What can and can’t be fixed by a family court appeal
October 17, 2013
Folks sometimes consult with me shortly before their case is going to trial to obtain a second opinion. Typically they are either unhappy with the
When does a judge’s ruling become a valid order?
October 9, 2013
Early in my family court career I used to debate with my colleagues as to when a family judge’s ruling became valid. The (super-)majority view
How not to bung-up a responsive pleading
September 13, 2013
I often see responsive pleadings that hurt the other side’s case. Frequently the response will include extraneous information. This information is like free discovery–learning about
Demanding UCCJEA submissions before filing motions to dismiss child custody cases
August 29, 2013
Multi-state child custody actions often get filed where it is unclear if, and how, the state where the action is filed has subject matter jurisdiction
When seeking to modify child support, it’s imperative to file and serve a complaint
August 22, 2013
In most areas of family law practice negotiating before filing a contested action can reduce the stress and expense of litigation. However, when one is
Two unusual, and quite useful, family law supplemental interrogatories
August 16, 2013
Though South Carolina family law attorneys are limited to fifty supplemental interrogatories, the boilerplate supplemental interrogatories I encounter are often ill designed to capture useful
Obtaining funding for an ongoing family court case
August 9, 2013
Unless one filed a specific request for advance suit costs, at most motions for temporary relief the family court will only award fees (if it
Three reasons not to file a motion for temporary relief if the status quo is fine
August 7, 2013
I still often see other attorneys filing motions for temporary relief with their initial complaint even if the status quo is acceptable to their client.
