Legal Question in Family Law in South Carolina

Re: custody

If there are no existing Orders in place, then you both have equal rights to the child. You need to bring an action in Family Court to have your rights, responsibilities, and obligations outlined to prevent problems such as you describe.

I would note that there is a statute that provides that unmarried mothers have sole custody until the Court says differently, but that statute is more of a necessity to prevent kidnapping of newborn children than a weapon to be used against fathers in custody cases.

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