When you hire a divorce lawyer, you like to think that he or she will represent your best interests and stay with the case until the end. Unfortunately, lawyers sometimes terminate clients in the middle of a case. There are a number of reasons why this happens. Some examples:
● Unforeseen conflict of interest
● Ethics violation
● Non-payment of fees
● A client who ceases communication or routinely disregards his or her lawyer’s advice
Attorneys typically need a good reason and court approval to drop a client in the middle of a case. This obviously leaves people going through a divorce in a difficult predicament, especially if the relationship is terminated near a court date for the divorce issue. A negative outcome in court could have major implications for years to come. If you find yourself in this situation, we encourage you to contact the Cate Law Firm, P.A. for an immediate evaluation of your case. We know this is an exceptionally stressful time for you and we are here to help in any way we can.
Becoming a Client of Cate Law Firm
As long as you meet the requirements for divorce in South Carolina and can pay the retainer, we are happy to take on your case. To file for a no-fault divorce, you must have lived apart from your spouse for one year without the possibility of reconciliation. For a fault-based divorce, you must be able to present proof of adultery, drug use, habitual drunkenness, or physical abuse. Depending on how far your case progressed with your previous lawyer, we can help you gather the necessary proof that you meet one of these requirements.
Issues To Address During Your Divorce Case
Once you become a client of Cate Law Firm, P.A., we can help you resolve the following issues:
- Alimony: Either the husband or wife can request to receive alimony in certain situations. The judge will consider several factors when determining if it should be awarded, including how long you were married, the ages of both parties at the time of the marriage, educational background, and employment history.
- Child Custody and Visitation: If either parent request is, today’s judges are more in favor of joint custody than they have been in the past. However, it’s not always appropriate. The judge considers numerous factors in this decision, including the children’s preferences if old enough, the relationship between each parent and child, and willingness of each party to co-parent effectively.
- Child Support: The non-custodial parent must pay a specified amount monthly to help the other parent with living expenses. Factors to consider here include the income of each parent, the number of children, and expenses that go beyond the ordinary.
- Division of Property: Determining who gets the house, vehicles, investment accounts, and other jointly owned property can be challenging. The same is true with deciding who is responsible for paying joint debts. You can’t afford to be without an experienced divorce attorney on your side during this process.
Applying for a New Court Date
If your lawyer dropped your case too close to your court date, not allowing us time to effectively review your information, we will request a postponement on your behalf. You should be prepared for the possibility that this could delay your trial date by several months. However, it is necessary to ensure that your divorce attorney at Cate Law Firm, P.A. is up to speed on your case and can effectively represent your best interests.
Don’t Delay in Hiring a New Divorce Lawyer
You may not be up to finding a new lawyer when your old one quits, but representing yourself in a divorce case could be a costly mistake. We encourage you to contact The Ruth Cate Law Firm for a complimentary case review as quickly as possible. This is especially important if you have a court date coming up soon. The experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorneys at The Ruth Cate Law firm stand ready to talk with you about your family law issue. We serve clients in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the surrounding communities. Please contact us at (864) 585-4226 or online.
Cate & Brough, P.A.
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