If there's one thing that most people can agree on, it's that every family is different. We all have challenges and changes that we must go through. Sometimes, those changes are joyful, like the birth of a new baby. Other times, those changes involve loss, uncertainty, and ultimately end with divorce.
There's no doubt that divorces are unpleasant. Sometimes, they're unavoidable. According to recent statistics, there were 2.4 divorces per every thousand residents in South Carolina. If you're one of the many people suffering through the pain of a divorce, dealing with a custody issue, or trying to juggle a family-related legal problem, you're not alone. At Lauren Taylor Law, many of our family law clients have major questions about what lies ahead. Their uncertainty often leaves them extra stressed and over-worried. They have concerns about their marriage, their kids, or both. After being served confusing papers from their spouse, they're wrestling with the anxiety of the unknown.
If that sounds all too familiar, a divorce attorney in Okatie, SC, can help, whether you need a seasoned advocate in the courtroom or an unbiased moderator behind closed doors. Unsure whether a divorce attorney is truly necessary at this stage? Ask yourself these questions:
If the answer to any of those questions was "yes," Lauren Taylor Law is here to stand by your side during one of the most difficult times in your life. Our law firm in several areas of family law, including:
There are few events in your life more infuriating and traumatic than a divorce. If you're like most, it feels like you're on an emotional roller coaster with life-changing legal and family consequences around every turn. During this difficult time, it's crucial to have a divorce attorney in Okatie, SC, on your side. That way, you can overcome the hurdles of divorce, achieve the outcome you need, and move on with your life.
Whether you're the one seeking out a divorce or it's your spouse's choice, making the decision isn't ever easy. After all, divorce is painful. When you took your wedding vows, you expected a life with your partner until death separated you. You spent untold amounts of money on a beautiful wedding, caterers, musicians, and more. You invited your high school friends from South Carolina and spent time together with out-of-towners who flew in, especially for you.
Unfortunately, reality is starting to set in: You won't be married to the person who once told you, "I do." Truth be told, getting a divorce is a heartbreaking turn of events. But now, more than ever, it's important to retain experienced legal counsel to oversee your divorce proceedings. Having helped many clients through the process of divorce, we know you may think that everything is falling apart around you. But as successful divorce lawyers in South Carolina, we have the proverbial tools to help you pick up the pieces and start fresh.
During your first divorce consultation at our offices, our primary goal is to hear your story. We simply want to listen. We want to understand your desires, fears, needs, and questions about divorce. Once we've had the opportunity to understand your needs, we will continue to ask pertinent questions. Why? Because listening and understanding the nuances of your story helps us do the very best job possible. After all, as your divorce attorney in Okatie, SC, your best interests are our primary concern.
At Lauren Taylor Law, we find providing a personalized approach helps us better serve our clients. Unlike other divorce lawyers, we don't believe in "cookie-cutter" or "one-size-fits-all" solutions. Your divorce is unique, and your lawyer's strategy should be, too. Our team will help by:
By advocating for you during your divorce, Lauren Taylor Law will help you make the first steps toward reclaiming your life and securing your future.
It's safe to say that nobody goes into a marriage expecting to get a divorce. But for many couples, divorce proves to be in their family's best interest. Before you go through with such a serious choice, it's prudent to ensure that you and your spouse agree that divorce is best. Sometimes, therapy or marriage counseling can save marriages. That's especially important if you have kids with your spouse.
If you have made efforts to salvage your marriage and have concluded that divorce is the only option, our team of passionate divorce lawyers is here to help. Divorces are complicated and often contentious, but in South Carolina, getting a divorce is different than in other states.
For example, in other areas of the United States, judges are obligated to split marital assets equally between spouses. However, South Carolina is not classified as a community property state. The judge in your divorce case could award your husband or wife a larger portion of the marital property you once shared. That scenario is even more likely if the judge decides you were the ultimate cause of the divorce.
Similarly, divorce judges in South Carolina have a higher chance of making you pay more substantial alimony payments for longer periods of time when compared to other states. To make matters even more complicated, divorce laws and tax consequences in South Carolina change often. Additionally, our state does not recognize the concept of "irreconcilable differences," meaning you cannot use it as a reason to divorce your spouse (or vice versa).
In order to get a divorce in the state of South Carolina, a person must have legal grounds to do so. As such, you have two options:
Many couples opt for a no-fault divorce, but in order to qualify, you and your spouse must prove that you haven't been living together for at least a year. Choosing this option is popular because it often helps couples avoid getting in a fight when one spouse blames the other for the marriage breakup.
Apart from one year of continuous separation, which is grounds for a no-fault divorce, the legal grounds for divorce in South Carolina include:
Each fault-based reason listed above can play a part in the outcome of your divorce case, including decisions on child custody, alimony, division of debts, and division of marital property. When you account for the unique nature of divorces in Okatie and the rest of the state, foregoing a divorce attorney is a poor decision.
It's possible to get divorced in South Carolina without needing a lawyer. However, we've encountered situations where clients come to Lauren Taylor Law because they tried the process on their own with no success. When it comes to divorces in South Carolina, there are many procedural requirements to meet.
Your paperwork must be correct across the board. For instance, you and your spouse must both file accurate financial declarations in family court. If you've come up with a divorce agreement, the family court must still decide whether it's equitable and fair for your spouse and in the best interests of your kids.
If you choose to try and get a divorce in South Carolina on your own, we strongly recommend that you schedule a consultation at the very least. That way, you know your rights and have a minimum understanding of the divorce process in South Carolina.
Some of the most common benefits of hiring a divorce lawyer include:
Child custody cases present unique challenges for you, your spouse, and your family law attorney. They are almost all resolved through mediation or settlement conferences.
Unfortunately, when two parents have disagreements about child custody, calm discussions often devolve into quarrels and contentious disputes. If you and your spouse do not agree about visitation and custody rights for your child or children, a divorce judge will make those tough decisions for you. In this circumstance, child custody is determined by what the judge deems as the best interests of your children.
Fortunately, contrary to urban myth, divorce laws in South Carolina do not favor mothers of fathers or vice versa when it comes to child visitation and custody. There is also no "standard" schedule presented for child visitation. Factors that your divorce judge will pay close attention to include:
At the end of the day, children have the right to love each parent freely. However, protecting children during a custody battle is crucial. At Lauren Taylor Law, our team works closely with you, your children's Guardian Ad Litem (who represents the children in the legal case), their school teachers, and any third party working with your children. Advocacy for the best interest of your children requires deep understanding, legal skills, and years of relevant experience. With the Lauren Taylor Team in Okatie, SC, you can rest easy knowing your child's future is of utmost importance.
If you're getting a divorce, and you have a child or children with your former spouse, there's a good chance you're worried about how much child support you'll have to pay. You may be wondering, "How is child support in South Carolina determined?"
The amount of child support you must pay is dictated by the child support guidelines in South Carolina. These guidelines not only calculate temporary child support but permanent support as well. These guidelines are applied to any case where the parent's gross combined income is less than $15,000 a month. According to the law, child support amounts are calculated with these factors in mind:
Without a divorce attorney in Okatie, SC, navigating the turbulent waters of child support is nearly impossible. With years of experience, we have the tools and resources to protect your rights and guide you through the child support process. To get a rough estimate of how much child support you will need to pay in your divorce, contact Lauren Taylor Law today.
Alimony is financial support that you must pay to your former spouse. In South Carolina, there are different types of alimony. Permanent, periodic alimony is paid on a set schedule over time. However, alimony terminates when you or your spouse dies or when a receiving spouse begins to cohabitate with another person or chooses to remarry. Alimony in South Carolina can be modified based on a showing of a substantial change in circumstances.
In some cases, spouses choose to pay a lump sum alimony. The amount is agreed upon by both parties. This can usually be paid all at once or in a schedule of payments. It should be noted that spousal support may be ordered, pending your final divorce.
South Carolina law requires Family Law Courts to consider a number of factors in making a ruling on an alimony request. Those factors include:
To learn more about laws and factors regarding alimony in South Carolina, call or click to speak with someone who can help at no obligation to you.
There's no way around it - divorce is an unpleasant and sometimes unavoidable part of being an adult. As you consider taking this major step, you must consult with a seasoned divorce lawyer who knows the intricacies and challenges of divorce law in South Carolina. If you have given the subject plenty of thought and diligence and decided that divorce is your best option, the time to act is now. Contact Lauren Taylor Law today so that you can proceed with confidence tomorrow.
Residential builder Tri Pointe Homes announced Thursday that it will build 76 single-family homes in the final phase of Bluffton’s New Riverside area.Plans submitted to the town of Bluffton show the company will build a new gated community on the neighborhood’s last parcel, referred to in plans as New Riverside Parcel 5A South.Home designs are currently in development, according to a press release from Tri Pointe, but the builder said it anticipates homes will be “expansive,” or as large 3,600-square fee...
Residential builder Tri Pointe Homes announced Thursday that it will build 76 single-family homes in the final phase of Bluffton’s New Riverside area.
Plans submitted to the town of Bluffton show the company will build a new gated community on the neighborhood’s last parcel, referred to in plans as New Riverside Parcel 5A South.
Home designs are currently in development, according to a press release from Tri Pointe, but the builder said it anticipates homes will be “expansive,” or as large 3,600-square feet with two or three-bay garage options. The gated neighborhood will also have trails connecting to Bluffton’s newest venue, New Riverside Barn Park.
Home construction is expected to begin in late 2027, and sales are expected to begin in 2028.
Located south of the intersection of Highway 170 and May River Road near Pritchardville, the New Riverside area continues to see massive growth near Bluffton’s high-end private residential Palmetto Bluff community.
In the Thursday press release, Robert Norton, Tri Pointe Homes Coastal Carolinas Division President said, “This acquisition is an important milestone for our division, because it represents one of the last new home opportunities in Bluffton.”
This Tri Pointe’s third foray into the Lowcountry market. In 2025, the company announced developments in Beaufort and a development near Bluffton’s Promenade.
South Carolina had the fastest percent growth in the U.S. between 2024 and 2025, growing by 1.5%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates. Jasper County is the fastest-growing in the country, population-wise; its population grew by 6% between 2024 and 2025.
New Riverside is located in Beaufort County near the border with Jasper.
In February 2024, Tri Pointe Homes announced an exclusive collaboration with Emmy-winning TV host Bobby Berk. Berk is probably best known for his breakthrough role as a design expert on the Netflix series “Queer Eye.”
It’s unknown if Berk’s designs will be available at the New Riverside property. “Tri Pointe is still developing plans for the community’s home designs,” a spokesperson for the company wrote in an email.
Tri Pointe, founded in 2009 during the 2006 to 2012 U.S. housing market crash, was recently purchased by the Tokyo-based conglomerate Sumitomo Forestry in a roughly $4.5 billion all-cash deal operating in 13 states and the District of Columbia.
BLUFFTON, S.C. —Novant Health has opened a new freestanding emergency department in Bluffton, giving residents in one of the Lowcountry’s fast-growing communities another option for around-the-clock care.The new facility, located on Parkside Drive off Buckwalter Parkway, officially opens Tuesday, July 21st, at 9 a.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Monday. It is Novant Health’s second emergency department in Bluffton, the first being Tidewatch.The 10,000-square-foot facility inclu...
BLUFFTON, S.C. —
Novant Health has opened a new freestanding emergency department in Bluffton, giving residents in one of the Lowcountry’s fast-growing communities another option for around-the-clock care.
The new facility, located on Parkside Drive off Buckwalter Parkway, officially opens Tuesday, July 21st, at 9 a.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Monday. It is Novant Health’s second emergency department in Bluffton, the first being Tidewatch.
The 10,000-square-foot facility includes 10 treatment rooms, a trauma room and diagnostic services. Novant leaders say it is designed to treat and stabilize patients on site, with transport to a hospital arranged if more specialized care is needed.
“As we look at the needs of the community, the growth in this community, one of our first investments as being part of Novant Health was in access to emergency room care,” said Joel Taylor, president of Novant Health Hilton Head area. “It’s an immediate response to the growth in residential units, residential homes here in Bluffton.”
Taylor said many patients who come to the emergency department do not need surgery or admission, but instead need treatment and follow-up care.
“The objective is to be in and out of this facility in 90 minutes,” he said.
Bluffton Mayor Larry Toomer said emergency care has been one of the top concerns voiced by residents.
“I like to lead by listening to the residents of the town,” Toomer said. “Medical facilities are way up on everyone’s wish list, so if it takes two minutes to get here instead of ten minutes to get here, it could be life or death.”
Medical Director Dr. Erica McEnery said the new facility is intended to bring care closer to home as the region continues to grow.
“With such an increasing growth here locally and in the Lowcountry, just having the ability to offer care within several minutes, closer to folks’ home, is very important,” McEnery said.
Novant also plans to open an attached medical office building later this year with cardiology, primary care and other specialties.
The new emergency department is now open to patients.
BLUFFTON, S.C. –Novant Health is expanding access to emergency care in the Lowcountry with the opening of the new freestanding Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department.The emergency department opening marks the completion of the first phase ofNovant Health Washington Square Medical Park, a new healthcare campus designed to meet the growing needs of the Bluffton community.Conveniently located just off Buckwalter Parkway at 8 Parkside Drive, Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department is now seeing patients. Open 24 hour...
BLUFFTON, S.C. –Novant Health is expanding access to emergency care in the Lowcountry with the opening of the new freestanding Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department.
The emergency department opening marks the completion of the first phase ofNovant Health Washington Square Medical Park, a new healthcare campus designed to meet the growing needs of the Bluffton community.
Conveniently located just off Buckwalter Parkway at 8 Parkside Drive, Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department is now seeing patients. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the facility provides the same level of emergency evaluation and treatment as a hospital-based emergency department in a convenient location to serve the Bluffton community.
“When an emergency happens, every minute matters,” said Dr. Erica McEnery, medical director for emergency services for Novant Health Hilton Head Medical Center. “This facility allows patients to receive expert emergency care where they live, with advanced diagnostics and experienced emergency medicine teams available around the clock.”
The 10,000-square-foot facility features 10 treatment rooms, including a dedicated trauma room, and offers a full range of advanced onsite diagnostic services. The emergency department is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians, experienced nurses and support staff. The facility is equipped to stabilize and treat a wide range of medical conditions as well as coordinate transport to a hospital when additional specialized care is needed.
A medical office building, currently under construction on the campus, will further expand access to outpatient and specialty care services in the future.
“This investment reflects our continued commitment to bringing remarkable care closer to where people live and work,” said Joel Taylor, president of the Hilton Head area for Novant Health. “Bluffton is one of the fastest-growing communities in South Carolina, and Novant Health is proud to make long-term investments that ensure families have access to convenient, high-quality healthcare for generations to come.”
The services offered at Novant Health Washington Square Medical Park are part of Novant Health’s broader commitment to expand care across the Lowcountry, complementing its existing network of hospitals, physician clinics and outpatient services. Nearby, Novant Health Buckwalter Place Medical Parkrecently opened and includes primary care, orthopedic services and an imaging center.
Novant Health continues to invest in South Carolina to meet rising demand and ensure patients have access to high-quality, convenient care options across the region.
Novant Health opened a new, 10,000 square-foot medical facility in Bluffton Tuesday.It’s the latest expansion for the healthcare provider as it competes with Beaufort Memorial Hospital to fulfill growing demand for health services in Beaufort County. Beaufort Memorial has its own expansion projects, including a hospital in Bluffton.Here’s what you need to know about the new facility:Bluffton Emergency DepartmentNovant Health broke ground on the facility in April 2025. It’s called the Novant Hea...
Novant Health opened a new, 10,000 square-foot medical facility in Bluffton Tuesday.
It’s the latest expansion for the healthcare provider as it competes with Beaufort Memorial Hospital to fulfill growing demand for health services in Beaufort County. Beaufort Memorial has its own expansion projects, including a hospital in Bluffton.
Here’s what you need to know about the new facility:
Novant Health broke ground on the facility in April 2025. It’s called the Novant Health Bluffton , and it has 10 treatment rooms, a trauma room, and diagnostic services such as X-rays and CT scans.
It will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have a full-time staff, according to previous Island Packet . It’s the second emergency department in Bluffton operated by Novant Health, and the first is on Tidewatch Drive off of state highway 170.
The new emergency department is located off of Buckwalter Parkway at 8 Parkside Drive. Novant Health also opened at Buckwalter Place in May, just a short drive away from the emergency department. The clinics and imaging center are part of Novant Health’s Buckwalter Medical Park.
Novant Health operates dozens of healthcare facilities in Beaufort County. It first entered the area when Hilton Head Medical Center and Coastal Carolina Medical Center both joined the Novant Health system in 2024 through a $2.4 billion deal with Tenet Healthcare Corporation.
Novant Health purchased 4.5 acres of land off of William Hilton Parkway for a 25,000-square-foot medical office building in May. The building will contain primary care, physical therapy and urology services, as well as 15,000 square feet of medical office space.
Novant Health also plans to build a 194,500 square foot, 50-bed in Bluffton by 2028, to be named Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center, according to previous Island Packet reporting. The hospital will be off of Buckwalter Parkway, cost $320 million, and will bring 1,000 new jobs to Bluffton.
Beaufort Memorial is also expanding into Bluffton. It’s constructing the at the corner of Bluffton Parkway and Buckwalter Parkway, and the hospital will open in 2027, according to its website.