Summerville Divorce Attorney
A Summerville divorce is filed in the Family Court for Dorchester County. The East 1st North Street office handles the grounds, the marital estate, custody and support under South Carolina law.
Summerville families often carry a home in a newer subdivision, a retirement account and a schedule built around a commute or a shift. Those facts shape both the property division and the parenting plan, and they need to be documented before the case is negotiated.
The office handles contested and uncontested divorces, separation agreements, mediation and the related custody and support issues. The first meeting confirms the grounds, the separation date and the financial inventory before anything is filed.
Divorce in Dorchester County
Dorchester County divorce and custody cases are heard in the Family Court for Dorchester County. Probate matters are handled by the Dorchester County Probate Court.
The office is at 133 East 1st North Street, Suite 9. It serves Summerville, Ladson, Goose Creek, Ridgeville and the surrounding communities.
How South Carolina handles divorce
South Carolina requires grounds for divorce: adultery, desertion for at least one year, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or narcotics use, failure to provide support, or living separate and apart for at least one continuous year. The one-year separation ground is the one most contested cases use when fault is not part of the strategy.
Marital property is divided equitably, not equally. The court considers the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, health, contributions to the marriage and the family, and the source of the property. Alimony can be periodic, lump-sum, rehabilitative or reimbursement.
Custody and child support follow the best interests of the child. Support is set under the South Carolina income-shares guidelines, and either can be modified when circumstances change materially.
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
Adultery, desertion for at least one year, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or narcotics use, failure to provide support, or living separate and apart for at least one continuous year.
South Carolina divides marital property equitably, not equally. The court considers the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, health, contributions and the source of the property.
Yes. A settlement agreement or mediation can resolve the case without a contested hearing, and the court can incorporate a complete agreement into a final order.
Prior orders or agreements, income documents, a list of property and debts, the children’s schedule and any records that establish the separation date.
Last updated November 2026. General information, not legal advice.