Whatever the reason, whoever may be at fault, however overwhelming it may all seem … try not to worry — piece of mind is just a phone call away.
It was supposed to be for life. “‘Till death do us part,” remember? For some reason, however, it just is not working. You and your spouse just are not seeing eye-to-eye anymore.
Perhaps you changed. Perhaps your spouse changed. Maybe he or she has some growing up to do. Maybe finances, or a sudden change in employment, got in the way. Maybe he or she is seeing someone else.
Part of what I do here at Lowcountry Divorce & Family Law is help find a new sense of stability, a “new normal,” in which both you and your spouse have a chance to move on with your lives. In our clients, I have the opportunity to see good people at their worst — but I take immense pleasure in watching them grow stronger and happier over time.
Separation
While the State of South Carolina does not recognize a “legal separation,” preferring to find instead that a couple is either married or not married, the state does provide for a similar type of action, called an “Action for Separate Support and Maintenance.”
An Action for Separate Support and Maintenance is governed by the same guidelines as divorce, and may provide a mechanism by which you and your spouse may begin to find that “new normal” and start down the road to stability. Such an action may even provide for spousal support, in the form of pre-divorce payments made from one spouse to the other.
Divorce
South Carolina has four “fault” grounds for divorce:
- Adultery
- Physical Cruelty
- Desertion
- Habitual Drunkenness and/or Drug Abuse
Aside from the four “fault” grounds for divorce, the State of South Carolina also recognizes a “no-fault” ground for divorce. That “no-fault” ground is called “Living Separate and Apart for One Year Without Cohabitation” and, in order to be eligible, you and your spouse must intentionally and continuously live in separate residences for at least one year prior to filing for divorce.
Regardless of whether divorce is sought pursuant to one of the four “fault” grounds or the one “no-fault” ground, the state requires that the party filing for divorce proves at least one of these grounds with legally sufficient evidence. In this context, “legally sufficient” evidence refers to evidence that satisfies the Court that one of the grounds exists — this is usually done with the assistance of third-party testimony, whether that testimony be from a family member or friend who can attest firsthand that you and your spouse have indeed lived separate and apart for one year, testimony from a Private Investigator providing evidence of infidelity, or testimony from a doctor or law enforcement officer supporting a finding of spousal abuse.
Whether you are looking to file for Separate Support and Maintenance or Divorce, or whether you have already been confronted with paperwork from your spouse, feel free to contact me for a consultation.
Peace of mind is only a phone call away.