Inman, SC Child Custody Lawyers

Child custody disputes can be emotionally challenging and legally complex, regardless of whether the dispute occurs during divorce, after a divorce, or between a couple that has never been married. These issues often require the guidance of experienced legal professionals. As you work through your Inman child custody case, you’ll need to consider your schedule and obligations, your co-parent’s schedule and parenting capacity, your child’s preferences, and what is in your child’s best interests. While it’s easy to let emotions make your decisions for you in these cases, making choices based on logic often yields the best outcomes.

That’s where we step in to help. With our team’s extensive experience in South Carolina family law, we know the multitude of factors at play in a child custody case. We strive to help families just like yours come to agreements that put the children first. Ready to find out more about your options and how we can help? Call Nowell Law Firm at 864-469-2481 to set up a consultation right away.

South Carolina Child Custody Laws

In South Carolina, child custody is determined based on the best interests of the child. This is the case across the United States, but what actually determines “a child’s best interests” may vary from state to state. Like many other states, South Carolina recognizes both physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody refers to which parent the child lives with, or if the parents have joint custody, it refers to the fact that both parents share parenting time. Legal custody, on the other hand, specifies who can make decisions regarding a child’s medical care, education, religion, and other important matters.

Legal and physical custody aren’t necessarily shared in the exact same way. For example, one parent may have primary physical custody, but share legal custody with their co-parent. Parents may share both physical and legal custody. In cases where a child’s safety is in question, you may find that one parent has sole physical and legal custody.

Factors Affecting the Court’s Decision

In most cases, parents come to their own custody agreement without the court intervening. This is often the best outcome, as it allows the parents to retain decision-making power and find a schedule that fits their unique needs. But if the schedule they come up with is not approved by the court or they are unable to come to an agreement, the court may step in and make a ruling. When that happens, the court takes a number of factors into account. Factors that may play a role include:

• The child’s age, health, and general developmental needs

• Each parent’s physical and mental health

• The child’s relationship with each parent and any siblings they have on both sides

• Each parent’s ability to provide for the child’s emotional, mental, and physical needs

• The stability of each parent’s home environment

• Any history of domestic violence or substance abuse

• Each parent’s ability and willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent

• The child’s preferences, should the court deem them old enough and mature enough to understand what is best for them

The court considers these factors carefully to determine a custody arrangement that promotes the child’s best interests and well-being.

Navigating Custody Disputes

Child custody disputes can arise when parents are too far apart on their ideal custody arrangements to come to any sort of middle ground. In such cases, mediation or alternative dispute resolution methods may be helpful tools. These options still keep decision-making power with the parents while allowing them to see the other parent’s side. However, the downside is that either party can leave mediation whenever they feel it is no longer serving them. This means it may not be optimal for high-conflict situations. 

If mediation is unsuccessful, the court may intervene and make custody decisions based on the evidence presented during a trial. They may look at the child’s academic performance in both homes, the emotional and physical support they get, who has traditionally provided child care in the past, and each parent’s willingness to compromise.

How Child Custody May Affect Child Support

Child custody rulings may affect child support in South Carolina. The child support model in South Carolina does adjust child support orders if the parents in question have a shared parenting arrangement, which means that each parent has at least 109 overnights with their child per year. If one parent does not use their overnights or gets less time during a custody dispute, child support may change to ensure that the custodial parent gets the financial support they need. It’s not uncommon for parents to ask for more custody than they really want simply to avoid child support, and if that’s the case in your situation, your attorney can help you protect your children’s best interests.

Our Law Firm Can Help You Secure a Fair Child Custody Agreement

For many parents, child custody is the single most challenging topic that comes up during a divorce. Even if you and your co-parent have never been married, the discussions that arise during a custody dispute can damage your co-parenting relationship for years if not handled carefully. The court will always put the child’s best interests front and center, and so your child’s needs guide our decision-making throughout this process. In addition to helping families with initial custody orders, we can also provide guidance as you seek a modification of your custody order.

In most cases, the court prefers to see a custody arrangement that allows both parents to have substantial time with their children. If one parent is a danger to the children, is unwilling to parent, lives too far away for regular parenting time to be possible, or has a schedule that does not accommodate parenting time, the other parent may get primary or sole custody. At Nowell Law Firm, we understand the complexity of each family’s situation, and our goal is to find the best agreement for your needs.

Contact Us to Set Up a Consultation Today

Wherever you are in your Inman child custody battle, our team is here to guide you through the process. Set up a consultation immediately by contacting our firm online or calling us at 864-469-2481.