SC Family Law Blog

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Ben Stevens Featured on Fox Carolina’s Co-Parenting During the Summer Segment

By J. Benjamin Stevens | July 12, 2022

Ben Stevens Featured on Fox Carolina’s Co-Parenting During the Summer Segment Offit Kurman Family Law Principal, Ben Stevens, was featured on…

Ben Stevens Featured in WRDW TV Interview: Co-Parenting Tips to Make Summer Break Easier for Your Family

By J. Benjamin Stevens | July 5, 2022

Ben Stevens Featured in WRDW TV Interview: Co-Parenting Tips to Make Summer Break Easier for Your Family In a recent…

Ben Stevens Presents at the Annual Convention for the State Bar of Arizona

By J. Benjamin Stevens | June 28, 2022

Ben Stevens Presents at the Annual Convention for the State Bar of Arizona Ben Stevens, Principal Attorney in the Family…

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Can Virtual Infidelity Serve as a Basis for Real World Divorce?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | July 22, 2021

It’s often said that technology makes things easier for us. While this is usually a good thing, technology has also made it easier for spouses to engage in extramarital affairs. The constant access to cell phones, laptops, and a range of online match-making websites has made it incredibly easy for those who are interested in straying to actually do so.…

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How to Recognize the Signs of Parental Alienation

By J. Benjamin Stevens | July 19, 2021

Over the years, my family law practice has developed a focus on handling cases that are considered “high conflict” or “complex” child custody cases. These cases often include allegations of “parental alienation” by one or both parents on either side of the case. It’s no secret that divorce has become a much more common part of our society, but also…

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Grey Divorce and Hidden Assets You Should Know About

By J. Benjamin Stevens | July 14, 2021

When parties divorce later in life, it’s sometimes referred to as a “grey divorce”. The cause of these divorces can range from infidelity, to health issues that affect one or both spouses’ happiness, to financial insecurity, or simply to the effects of empty-nest syndrome. Whatever the reason, these divorces usually come after a couple has spent a couple of decades or more…

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Can Fathers Win Child Custody Cases in South Carolina?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | July 8, 2021

Not so many years ago, it was almost a foregone conclusion in child custody cases in South Carolina that whenever custody was contested, mothers would win unless they were proven to be unfit. Is that still the case, or can fathers win child custody cases in South Carolina today? These days, fathers stand on equal footing with mothers in contested…

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Are Retirement Accounts Marital Assets in South Carolina?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | July 6, 2021

When a couple goes through a separation or divorce, often one of the largest categories of assets they have are retirement and other employment benefits. Pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement plans can be worth a substantial amount of money, and they are also often crucial to securing your financial future. As a result, it’s important to understand what types…

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How Adultery Impacts Divorce and Child Custody Cases

By J. Benjamin Stevens | June 30, 2021

Though no one wants to think that they will ever engage in or experience the pain of adultery, the reality is that many couples will. In fact, some studies have estimated that in as many as 40 percent of marriages, one or both spouses engage in at least one affair. In many (but not all) cases, this infidelity can lead…

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5 Myths of Divorce Litigation

By J. Benjamin Stevens | June 28, 2021
Divorce by law. Division of property after a divorce. The husband is trying to sue his wife for property under the law. A woman with a house and money, and a man with a hammer of a judge.

A divorce is not an everyday occurrence for most individuals.  Because of this, most of our clients come to us seeking help in a divorce with certain ideas and preconceived notions as to what they expect their divorce to look like.  Whether they get these ideas and notions from television, magazines, or from friends and family members who have experienced…

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Does It Make Sense to Shred Divorce Documents?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | December 28, 2020

Given the increased concern that people have over personal privacy and fear of identity theft, experts often recommend shredding documents that contain sensitive information, to attempt to keep these valuable records out of thieves’ hands. Though you may know to include credit card statements among those heading to the shredder, it can be confusing to know whether to dispose of…

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Is Impotence a Ground for Divorce in South Carolina?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | November 5, 2020

Intimacy is a main reason why couples choose to get married; the feeling of closeness is something they want to share with another person for a lifetime. So what happens when that intimacy is difficult or impossible? Studies have shown that sexual dysfunction in a relationship is a common cause of divorce, but can that dysfunction also serve as a…

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Can My Spouse Empty Our Bank Account?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | November 1, 2020

If you find yourself constantly worrying that you’ll discover your soon-to-be-ex has cleaned out your joint bank account, keep reading. We talk with people every day who are considering separation or who believe their spouse might be considering it, and this is a fear at the top of every list. Given that it could leave you with no money to pay…

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Can Child Support Affect Your Ability to Get a Loan?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | October 14, 2020

There are thousands of divorced parents in South Carolina who are paying or receiving child support. Many of these people may not realize that the payments, meant to go towards food, shelter and clothing for the kids, can have an effect on how lenders view their applications for loans. One commonly encountered example is buying a car. Parents on both ends…

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Can I Change the Locks on My House During a Divorce?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | September 16, 2020

One of the most frequently asked questions that many people have when they separate is “Can I change the locks on my house during a divorce?” The short answer is usually “yes” – but please keep reading the discussion below for a more complete explanation. When parties are married, both the husband and the wife have equal rights to all…

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When Is It Too Late to Hire a Divorce Lawyer?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | September 13, 2020

In some cases, a person may believe he can handle a divorce on his own without hiring an attorney. This may happen for any of a number of reasons: He thought that there weren’t many assets or debts to divide, so it should be simple; There were no children, so he thought it wasn’t worth hiring a lawyer; He expected the divorce to…

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Does Cohabitation in South Carolina Terminate My Alimony?

By J. Benjamin Stevens | September 4, 2020

When two spouses divorce after a lengthy marriage and one spouse has considerably more income than the other spouse, an alimony award of some type is generally given to the lesser-earning spouse at the end of the case. While there are several new developments in alimony law, both in South Carolina and nationally, one of the most basic questions we get…

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Quick Guide to the Financial Declaration in Family Court

By J. Benjamin Stevens | August 28, 2020

Some of the most frequent questions we get are “Why does the other side need to know how much money I have in my bank account?” or “What difference does it make how much I have in my retirement account?” These questions are often a byproduct of confusion about the financial disclosure process in general, and the requirement of the…

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