Pickens Divorce Lawyers Help You Protect Your Interests
South Carolina firm offers compassionate assistance during a difficult time
Ending a marriage can seem like an emotional trial, but if you don’t prioritize your legal interests, you could feel the consequences for years after your divorce. At Acker Lambert Hinton P.A., we recognize how emotional and challenging these issues are and we try to minimize the negative personal and financial impact on you and your children. You can count on our attorneys to do everything in their power to advocate for the best possible outcome and protect your interests. Sometimes that means negotiation and settlement; other times, that means trial. No matter what path you choose, we will prove to be aggressive advocates.
Family law attorneys handle divorce filings and parenting arrangements
Though nothing can fully prepare you for divorce, our experienced family law attorneys will help you understand your options relating to:
- Filing — The South Carolina divorce process starts with the service of a summons and the filing of a complaint. Both spouses must have lived in the state for at least 90 days or one spouse must have a year of residence.
- Grounds — You can file for a “no fault” divorce if you and your spouse have lived apart for at least one year. Fault grounds such as adultery, abandonment or physical abuse are also available. This can be a quicker, though more complex, process. A final hearing to dissolve the marriage cannot occur until 90 days have passed since the filing.
- Parenting arrangements — If you and your spouse have one or more minor children together, establishing appropriate parenting arrangements should be the top priority. Our lawyers handle issues of custody and child support so that the end result is truly in the best interests of your son or daughter.
From start to finish, we safeguard your interests and work diligently so that you can enter the next phase of your life on a positive note.
How you might benefit from a collaborative divorce
Even when a divorce is relatively amicable, the traditional litigation process forces spouses into an adversarial process that might heighten tensions or create new problems. One possible solution is collaborative divorce, where each party hires an attorney and then everyone works together in pursuit of a fair settlement agreement. Instead of fighting over discovery, information is willingly shared and we help you and your spouse hire the experts necessary to achieve consensus.
Contested divorce vs. uncontested divorce
During the marriage dissolution process, it can be very useful to separate the relationship conflicts from the necessary determinations which must be made as part of the divorce. When possible, we strive to help couples find common ground on parenting and financial terms so that they can submit a marital settlement agreement to the court. These uncontested simple divorces help spouses save money and time by averting unnecessary litigation procedure and disputes. However, you should not agree to an unfair deal for the sake of harmony. If a contested divorce is the only way to secure an appropriate result, our experienced litigators are prepared to go to court.
Knowledgeable attorneys advise on property division issues
When a couple divorces, marital assets and debts must be divided between them. Typically, it does not matter who earned the income or acquired the specific item, as all assets are considered part of the marital estate. We thoroughly review the situation to help forge a compromise, but if that is not feasible, South Carolina courts decide based on the principle of equitable distribution. This means that a Family Court judge divides property based on what they think is fair, which may not result in an even split. Many factors can be considered, including each party’s contributions and their ability to support themselves following the divorce.
Contact a dedicated South Carolina divorce lawyer to arrange a confidential consultation
Acker Lambert Hinton P.A. represents South Carolina clients in divorce negotiations and litigation. Our office is in Pickens and we advise residents of Greenville, Easley and surrounding communities. To schedule your consultation to discuss your situation, please call 864-668-1013 or contact us online.
