Family Law Section

Section Information

The mission of the Family Law Section shall be to work to improve family law practitioners’ ability to meet with distinction the demands and expectations of their clients, the courts, the legal profession, and their communities. The Section shall seek to fulfill its mission by: promoting the ethical and efficient practice of law by this constituency; seeking to develop or otherwise provide educational and practice resources oriented toward this constituency; establishing and maintaining relationships with other Bar entities and other organizations; monitoring legislative, judicial, and other developments of interest to this constituency; and promoting and advocating the interests of this constituency within the Bar.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Family Law Section, please forward dues payment in the amount of $25 to: SC Bar, Attn: Donna Oelhafen, P.O. Box 608, Columbia, SC 29202. Please make checks payable to the S.C. Bar and note in the memo portion Family Law Section Dues.

Family Law Intensive CLE

Palmetto Volunteer Lawyer Program - Family Cases

Section Bylaws

Section Goals

• Continue to monitor proposed legislation involving the Family Court system, draft proposed legislation as the Council deems appropriate, assist any task force charged with reviewing/formulating such proposals, and work with SC AAML Chapter and SCAJ Family Law Section to address such legislation whenever feasible.
• Continue to provide assistance to the Rules Revisions Committee of the South Carolina Conference of Family Court Judges, monitor proposed rule changes, and advocate the Council’s position on any proposals.
• Strive for Council member attendance at all meetings and council-sponsored functions.  Increase participation by all Council members and attempt to include Family Law Section members in Council’s Subcommittees.
• Continue to coordinate, sponsor, and conduct the following Continuing Legal Education Programs: (a) Family Law Essentials CLE; (b) Family Law Intensive CLE; (c) Hot Tips CLE; and (d) Family Law Seminar at the annual SC Bar Convention.
• Continue to sponsor attendance at a regional or national Family Law Conference for those who serve/served as chair of the Family Law Council.
• Distribute a newsletter every three to six months to Family Law Section members via e-mail, updating the Section on what Council is doing, advising of the opportunity to participate on Council Subcommittees, promoting upcoming CLE opportunities, and addressing relevant pending legislative issues. 
• Update a searchable pdf of topics presented in past Cool Tips and Hot Tips CLE's as a service to Section members.
• Determine feasibility of establishing a Family Law specialization in South Carolina.
• Investigate issues and problems with lay Guardians ad Litem in private custody/visitation cases and pursue possible solutions to address same.
• Assist the Family Court and Supreme Court in developing strategies and methodologies to operate the Family Court particularly as the COVID 19 closures continue.

PVLP