, visitation and child support are always modifiable if either party petitions for a modification AND if the evidence presented shows that there has been a... View More

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