Charleston Family Law Attorneys
Charleston family law covers divorce, custody, child support, alimony, property division and the agreements that settle them. The Meeting Street office handles the full matter under South Carolina law.
A family transition in Charleston rarely stays in one lane. A divorce can raise custody and support at the same time as it raises the house on the peninsula, a waterfront property or a closely held business. A separation agreement has to work for the children and the finances at once.
The Charleston office represents clients in mediation, collaborative processes and contested hearings. The same team can handle the estate side — wills, trusts, powers of attorney and probate — when a transition requires both.
Family law in Charleston County
Charleston County family cases are heard in the Family Court in Charleston. Probate matters are handled by the Charleston County Probate Court.
The office is at 170 Meeting St., Suite 110, in downtown Charleston. It serves families across Charleston County, Mount Pleasant, James Island, West Ashley, North Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry.
How South Carolina handles family law
A South Carolina family law matter can involve divorce, custody, child support, alimony, property division, a separation agreement or a prenuptial agreement. Those issues often arrive together: a separation agreement has to work for the children as well as the finances, and a custody schedule has to line up with the school year and each parent’s work.
South Carolina requires grounds for divorce, including one year of continuous separation. Marital property is divided equitably rather than equally. Alimony can be periodic, lump-sum, rehabilitative or reimbursement, and custody and support are decided on the best interests of the child and the income-shares guidelines.
Where a negotiated result is possible, the team uses mediation or a collaborative process; where it is not, the case is prepared for a contested hearing from the first meeting. The same office handles the related estate work — wills, trusts, powers of attorney and probate — when a family transition requires both.
What to bring to a first meeting
- Any prior separation agreement, court order or parenting plan.
- Recent pay stubs, tax returns and proof of self-employment, overtime or bonus income.
- A list of real property, vehicles, accounts, retirement plans and debts, with approximate values.
- The children’s current schedule, school and healthcare information.
- Records of the separation date and any safety or custody concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Divorce, separation, custody, child support, alimony, property and debt division, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, adoption, and domestic violence protective orders. The first meeting identifies which of those are actually in dispute.
South Carolina requires grounds. The one-year continuous separation ground does not require proving fault, but fault can still be relevant to alimony and property issues. The facts of the separation should be reviewed before the case is filed.
Yes. Many Charleston family cases settle through mediation or a written agreement. If the case does not settle, it can proceed to a contested hearing.
Yes. The firm has offices in both states, and some attorneys are licensed in both. The case is filed under the law of the state where the court sits.
Last updated November 2026. General information, not legal advice.