Legal Question in Family Law in South Carolina

Re: custody and child support

If you are divorced and the children were alive at the time of the divorce, then he may not be entitled to a paternity test at this time. Typically, the man only gets one opportunity to question paternity, and that is usually during the divorce action, not later.

He can have an attorney with him at the DSS negotiation conference, and he is foolish if he doesn't. DSS typically does not calculate the child support correctly, so it is wise to have an attorney involved in that process.

He can attempt to obtain custody and/or visitation now or in the future if he desires to do so. He will be required to allege and prove that there has been a significant change of circumstances and that it's in the children's best interest for him to be granted the relief he's seeking.

These are complex issues, and it is important that they be handled correctly. Therefore, it is important that you consult an experienced family law attorney to find out what options are available to you based on the facts of your particular case.

If you need more information, you can visit my family law blog (www.SCFamilyLaw.com) or our website (www.StevensFirm.com). I wish you the best of luck.

Ben Stevens