Accomplished Child Custody and Visitation Lawyer in Charleston, South Carolina
G. Simms McDowell was one of the earliest practitioners of family law in Charleston. So at McDowell Law Offices, we know that legal issues regarding family and children are deeply personal and can be emotional matters. We are sensitive to your needs and those of your family.
In family law, we offer a range of services
- Adoption
- Divorce
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support
- Paternity
- Pre-nuptial agreements
- Spousal support
- Division of property and debt
- Mediation
Reasonable solutions for families and children
We believe in the old adage that "in battles, there are always losers." Therefore, we place an emphasis on solving family law matters like custody and visitation agreeably rather than prolonging them, which is expensive and stressful.
Our strength in family law is creating plans that do the best job of fixing a broken home and protecting the children from the trauma of a custody fight. We push for a custody situation that provides the best solution for the child's well-being while satisfying our clients.
You may not be a couple any more, but you will always be the parents of your child. We believe that no good parent should be deprived of access to their child.
Mediation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution
We at the McDowell Law Offices are proponents of mediation and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution. We've found that about a majority of the divorce cases we handle are settled before reaching court, often through mediation. Working together is particularly beneficial when you are trying to find agreement on custody and visitation challenges.
Mediation empowers you to make your own decisions about the divorce, and most people come up with solutions to which they can both adhere. The alternative is having a judge make your decisions — a judge who knows little about your family or your personal situation. Trial is also expensive and takes an emotional toll.
We have achieved excellent results when we have helped people reach agreement on child custody and visitation.
Enforcement and modification
We encourage parents to use State resources, including DSS Child Support Enforcement to collect child support. If, however, you look to private counsel in a divorce or custody dispute, we enforce divorce decrees that mandate paying for the financial needs of the child and sometimes the other spouse.
We assist clients in matters of modification as well. For instance, if one parent's income changes drastically or he or she moves out of state, then support and visitation arrangements must be modified, which requires going through the courts.
Call us for your family law needs
McDowell Law Offices is experienced, compassionate, and results-driven for our family law clients. Contact us today for a consultation and assessment of your legal issue.
McDowell Law Offices
36 Broad St.
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: 843-723-5152
Fax: 843-577-4570
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