People in today's society often don't see eye-to-eye on controversial topics, especially with the prevalence of social media platforms and discussion forums. But if there's one thing that most folks can agree on, it's that everyone's family is unique. Each member has their own journey, filled with changes, challenges, and life-changing circumstances. Sometimes, those events are joyous and worth celebrating, like graduating from college or having a new baby. Other times, those events can cause frustration and grief, like messy divorces.
If you're trying to keep your life together while dealing with a complex child custody case or contentious divorce, chances are you're hurt and confused. You probably have big questions about the future. You're wondering what's going to happen to your marriage, your children, your career, and more. You're over-stressed and in need of a strategy to resolve it. In times like these, relying on the compassion and expertise of a family law attorney in Campobello, SC, can turn what seems like a hopeless situation into a much more manageable experience, given the circumstances.
At Cobb Hammett, LLC, we're acutely aware of the hardships that come with changes to your family dynamic, such as tension and emotional turmoil. Our team of family law attorneys is available to assist you in navigating these challenges and providing guidance on the most effective approach to your case. That way, you can move forward with confidence, and look ahead to a brighter future.
At Cobb Hammett Law Firm, our family law attorneys have decades of combined experience serving the needs of families, from divorce proceedings and alimony issues to family formations and adoptions. While every one of our family law clients has unique needs and circumstances, they all rely on our law firm for personal attention and a responsive family law lawyer in Campobello, SC. If you require zealous representation and a time-tested approach to family law, we're here to help.
As a full-service family law firm in South Carolina, we're proud to serve a wide range of clients: men and women, husbands and wives, business owners and executives, and just about every type of person in between. When they come to us, they're often distraught, confused, and anxious about the steps ahead. We consider those issues and make it a point to provide compassion and advice on the best possible approach to their situation or case. That way, they can rest easy at night knowing we have their back, no matter what hurdles may lie ahead.
Unsure whether you need to speak with a family law attorney? Ask yourself this:
If your answer to any of those questions is in the affirmative, it's time to give our family law firm in South Carolina a call today. Though time is often of the essence in family law matters, our team would be happy to sit with you to review your situation and provide an easy-to-understand roadmap for your legal future.
Divorce is a difficult decision for anyone, whether it's you or your partner who initiates it. It's a painful experience that can leave you feeling shattered and alone in the dark. When you made your wedding vows, you did so with the intention of being together for life. You invested a lot of time and money into your wedding, inviting friends and family from all over South Carolina to share in your joy.
Now, you're faced with the harsh reality that you and your former spouse are no longer together. As your family law attorney in Campobello, SC, we understand how overwhelming this can be. We've assisted many clients through the divorce process and had the knowledge and tools to help them work through it and move on to greener pastures.
When a couple decides to end their marriage in South Carolina, they have the option of a No-Fault dissolution which relieves either of having to bring and prove a fault-based divorce ground. This can help to avoid hostility or ill-feeling that may arise during a fault-based divorce.
In order to qualify for a no-fault divorce, the couple must have been living apart for a year prior to the divorce being granted. This means that they must have separate residences and cannot simply have been living in separate quarters within the same home. If you're thinking about divorce but don't want to pin the demise of the relationship on your spouse, speak with a family law lawyer in Campobello, SC, soon. This option allows you both to accept responsibility and move on.
When initiating the divorce process in South Carolina, the first step is for one spouse to file a complaint for divorce in the county where generally, the other spouse resides. To be eligible for divorce in South Carolina, residency requirements must be met. Generally, at least one spouse must have been a resident of the state for a minimum of one year. If both spouses live in South Carolina, they both must have resided there for at least three months.
There are five grounds for divorce in South Carolina, including a single no-fault ground that applies only if the spouses have been living separately for one year. The other four grounds are fault-based and include the following:
At Cobb Hammett Law Firm, one of the most common family law questions we're asked is, "Why type of divorce is best? Should I get a no-fault divorce?" Those questions aren't always easy to answer and depend on the dynamics of your marriage.
In a fault-based divorce, successfully proving fault can impact support and equitable division of the marital estate in favor of the "innocent" spouse. Proving wrongdoing can provide a sense of vindication during a divorce. In contrast, a no-fault divorce can make it a more unilateral process.
Did you know that the U.S. Census Bureau states that 25% of children younger than 21 live with just one parent while the other parent resides elsewhere in the country? In such circumstances, many families must navigate the complicated and legally complex process of child custody. As seasoned family law attorneys, we have represented clients in all aspects and legal stages of child custody and support.
We focus in providing services for a range of issues, including but not limited to:
Every family has its own distinct characteristics, and as such, child-related agreements must also be customized to fit each unique situation. In South Carolina, our team of skilled family law attorneys takes the time to understand our clients' individual goals and needs and tailor our services accordingly.
When you get married, you go into the partnership believing that you'll be together forever. It makes sense, then, that most divorcing couples don't know very much about alimony in South Carolina (also referred to as spousal support). They ask questions such as:
Fortunately, working with a family law lawyer in Campobello, SC, can answer those questions and make alimony easier to understand and approach.
Many individuals often mistake alimony for child support, but they are, in fact, two distinct forms of financial obligation and not mutually exclusive. Alimony was established to safeguard a supported spouse in the event of a divorce or separation. For example, a spouse who did not work during the course of the marriage would generally have a stronger alimony claim than a spouse who worked throughout the marriage. Likewise, a spouse who worked throughout the marriage but made less than the other spouse would have a stronger alimony claim than a spouse who worked and earned equivalent income to the supporting spouse.
In many cases, a spouse may choose to stay at home to tend to the children and manage the household. Oftentimes, the spouse who remains at home has sacrificed their career or education to care for the family. In such instances, a divorce could leave the financially weaker spouse in a state of financial turmoil. Without that support system, they will have to start over from scratch. These are some factors the Court will consider in evaluating an appropriate alimony case. Throughout your marriage, you have structured your quality of life based on a budget determined by your finances. While all expenses are shared by both partners, what happens if you have been financially dependent on your spouse and need to support yourself?
At Cobb, & Hammett, LLC, we aim to assist you in securing the alimony you need to support both yourself and your children. At the same time, we want to ensure that you are not overpaying your spouse, if you are the one required to pay. You may be required to pay an amount that could leave you in a difficult financial situation. Regardless, it's crucial to have the right legal representation to guide you through the alimony process in South Carolina.
Some people may assume financial responsibilities to a former partner are end with the filing of a divorce decree. However, if the court has mandated alimony payments, then the financial obligations survive. Failure to meet those obligations can lead to serious legal and financial consequences. Family law attorneys at Cobb Hammett, LLC have years of experience representing clients throughout the divorce process, including alimony determinations.
Our legal services cover many aspects of alimony law, such as:
Though our family law attorneys are fearless negotiators and litigators, we always strive to keep your legal proceedings as seamless and straightforward as possible. Our goal is to help reach an agreement on alimony that is reasonable for both you and your spouse. However, compromises aren't always possible. If needed, our lawyers will fight aggressively on your behalf to help ensure your financial rights are protected.
Law is complicate matter. It can cause you a big problem if you ignore it. Let us help you!
Dealing with family law cases can be incredibly trying, particularly when it comes to matters of separation or divorce. As your family law attorney in Campobello, SC, we recognize the challenges you're facing. With that in mind, know that we're committed to offering empathetic legal counsel on your behalf, no matter how contentious or confusing your situation may become. Contact our law offices today for your initial family law consultation.
Three years after enacting zoning for southwestern Spartanburg County to regulate growth, County Council is moving forward with plans to bring zoning to the entire county.Planning Director Joan Holliday told council members Monday public input will be sought in drafting a performance zoning plan to be ready for council approval by this fall.T...
Three years after enacting zoning for southwestern Spartanburg County to regulate growth, County Council is moving forward with plans to bring zoning to the entire county.
Planning Director Joan Holliday told council members Monday public input will be sought in drafting a performance zoning plan to be ready for council approval by this fall.
The plan would not apply to incorporated towns and cities, but could bring order to fast-growing unincorporated areas like Boiling Springs and Campobello, where many residents have said uncontrolled growth has brought traffic headaches.
Some residents said they want to see what's in the plan before outright supporting it.
"If you surveyed citizens of this county today, most would say that development is out of control," said Sally Rock of Campobello. "Will the proposed zoning be a political path to more rapid development? How do citizens in the southwest corner feel zoning is working there?"
Spartanburg County's Southwest Performance Plan is modeled after Lexington County's plan, Holliday said.
The 160-page Southwest Performance Zoning Plan covers a large area from Greer to Woodruff, where most of the current industrial and residential growth is occurring.
At first, county officials anticipated expanding the zoning to four other areas, piece by piece, but have now decided to simply expand the Southwest Plan countywide.
If enacted countywide, it would replace the county's 22-year-old Unified Land Management Ordinance (ULMO) that has regulated development with rules such as buffers, height, landscaping and setbacks.
Over time, the ULMO has been criticized by many residents as too weak to protect against sprawl and address infrastructure needs such as roads, before growth happens.
Two years ago, County Councilman Bob Walker cited an example, saying the ULMO would not prevent an RV park planned on Landrum Mill Road in northern Spartanburg County that residents have opposed, but performance zoning might require the developer to find another site.
Performance zoning, on the other hand, is loaded with what uses are allowed in certain areas. It classifies roads from most traveled to least traveled: arterial (heavily traveled); collector; local; limited local; restrictive local; and residential local.
The greater the traffic volume on a road, the more uses that are permitted, such as schools, daycare centers, hospitals, flea markets, retail stores and manufacturing facilities.
Highway 101 is an example of a major arterial road with the highest classification.
The zoning also includes restrictive districts by protecting rural areas and guiding development toward population centers.
Former County Councilman Roger Nutt, who headed up the process of drafting the Southwest Plan, said the plan preserves property rights – a major concern at the outset of planning.
Holliday said meetings will be held with council members and planning commission members in February and March, followed by "stakeholder engagement" from April to August.
Planners will then seek public input from July to September, with a planning commission review in September, and finally three readings of the ordinance by county council in September, October and November.
Details of where and when public meetings will be held have not been finalized.
Campobello-area residents critical of uncontrolled growth said the plan is long needed.
"I was a big proponent of performance zoning," said Jeffrey A. Horton Jr., a resident of northern Spartanburg County. "I feel it's the only way to regulate growth and preserve rural areas of my district.
"It's not necessarily meant to stifle growth, but guide it where it can become viable and manageable. People are jaded with traffic, state of our roads and over-congestion this population growth has produced, yet no one is actively addressing these issues."
Lou Nespecca of Campobello said he hopes the plan provides grandfather provisions to exempt some current uses.
"I would find it hard to tell someone who has done something for 25 years it is now illegal," he said. "I would like to know the push behind this agenda. Do they now want to over-develop other areas of the county and plan to force people out of their current situation? What happens if the pig farm was there first, and houses start to pop up around it?."
Rock, one of many northern Spartanburg County residents who oppose a planned RV park near Landrum, said she hopes the county is sincere in taking public input into account.
Opponents of the RV park were upset after the Planning Commission gave conditional approval to the RV park in March 2021. Opponents said they were not notified ahead of time. County officials said the park plan was on the Planning Commission's agenda and properly posted on its website a week before the meeting.
"This county has a track record of not welcoming citizen input and ignoring citizens' concerns when it comes to development and a vision for the future," she said. "Folks feel they have zero voice in local government land use planning. If you surveyed citizens of this county today, most would say that development is out of control."
Nathan Williams, a third-generation farmer on Highway 357 in Campobello, said the influx of housing developments is causing streams to flood more often and destroy topsoil needed for crops. He's also seen more traffic on narrow roads, making it impossible at times for his combine – a machine to harvest grain crops – to get to fields without the use of an escort.
He said he hopes the zoning plan will preserve farmland and steer growth to population centers.
"I don't know the solution," the 60-year-old farmer said. "I'm just concerned that in our future, we're not going to have anything left to farm."
Mike Brady of Boiling Springs has often been critical of the lack of county planning in Boiling Springs, where commercial growth branching out from the Highway 9 corridor has prompted many discussions about whether Boiling Springs should be incorporated with its own laws.
"The county has always held the opinion that zoning is the answer, but look in areas that have zoning regulations like Greenville County. I don't see it has worked very well there," he said. "Council holds the opinion that I am anti-growth, I am not. I'm for the county doing its job of planning areas for the benefit of the communities the growth will impact.
"Roads are a prime example of the tail wagging the dog. Let development come in unplanned, congest an area, and then try to address the problem on the back end. Old-timers like myself are looking at leaving the communities we have loved and worked in for a lifetime because of the issues lack of planning has created."