Practice Areas
Divorce
Our office has extensive experience in Family Law and all aspects related to that area of practice. For most people, divorce and related cases are their first experience with the legal system. In addition, these cases can be emotionally taxing for our clients, as they deal with the end of a marriage and/or the custody of their children. We work with our clients to effectively navigate through the many issues, from a wide range of practice areas, that these cases may raise.
We believe in hard work and proper preparation. Brian will always handle your case personally and will never hand over your case to a paralegal. We always seek to reach the best possible outcome for our clients as quickly as possible, while ultimately keeping our client’s interests in mind.
Mediation is now mandatory in all South Carolina Family Law cases and in many Georgia divorce cases. Most domestic relations matters resolve through this process, and we are experienced at negotiating in this setting. If the case cannot settle prior to trial, we competently, effectively, and vigorously litigate the case to achieve a beneficial outcome for our clients.
Child Custody
Child custody issues can be some of the most difficult issues to resolve in a legal setting. The guiding mantra for a judge when deciding child custody cases is, “What is in the best interests of the child?” We have extensive experience working with our clients, Guardian ad Litems appointed to represent the child, local counselors, and court-appointed evaluators to ensure that what is in the best interest of the child is properly presented to the Court. Our office has also worked on numerous occasions with the Department of Social Services (DSS) in South Carolina and the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) in Georgia when there have been allegations of harm against a child.
Complex Property Division Issues
Our firm has long experience in dealing with complex financial issues that arise when parties with substantial assets divorce. In both Georgia and South Carolina, marital property in a divorce is divided on the principle of “equitable division,” which does not necessarily mean equal division.
Property acquired by a married couple during the marriage, with few exceptions such as inheritances or gifts, is deemed “marital.” Whereas property acquired prior to the marriage, again with certain exceptions, is deemed “non-marital.” In the event of a divorce, the court will attempt to divide the marital property between the parties fairly, taking into consideration a number of factors such as the length of the marriage, the contributions of each party to the marriage, the conduct of a spouse, the age of the parties, and several other factors.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in identifying and valuing marital assets – whether those assets are as relatively simple as joint bank and stock accounts or as complex as valuing large, closely held companies. We have also had success at protecting our clients’ non-marital assets. Our experience in this area allows us to effectively work with valuation experts both outside of the courtroom and as witnesses during trial to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.
Adoption
Few things in the legal field bring as much joy to both client and attorney as a successful adoption. We are available to assist you with a wide range of adoption matters, including private adoptions, stepparent and relative adoptions, third party adoptions, single parent adoptions, open adoptions, adult adoptions, and home studies.
We can compassionately advise you of your rights, explain your options, and handle your case in compliance with all applicable adoption laws.
Personal Injury
An injury can be a life-changing event. In many instances, the defendant is represented by an insurance company with access to considerable resources dedicated to minimizing any and all claims against one of its policyholders. In response, we stand by our clients to ensure that they obtain the most advantageous and fair resolution possible.
Wrongful Death
When a person dies as the result of the negligence or misconduct of another individual, company, or entity, we work on behalf of the decedent’s immediate family members – usually surviving spouses and children, although sometimes parents – to represent your legal claim to compensation.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice cases arise when a patient is injured through the improper action (or inaction) of a healthcare professional or medical facility. Unfortunately, the consequences of medical malpractice are often irreversible and result in chronic pain, the loss of a limb, and permanent paralysis, to name but a few. While respectful of the profession of medicine, we also recognize that there are instances in which liability must be assigned not only to protect the interests of our clients, but also to ensure that others do not suffer similar circumstances.
Wills, Probate & Guardianship
Our probate and estate practice has grown out of the desire to help many former clients as they prepare for the future or deal with the loss of a loved one.
Our attorneys will provide you with the personalized service and knowledge necessary to guide you through the planning process. We frequently work with clients on a range of issues, including: the drafting and execution of wills and living trusts; powers of attorney; beneficiary designation planning; living wills and other health care advance directives; and prenuptial agreements. We also regularly provide services to personal representatives and beneficiaries of estates.
When assisting clients with the administration of an estate, our primary goal is to simplify the process as much as possible. Having represented personal representatives of estates over many years, our firm has experience with many of the complex issues that can arise during the course of an estate administration.
We also have experience in establishing Guardianships in the Probate Court when an individual or family member is no longer capable of managing their own affairs without assistance.