Divorce Attorney in Summerville SC

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If there were one universal truth it would be that every family is different. We all have our own set of challenges to face and changes to go through. Sometimes those changes are happy like when a new baby is born. Other times these changes involve uncertainty and loss like in the event of a divorce.

If you are having to go through the pain of divorce deal with a complicated custody issue or are handling a different family-related legal matter you might need help. At Cobb Hammett LLC we understand that family issues are hard. Many of the family law clients that we work for have big questions about the future leaving them over-stressed and full of worry. They are concerned about their children their marriage or both. They are wrestling with uncertainty and anxiety having been served confusing documents that don't make sense. Sound familiar? A family law attorney in Summerville, SC can help whether you need a level-headed moderator or a trusted advocate in the courtroom.

At Cobb Hammett LLC we have decades of combined experience serving the needs of families from divorce proceedings to family formation issues. Our team is fiercely committed to our clients and with a dedicated focus stays up-to-date on the nuanced world of family law in Summerville. If you're looking for personal attention unbiased representation and a responsive family law attorney look no further than our law firm.

Divorce Attorney Summerville, SC

If you're unsure of whether you need a family law lawyers in Summerville" ask yourself these questions:

  • Are you getting married?
  • Are you thinking about divorce?
  • Has your spouse served you with legal papers?
  • Are your kids not receiving the support that they are entitled to?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above know that we are here to help you figure out your next steps. With Cobb Hammett Law Firm by your side you can have the confidence to face even the most difficult family law issues. All of our attorneys have years of experience are incredibly responsive and fight for your family's rights. We are happy to take as much time as you need to answer questions and help put your mind at ease for whatever lies ahead.

 Law Firm Summerville, SC

Our firm specializes in a wide range of family law cases including:

  • Divorce
  • Child Custody
  • Alimony
  • Adoptions
  • Child Support
  • Mediation
  • Property Division
  • More

If you have been left to manage a foreign family law situation it's time to call Cobb Hammett LLC. We will sit down with you for an hour at absolutely no cost - because we understand what you're going through and know that you need answers not another bill to pay.

To help provide you with a basic understanding of family law keep reading for in-depth explanations on our areas of expertise.

 Attorney Summerville, SC

Divorce lawyer in
Summerville SC.

At Cobb Hammett LLC we know all-too-well that a one size fits all approach isn't going to work very well for your unique situation. That's why we approach each divorce case from a personalized standpoint - something that we feel like each of our clients deserves.

 Divorce Lawyer Summerville, SC
Our goal is to help solve your family law issues and focus on your needs when your divorce is finalized. We will help develop a strategy for:
  • Meeting your post-divorce needs and objectives
  • Dividing marital property for maximum benefit
  • Maximizing time spent with your child as part of your divorce's parenting plan
  • Strengthen your role as a decision-maker for your child
  • Navigating your divorce proceedings and minimizing financial and emotional costs

By working together our divorce law firm will help you rebuild your life and secure a better future for your family.

Divorces in South Carolina
- Different Than Other States

Unlike divorce law in other states South Carolina divorce law doesn't allow spouses to receive an instant no-fault divorce. One or both spouses in the marriage must establish a legally acceptable reason for a divorce to happen. Grounds for a divorce in Summerville, SC include:

  • Desertion
  • Physical Cruelty
  • Habitual Drunkenness
  • Separation for One Year or More
  • Adultery
Divorce Attorney Summerville, SC

If you or your spouse do not have the necessary grounds for divorce in Summerville our family law firm can file a Separate Maintenance and Support action. This step lets the court order child custody alimony and marital bills until you can file for your divorce. During this period Cobb Hammett LLC gathers pertinent info on your spouse's character and assets that can strengthen your case should it be necessary.

Common Issues Associated
with Divorces in Summerville

A divorce in Summerville means more than the end of a marriage. It involves dividing the parties debts and assets determines child support and custody parameters and can establish alimony. At Cobb Hammett LLC many of our clients are able to reach agreements with their spouse to resolve these issues. Reaching an agreement lets both parties customize the terms of their divorce to conserve resources avoid trial and meet the family's needs.

Sometimes however two spouses cannot or will not come to terms with an agreement. In these situations a trial is possible and litigation is necessary. Our family law attorneys in Summerville, SC. are highly experienced litigators and are well-equipped to handle any disputes revealed in the conference or courtroom.

Common divorce issues include:

 Law Firm Summerville, SC
1.

Child Custody and Visitation

One of the most heart-wrenching difficult decisions for parents going through a divorce is resolving child custody and visitation issues. Child custody refers to how much time each parent will spend with their child and whether they can make decisions for them. According to South Carolina law child custody and visitation time are based on what is best for the child.

 Attorney Summerville, SC
2.

Child Support

Like other U.S states a formula is used in South Carolina to determine how much child support a person must pay. This formula recommends the amount of child support based on factors like how much income the parents make the cost of childcare and the obligation to support children from other relationships.

 Divorce Lawyer Summerville, SC
3.

Alimony

In South Carolina there is no formula to determine how much alimony a person must pay. However courts consider several factors when deciding if alimony is needed how much alimony should be paid and how long a spouse must pay it. Those factors include each spouse's ability and need to pay alimony how long the marriage lasted and any marital misconduct that occurred. To make matters more confusing there are different alimony types including lump sum rehabilitative and reimbursement.

Divorce Attorney Summerville, SC
4.

Distribution of Property

In South Carolina marital property is the property that each spouse amasses from the date of the wedding to the time a spouse files for divorce. That property can often include marital debt. In a South Carolina divorce the courts will order an equitable division of property meaning fair under all circumstances but not necessarily equal.

 Law Firm Summerville, SC

Understanding Child Custody in Summerville, SC.

As mentioned above decisions that involve child custody and visitation can be contentious for parents both emotionally and legally. As experienced empathetic divorce lawyers we understand how difficult this process can be. When we work with clients going through child custody battles we always make it a point to be with them through the ups and downs to help them stay centered. Whether you are the husband or wife in your divorce we share a common goal: finding an effective way to support your children and assure their wellbeing.

In South Carolina child custody is a loaded term. In the most general definition child custody determines when each parent is responsible for the physical care of the child and how much authority each parent has to make decisions in their child's life.

No two child custody cases are the same but a negotiated custody arrangement is usually preferred in the judge's eyes as each parent has input in the process. If the parents cannot come to an amicable resolution their fate is left in the hands of a Family Court Judge in South Carolina. The focus of child custody law is always on what is in the best interests of the child. What the judge determines to be the best interests changes depending on the judge.

There are different variations of custody in South Carolina (or custody arrangements) each with varying degrees of authority. When you consult with our family law attorneys at Cobb Hammett LLC we will go over the child custody process in detail and touch on each distinction to eliminate any confusion you have.

  • Help develop cooperative solutions to disputes or mediate when needed
  • Create an equitable parenting plan
  • Discuss the implications of the different forms of joint and sole custody
  • Problems related to child support
  • Modify court orders if you or your child's circumstances change
  • Enforcement of visitation and custody agreements
  • Much more
Many of the family law clients that walk into our office have big questions that are leaving them full of stress and worry. <

Many of the family law clients that walk into our office have big questions that are leaving them full of stress and worry.

 Attorney Summerville, SC

Understanding Child Support
in Summerville, SC.

When children are involved in divorce cases child support is often ordered. Several factors can impact whether child support is ordered like the income-earning potential of the child's parents any custody arrangements that are created and what needs the child may have.

At Cobb Hammett LLC we have years of experience with child support issues relating to:

  • Cases where child support is needed for stay-at-home parents
  • Modifications and enforcement of child support mandates
  • Resolving support and custody disputes
  • Mediation arrangements to reach an agreement on child support. Compared to litigation going
  • the mediated route often means less stress and is more cost-effective than trial.

When you trust our family law firm in Summerville for representation we can help calculate an estimate of how much child support you or your spouse may be ordered to pay. We can also perform a needs-based analysis in cases that involve large amounts of income. At the end of the day our goal is to make this frustrating process as stress-free as possible for you so that you can focus on living life and caring for your child.

Understanding Alimony in
Summerville, SC.

Alimony (sometimes called spousal support or maintenance) is ordered by the court or negotiated between parties. This kind of spousal support has many factors like the income of both spouses how long they were married and the age of each spouse. Like child custody and child support trusted legal guidance is strongly recommended if you are facing potential alimony payments. Our family law attorneys will help you reach amicable arrangements for fair and appropriate alimony payments.

At Cobb Hammett LLC your family law attorney in Summerville, SC will help protect your interests and rights regarding:

 Divorce Lawyer Summerville, SC
  • Alimony and business assets
  • Permanent or long-term alimony
  • Significant alimony in high-asset divorces
  • Modifications to alimony arrangements when you or your spouse's circumstances change
  • Enforcement of spousal support mandates when needed

Understanding Division of
Property in Summerville, SC.

When there are no children marital property or issues of alimony divorces often proceed smoothly between amicable spouses. However most divorces in South Carolina are much more complex. Typically divorce involves a union between spouses that lasts for years and involves substantial marital property. This property can be personal property real estate family businesses debts out-of-state property debts bank accounts and more.

In these nuanced situations the applicable parties need assistance dividing their property. This help most often comes from seasoned family law attorneys like Cobb Hammett LLC.

When it comes to distribution of property certain types of properties that are controversial even under the property division rules in South Carolina. South Carolina is an equitable distribution state meaning that marital property is divided equitably but not always equally.

If you are going through a divorce it's important that you are aware of the following assets and the common issues their division presents:

Divorce Attorney Summerville, SC
Pensions

Pensions:

Generally pensions are the second-largest asset in a marriage. When there are sufficient alternative income sources to compensate the non-pension holder South Carolina divorce courts may leave the pension rights with the spouse who earned it with future distribution available. Otherwise a divorce court may enter a Qualified Domestic Relations Order requiring the pension administrator to pay both the former spouse and worker.

Family Home

Family Home:

The family home or the primary residential property owned by the divorcing couple is usually considered a marriage's biggest asset. Dividing this kind of property can be complex and frustrating especially when there are kids involved.

Many divorcing couples have a hard time reaching an agreement on property division. Because the division of property depends on the complexity of you or your spouse's assets and liabilities it is crucial to consult with an experienced family law attorney to provide guidance.

Latest News in Summerville, SC

The Summerville Light, an iconic local ghost story, might finally have an explanation

SUMMERVILLE — In December 1974, a News and Courier reader wrote to the newspaper's Action Line column with a question."Did anyone ever decide what caused the ghost l...

SUMMERVILLE — In December 1974, a News and Courier reader wrote to the newspaper's Action Line column with a question.

"Did anyone ever decide what caused the ghost lights at Summerville?"

Answer: "Not that Action Line can find out."

Action Line, which answered a range of reader questions covering everything from spectral sights to how to read an electric meter, is long gone, replaced by Google and other search engines. But the modern-day Post and Courier might finally have an answer to that reader's question — 50 years and one month later. Better late than never.

A new research letter published in the journal Seismological Research Letters proposes that the Summerville Light isn't some ghost from beyond the grave, but a result of the seismic forces at play under the Dorchester County town.

The legend of the Summerville Light dates back at least to the 1950s. Specifics vary, but the most popular telling involves a woman who awaited her husband's return from work each evening along the railroad tracks on what is now Sheep Island Road. They'd walk home together through the dark South Carolina nights.

But one day, the man was beheaded in a train derailment. Now the woman exists in an eternal limbo, awaiting someone who will never arrive. The spooky lights along the track are her lantern, which once guided the couple back home each evening.

Susan Hough, the article's author and a scientist in the U.S. Geological Survey's Earthquake Hazards Program, said there's a down-to-earth explanation for the phenomenon. (Or more accurately, a below-the-earth explanation.)

Running under Summerville there is a fault line, fittingly named the Summerville Fault. After researching the fault for other studies, she noticed a trend. The light sightings tended to coincide with periods of seismic activity in the area. She theorizes that those events might have released gases from the fault line, which then interacted with the static charges from metal along the rail track, creating a light on the horizon.

The quakes, which were too small to be noticed by humans, might explain a significant amount of ghostly activity observed in Summerville at the time.

"Seismology can't really weigh in on whether ghosts are real; that's a whole other kettle of fish," Hough said. "But a lot of the accounts from Summerville just scream earthquake phenomenon, starting with the lights. Then there's other accounts of noises being heard upstairs, doors swinging, people feeling unsettled. They're almost textbook descriptions of shaking that's at the edge of human perceptibility."

The Summerville Light also fits a trope of the ghost that haunts a railroad track, variations of which can be seen in folklore across the world.

"When you start looking around, it turns out there's any number of ghosts wandering around railroad tracks with lanterns looking for severed heads," she said. "There's kind of an epidemic of them."

The trope has a second local example: the Jacksonboro Light. Found in a tiny, unincorporated Colleton County community, that specter shares a lot of similarities with the Summerville Light.

Those lights have also been seen near a railroad, and in an area close to a fault line. Even the stories are similar — although in Jacksonboro it's a preacher who gets hit by a train after using his lantern to search for his lost daughter.

"Why are the ghosts carrying lanterns along railroad tracks?" Hough continued. "It sort of suggests that the railroad tracks are an important ingredient to get the light."

The Summerville Light does have at least one possible connection to a real-world horrific disaster — the great Charleston Earthquake of 1886, which likely was the fault's fault.

Hough, an expert on the 1886 earthquake, noted in a study she co-authored in 2023 that there is no broadly agreed-upon fault line that caused that quake. But her research suggest the Summerville Fault was probably the offender.

The quake is considered one of the worst natural disasters in Charleston's history. Exact death counts vary, but the event claimed the lives of at least 60 people. Around an estimated Magnitude 7, its shockwaves were registered as far away as Wisconsin, according to the USGS.

Cracks and damage caused by the earthquake still can be found in historic structures across the city. Covered in 140 years of plaster and paint, those scars are yet another ghost that haunts the region.

Follow Jonah Chester on Twitter @chester_jonah.

Frequent reports of ‘ghost’ light in South Carolina may be more than myth, study says

Enduring folklore of “ghost lights” haunting a Lowcountry town in South Carolina may be more fact than myth, a new study suggests.However, the so-called “Summerville Light” isn’t the work of a ghost, according to ...

Enduring folklore of “ghost lights” haunting a Lowcountry town in South Carolina may be more fact than myth, a new study suggests.

However, the so-called “Summerville Light” isn’t the work of a ghost, according to Susan E. Hough, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

She suspects it’s a real, but little-understood phenomenon known as earthquake lights, which flash, glow or spark when “deep earth gasses” rise and become electrically charged.

“Lore holds that a strange light sometimes seen in a remote area is a lantern carried by the ghost of a woman who once waited hours for her husband to return,” Hough wrote in a Jan. 22 article in the Seismological Society of America.

“I suggest that many if not all of the anecdotal observations can be most readily attributed to natural phenomena, including earthquake lights from earthquakes that were too small to be felt.”

Summerville is about a 25-mile drive northwest of Charleston, and her theory comes at a time when small earthquakes continue in the region. The U.S. Geological Survey reports there have been 158 documented earthquakes around Charleston since Jan. 1, 2000.

Some scientists believe the continued shaking stems from aftershocks of a devastating 6.7- to 7.3-magnitude quake that hit Charleston 139 years ago.

Tales of Summerville’s ghost light or ghost lantern “began to circulate in the 1950s to 1960s,” Hughes said.

“So pervasive was the lore that (Old) Sheep Island Road became known among local residents as Light Road, with a local stretch of road known today as Old Light Road,” she noted.

Hughes theorizes shallow earthquakes in the Summerville area could be releasing “a water-soluble gas like radon or methane that was then ignited by a spark of static electricity or rock movement.”

Abandoned railroad tracks and even scrap metal could have been a catalyst for the sparks, she said.

Earthquake lights were largely ignored by scientists until photo evidence began to show up in the 1960s.

Even now, the USGS says no one is sure what causes the phenomenon, known as EQL.

“Geophysicists differ on the extent to which they think that individual reports of unusual lighting near the time and epicenter of an earthquake actually represent EQL,” the USGS says.

“Some doubt that any of the reports constitute solid evidence for EQL, whereas others think that at least some reports plausibly correspond to EQL. ... Some reports of EQL have turned out to be associated with electricity arcing from the power lines shaking.”

Read Next

South Carolina

March 27, 2024 8:16 AM

'Inclusive' gym coming to Summerville

A new gym, Moe’s Fitness, is coming to 10150 Dorchester Road and owner Britney Mahoney said its uniqueness is in its inclusivity.“Inclusive means that we’re pretty much welcoming anybody, any fitness level,” Mahoney said. “It’s not a CrossFit gym, it’s not geared toward yoga, it’s not geared toward one thing. It is a gym that is there for everybody, so for any fitness level, male, female, younger, or older, we want to make it an atmosphere where you feel comfortable.”Mahoney...

A new gym, Moe’s Fitness, is coming to 10150 Dorchester Road and owner Britney Mahoney said its uniqueness is in its inclusivity.

“Inclusive means that we’re pretty much welcoming anybody, any fitness level,” Mahoney said. “It’s not a CrossFit gym, it’s not geared toward yoga, it’s not geared toward one thing. It is a gym that is there for everybody, so for any fitness level, male, female, younger, or older, we want to make it an atmosphere where you feel comfortable.”

Mahoney explained the gym’s mission is creating a welcoming and empowered environment where members do not feel overwhelmed or scared but are welcomed and empowered to reach their goals.

The gym will have personal trainers on site and online training options via an app, with trainers creating workout plans for members to complete independently. Additionally, the gym will be open 24/7 to accommodate people’s schedules. Screenings to locate imbalances will be available for those interested in corrective exercises to help with problems such as pain.

“Everybody has different lifestyles, and Moe’s is there for every lifestyle, and we don’t want you to skip your workout,” Mahoney said. “We want you to find the time to do it, and we want to be more like a community place where people feel like they can meet people there. They feel like they’re a part of something. Even if they don’t want to come work out, they can have a cup of coffee, maybe hang out, talk to some people, maybe talk to some staff. We want to make it an environment where it’s not just about the fitness part of it. That’s a bonus, but it’s about coming together with people in the community and a centralized spot and helping out other small businesses around the community.”

Mahoney explained the owners would collaborate with local farms for a monthly farmer’s market to support other small businesses. Additionally, they have partnered with natural energy drink and wellness companies.

“We are a family run gym,” Mahoney said. “We both have over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, and we moved here from New Jersey, so we’re opening a fitness center. We’ve been here for three years and are excited to be a part of the community and help make them fit at any age.”

A soft opening for Moe’s Fitness is scheduled for President’s Day weekend. Memberships are priced on a sliding scale with special pricing for military members, seniors, individuals and others.

For more information, visit the Moe’s Fitness Facebook page.

The ‘Ghost’ Haunting This South Carolina Town Might Have an Earthly Explanation, Scientist Says

In Summerville, South Carolina, a mysterious light has been seen hovering over old railroad tracks. Legend has it, it’s the glow of a lantern lighting the path of a ghost searching for her decapitated husband.Now, a seismologist has offered a scientific explanation for the floating orb: earthquakes. Susan Hough at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) published her idea in a research article late last month in ...

In Summerville, South Carolina, a mysterious light has been seen hovering over old railroad tracks. Legend has it, it’s the glow of a lantern lighting the path of a ghost searching for her decapitated husband.

Now, a seismologist has offered a scientific explanation for the floating orb: earthquakes. Susan Hough at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) published her idea in a research article late last month in Seismological Research Letters.

Hough was studying the area’s seismology, scouring old records with references to the “Summerville Light,” while trying to pinpoint the source of the destructive 1886 earthquake in Charleston. Then, she read a Halloween-themed USGS newsletter on spooky science.

“That sparked—so to speak—an idea that had been in the back of my mind, working on Charleston, that I had never really even thought too much about,” says Hough in a statement from the Seismological Society of America. “What about those ghost stories from Summerville?”

Hough suggests the town’s paranormal legends actually point to earthquakes. She noticed that many of the local “ghost sightings” coincided with periods of seismic activity.

“People said their cars would shakе violently. Well, that’s an earthquake,” Hough says to Science’s Richard Stone. “They heard noises upstairs, whispers. Or doors would swing. Seismic events we may not perceive as earthquakes fit some of these accounts. And glowing orbs that would hang in the air along a former railroad track. Well, that makes you think earthquake lights.”

Earthquake lights are mysterious phenomena that have been observed around the world, but scientists still don’t have a clear idea of what causes them. Some have proposed that seismic activity deforms minerals in the Earth, creating an electrical charge that can lead air molecules to glow. Another theory is that they’re related to the release of gases like radon or methane, which can ignite when they’re exposed to a spark of static electricity. Hough believes the railroad tracks, in particular, are the key to Summerville’s ghosts.

“Historically, when [rail companies] replaced tracks, they didn’t always haul the old track away. So, you’ve got heaps of steel out there. Sparks might be part of the story,” Hough says to Science. “And maybe the railroads are important for another reason. They may naturally follow fault lines that have carved corridors through the landscape.”

That could explain why so many ghost stories—even beyond Summerville—involve lights over railways, she adds. “When you start looking around, it turns out there’s any number of ghosts wandering around railroad tracks with lanterns looking for severed heads,” says Hough to Jonah Chester at the Post and Courier. “There’s kind of an epidemic of them.”

Recognizing this connection could help scientists find seismic zones that have gone unrecognized so far. Following similar ghost stories in other regions could point to areas with a low level of earthquake activity that had only been noticed through earthquake lights, per the statement.

Earthquakes are “an appealing explanation for these ghost stories,” says Will Levandowski, a geophysicist with the consulting company Tetra Tech who was not involved in the study, to Carolyn Wilke at the New York Times.

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Sara Hashemi | READ MORE

Sara Hashemi is a science writer and fact-checker currently based in New York City. Her work has appeared in Sierra, The Body, Maisonneuve magazine and more.

Filed Under: American South, Chemistry, Earth Science, Earthquakes, Geology, Mysteries, New Research, Trains

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