South Carolina Divorce Attorney
No one goes into a marriage thinking it will unravel, but sometimes our better halves turn out to be our worse halves. Even if spouses aren’t entirely to blame, marriages can still fail due to unforeseen situations, poor decisions or the simple fact that we sometimes grow apart. Regardless of the reasoning, though, every divorce is a major life event and, as such, can add a lot of stress to our lives.
Divorce is rarely easy. And it’s never easy when kids are involved. Tough decisions about finances, property and custody will have to be addressed when a marriage splits a family in two. When the divorce is contested or when child custody is in dispute, an emotionally charged atmosphere makes almost every decision difficult. You need an experienced attorney to help provide support and clarity during this challenging transition for you and your family. Trey Cook is an experienced South Carolina Divorce Attorney in Lancaster, South Carolina, who can help ease the pain and stress during this difficult time.
Amicable Divorces
Divorces aren’t always marked by bitterness. When couples agree on property division, maintenance or spousal support, child custody and child support issues, divorces can be finalized without all the drama that attends some divorces. For these types of amicable, uncontested divorces, Trey Cook Law can help make sure the legal proceedings are completed smoothly and without unnecessary costs. At a minimum, it’s always a good idea to have an attorney review potential agreements to ensure your rights are protected.
Contested Divorce
If a divorce is contested, meaning one or more terms are in dispute, Trey’s mission is to protect your interests. He works hard to ensure assets you are entitled to are safeguarded, because the last thing you want is to face financial hardships because of a divorce. If children are the source of the disagreement between the two parties, Trey will seek to resolve issues of child custody, visitation, and support with your interest, as well as the best interest of the child or children, in mind.
Litigation Alternatives
Divorce is never free of stress, but mediation can provide many clients with a much less stressful resolution to the disagreements dividing couples. Mediation takes place in a non-adversarial environment by a certified family mediator. Mediation is actually required in contested divorce cases, and the process can be a good way to solve problems without the emotion or stress that a trial may entail. Trey has experience you can count on when mediating family disputes and divorces.
Financial Health
Divorce can drain you emotionally, but it doesn't have to also drain your bank account. You may feel like you’ll lose everything, but legal guidance from an experienced family law attorney like Trey Cook can help protect your rights so that at the end of your partnership, whether that's helping you settle with your partner or representing you in court. In the event your spouse is self-employed or has complicated holdings, Trey works with forensic accountants to ensure assets and income are properly accounted for so that you can get exactly what you are entitled to.
Equitable Division
In South Carolina, assets and debts acquired over the course of the marriage are divided equitably, which simply means they are distributed fairly. It’s important to understand that equitable does not mean equal. The future financial situation of each partner is taken into account to determine what is fair. A judge will look at several factors in making his or her determination, such as the income and future earning potential of each partner, the length of the marriage, property values and health issues.
Family Court Mediation
When parties cannot reach an agreement, every county in South Carolina requires that they mediate their differences. Mediation certainly does not guarantee a resolution, but it provides people with a calm, non-adversarial environment in which to negotiate the terms of a divorce. During this process, a neutral party serves as the mediator, assisting both parties in reaching an agreement. In many cases, the issues move more quickly and less expensively than they do in conventional litigation.