Rock Hill Family Law Attorney

Dealing with challenges within your family always creates a great deal of stress. However, they can get much more complicated when family concerns overlap with legal issues. Legal disputes among family members and spouses can quickly lead to a contentious atmosphere of heightened emotions, misunderstandings, and sometimes the complete breakdown of communication.

The experienced Rock Hill family law attorneys at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC understand the stress families can face when dealing with tricky legal issues. Our compassionate legal team is dedicated to helping South Carolina families achieve workable solutions to their family-related legal challenges. Contact our offices today for a confidential consultation to learn more about how we can help you.

What Is a Family Law Lawyer?

A family law attorney handles family-related issues surrounding divorce, separation, child custody, and child support. They can help fight for a person’s rights in contentious or stressful family situations so they can move forward confidently into the future. Whether the context is a courtroom, mediation setting, or contract negotiation, a family lawyer can offer the advocacy you need to work toward the results you deserve.

Why Would I Need a Family Law Attorney?

At the beginning of a divorce or separation process, many spouses feel optimistic about their ability to work through their issues together. But as the reality of the situation sets in, couples often realize that their visions of what life will look like are worlds apart. You may quickly become confused and frustrated without fully understanding your legal rights and obligations. Family law tends to involve negotiations around the things that matter most to people: your children and your property. Professional legal advice can protect you and your interests.

Achieving the results you deserve in a divorce or custody issue requires a thorough and careful presentation of evidence, particularly in a courtroom setting. Yet even if you aim to resolve your voice in mediation instead, a family lawyer can offer the most effective means of having your voice heard. Even when your emotions become justifiably heightened, working with a dedicated legal professional can help keep cooler heads.

What Areas of Family Law Do We Handle?

The attorneys at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC have the experience, knowledge, and skills to handle family law matters relating to:

Divorce

South Carolina law recognizes two types of divorce:

• Fault-based divorce – This type of divorce is caused by adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug use, or desertion for at least a year.
• No-fault divorce – All other types of divorce fall into this category, which requires a one-year separation period before filing for divorce. After that, there will be a three-month waiting period before the divorce decree is issued.

Our attorneys can handle both at-fault and no-fault divorces. We will fight to protect your rights throughout the proceedings.

Separation

South Carolina does not recognize legal separation. However, some separating couples do not want a divorce or cannot divorce for religious reasons. Our attorneys can file for a Decree of Separate Maintenance and help you put provisions in place to protect your rights if you and your spouse decide to live separately.

Mediation

In South Carolina, mediation is mandatory in family court cases with disputed issues. In this form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), the couples work with a neutral mediator to find common ground in a constructive and creative way. Mediation helps reduce the court’s heavy caseload and gives the parties more control over their results. While this process is usually less adversarial, working with a skilled family lawyer is still essential.

Child Custody

Custody matters are among the most important aspects of divorce and separation proceedings. Whether you wish to establish sole or joint custody, our attorneys will fight for the best interests of you and your children.

Child Support

In most cases, the court calculates child support based on the South Carolina Department of Social Services Child Support Guidelines. Yet these guidelines are not always helpful, possible, or necessary for all families. Our attorneys will fight to ensure that all child support arrangements reflect a fair representation of your interests and conditions for your child.

Alimony

Many people believe their obligation to support their spouse ends with a divorce. However, this is not always the case. Family courts may require one spouse to make payments to the other during and after the divorce. Our attorneys will represent your best interests in these arrangements.

Property Division

South Carolina is an equitable distribution state. That means that the couple’s marital property – nearly all property acquired by the couple during the marriage – will be divided so each party receives fair, not necessarily equal, portions.

How Can the Family Law Attorneys at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC Help?

The team at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC has represented family law clients for over 45 years. Our family law attorneys have the skills, experience, and knowledge to help you develop a strategy and prepare for your family-related legal challenges. We’re committed to guiding you through every step of the process and handling all the legal heavy lifting so you can focus on what is important. We will pursue the best possible outcome and ensure you understand all options at each stage.

Clients tend to make better decisions when they have experienced legal counsel. We are passionate about practicing family law and giving our clients emotional support through the changes associated with dissolving a marriage. Our goal is to empower you to make the best choices during a difficult transition.

Contact Our Rock Hill Family Law Attorneys

Separating from a spouse is one of the most difficult and emotional decisions a person can make. When the time comes to make this decision, you must be prepared. Your life is about to change drastically. You need a plan and appropriate legal representation to protect yourself, your children, and your assets.

The Rock Hill family law lawyers at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel LLC are ready to help you chart your course into the next part of your life. Call us today or contact us online for a confidential consultation to learn more about how we can help you.

Visit Our Rock Hill Family Law Law Office