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FAMILY LAW
Clients should understand not only what their attorney is doing, but why.
Every family law case involves choices about where to focus time, evidence, and financial resources. Family law litigation can become expensive quickly. At McGee Family Law we believe every step in a case should have a purpose.
Divorce
South Carolina divorce cases can involve far more than obtaining a divorce decree. Depending on the circumstances, a case may require resolution of property and debt division, alimony, child custody, child support, attorney's fees, and other financial issues.
McGee Family Law represents clients in both contested and amicable divorces, with an emphasis on developing a strategy that considers the case as a whole. Decisions involving custody, property, support, and litigation strategy often affect one another and should be evaluated together rather than in isolation.
Divorce and Complex Financial Cases
Lindsay represents clients in contested and uncontested divorces, including cases involving significant assets, business interests, retirement accounts, real estate, complex income, marital debt, and claims involving nonmarital property.
In high asset divorce cases, the financial details matter. Lindsay works to identify the marital estate, evaluate competing claims concerning property and debt, and develop a strategy for equitable distribution that reflects both the evidence and the client's long term financial interests.
Her divorce practice also includes cases involving adultery and other marital fault, alimony, attorney's fees, and related financial issues.
Child Custody and Parenting Disputes
Lindsay represents parents in initial custody determinations and contested parenting disputes.
Custody cases often involve far more than a disagreement about a parenting schedule.
Lindsay works with clients to separate significant custody evidence from the ordinary conflict that often accompanies the end of a relationship. She focuses on developing evidence that helps the Family Court understand the children, the history of each parent's involvement, and the practical effect of the custody arrangement being requested.
Custody Modification
A custody order that worked when it was entered may no longer serve a child's needs years later.
LindsHay represents parents seeking and defending custody modifications when circumstances have substantially changed. These cases may involve changes in a child's educational, medical, emotional, or developmental needs, changes in a parent's circumstances, relocation, persistent interference with parenting, or other developments affecting the child's welfare.
Because modification cases depend heavily on what has occurred since the prior order, Lindsay places particular emphasis on timelines, records, communications, and other evidence demonstrating how circumstances have changed.
Paternity and Custody for Unmarried Parents
Lindsay represents mothers and fathers in cases involving paternity, custody, parenting time, decision making, and child support when the parents were never married.
Establishing a clear court ordered parenting arrangement can provide stability for both the parents and the children. Lindsay helps clients address paternity when necessary and develop custody arrangements that account for the children's schedules, schooling, activities, and each parent's historical involvement.
Alimony and Alimony Modification
Lindsay represents clients in matters involving the establishment, modification, and termination of alimony.
Alimony cases can require detailed analysis of income, expenses, earning capacity, marital history, standard of living, and other statutory considerations. Modification cases require an additional analysis of what has changed since the existing support obligation was established.
Lindsay works with clients to evaluate both the legal and financial components of these claims so that decisions concerning support are based on the evidence and the potential economic consequences.
Name Changes
Changing a legal name can be an important personal decision, but it also requires compliance with specific court procedures. McGee Family Law assists adults and parents seeking legal name changes in Charleston and the surrounding areas.
Adult Name Changes
Adults may seek a legal name change for many reasons, including after a divorce, for family or personal reasons, or simply because they wish to use a different legal name.
South Carolina requires certain procedural requirements to be completed before the Family Court may approve an adult name change. We help clients navigate those requirements, prepare and file the necessary documents, and obtain a court order legally changing their name.
Once the name change is granted, the court order can be used to update identification and other records with the appropriate agencies and institutions.
Name Changes for Minor Children
Changing a child's name involves additional considerations because the Family Court must determine whether the requested change is appropriate for the child.
A parent may seek to change a child's first, middle, or last name. These cases can arise following changes in family circumstances, questions concerning paternity, or when a parent believes a different name would better reflect the child's family relationships.
When both parents agree, the process may be relatively straightforward. When a parent objects, the Court may be required to hear evidence and determine whether the proposed name change is in the child's best interests.
McGee Family Law represents parents in both agreed and contested name change proceedings and can help evaluate the issues the Court may consider in determining whether a child's name should be changed.
Family Court Appeals
Family court litigation does not always end with the trial court's decision.
Lindsay has experience handling family law matters at the appellate level. Appellate cases require a different approach from trial litigation, with particular attention to the record, preservation of issues, the applicable standard of review, and written legal advocacy.
Her appellate experience also informs the way she approaches cases in Family Court. Building a clear record and identifying the issues that actually matter can be important long before an appeal is contemplated.