Greer, SC Child Custody Lawyers

Are you facing child custody issues in Greer, SC? Dealing with legal matters related to child custody can be overwhelming and confusing, not to mention anxiety-inducing—we’re talking about your relationship and time with your child, one of the most important people in your life. It’s normal to panic when facing child custody issues, but with the right legal team, you can feel confident about your options and next steps.

Ready to discuss your case in greater detail? Call Nowell Law Firm at 864-707-1785 to set up a consultation now.

Differences in Child Custody Cases Between Married and Unmarried Couples

Navigating child custody concerns in South Carolina comes with its unique set of challenges, particularly when looking at the differences between cases involving married and unmarried couples. For those who are married and facing divorce, child custody arrangements are a normal part of the divorce process. Paternity is already presumed, and the amount of time each parent generally spends with the child is established. The custody process involves looking at the new circumstances brought about by divorce and what type of arrangement best suits the child’s needs.

On the other hand, unmarried parents encounter a distinctly separate set of hurdles. First, paternity must be established before an unmarried father may seek custodial or visitation rights with his child. There are multiple ways to do that, depending on the circumstances of the relationship between the co-parents. Once paternity is established, much depends on the relationship the child has with both parents. Factors such as the age of the child, whether and for how long the parents ever lived together with the child in the home, and how much time the child has historically spent with each parent will likely affect the outcome of a custody/visitation case between unmarried parents.

Factors Affecting South Carolina Custody Cases

In South Carolina, when courts decide on child custody, they look closely at several key things to ensure that the final decision benefits the child the most. These considerations are there to guide the court in figuring out the best environment for the child to grow up in. One of the first things examined is what the child needs, both mentally and physically. This might involve looking at who has been the primary caregiver or which parent can best meet the child’s physical and emotional needs.

Age plays a role, too. Younger children might have different needs compared to teenagers, who might have a preference about which parent they want to live with. The courts have the discretion to take a child’s preferences into consideration for custody determinations, but the child’s age will largely dictate how much deference a court may give to those preferences.  The court will also consider why the child has these preferences. For example, if a child wants to live in one parent’s home because that parent does not require them to do homework, shower or bathe regularly, or eat properly, the court will consider the child’s best interest above his or her preference, and may not give as much weight to the child’s preference under those circumstances.

The ability of each parent to provide a safe and stable home is scrutinized. This includes not just a financial perspective but also the emotional environment at home. Are there supportive family relationships? Are there any safety or stability concerns?

Lastly, the relationship between the child and each parent is considered. A strong, positive relationship is seen as beneficial for the child’s overall well-being. Each parent’s ability to foster and maintain a relationship between the child and his/her other parent is also considered.  The court tries to ensure that custody arrangements support the maintenance of the child’s closest relationships, to the greatest extent possible.

Finding the Right Custody Arrangement for Your Children

Determining the most fitting custody plan for your children requires careful thought and consideration. You’ll need to think about both where the child will live and who has legal decision-making rights in the child’s life. Physical custody determines who the child lives with and how much time the child spends with each parent. Legal custody allows parents to have an active role in important decisions regarding education, medical care, and other areas of their child’s life.

The key to finding an arrangement that works is putting your child’s best interests first. That’s what the courts look at, and if parents come to an agreement on their own that suits the child’s needs, the court is likely to allow their agreement to stand.

Navigating a Child Custody Dispute

When a child custody dispute arises, it’s a time when tensions may run high. Engaging a competent child custody lawyer in Greer or elsewhere in Upstate South Carolina can significantly ease this burden. They’ve handled these sorts of disputes many times before, and they know which types of challenges you’re likely to face and how to overcome them.

The most important thing to remember is that the court will be looking at who is best able to meet the child’s needs. If you use this time to lash out at the other parent, badmouth them to your child, withhold your child for scheduled visits, or otherwise act erratically, that will reflect poorly when your case ends up in court.

Child Custody Modification Options

Life’s constant changes sometimes mean that the original child custody arrangement no longer fits your family’s needs. Perhaps you’ve moved to a new city, landed a different job with unconventional hours, or observed changes in your child’s needs that call for a different setup. 

In these scenarios, modifying your child custody agreement might be necessary. Calm, mediated discussions with your co-parent and working closely with your family law attorney in Greer can help you navigate these changes and find a solution that fits both parents’ new schedules and their child’s best needs.

There are many options to explore. For example, you may shift to a more equal time split from a traditional primary/visitation model if your child is now old enough to feel comfortable going between two homes. On the other hand, if one parent has a sudden increase in work obligations or a schedule that does not accommodate a child’s school schedule, a change allowing the other parent to take primary custody may be suitable.

Explore Your Legal Options with Nowell Law Firm

The sooner you connect with our family law team in Green, the sooner we can start helping you find solutions to your child custody concerns. Call us at 864-707-1785 or send us a message on our online contact form to set up a consultation.