A Novel Approach to South Carolina Family Law

Our philosophy

The Law Office of Lester and Hendrix have earned a reputation of credibility and integrity in the South Carolina Family Court.  Mr. Lester, Mrs. Hendrix and Mr. Charles have a deep and abiding respect for the civility and the professionalism of the legal system.  We are committed to maintaining ethical and moral standards in our relationships with clients, opposing counsel, and members of the Judiciary. 

Everyone in our firm understands and maintains the need for client confidentiality and discretion.  We are dedicated to providing our clients with thoughtful, creative and successful representation.

Some of the information you will need to gather if you are anticipating divorce or have decided that divorce is your next step are: mortgage notes and the current payoff on any mortgages or home equity lines on any properties you own; current statements on any retirement, pension, investment, savings, and checking accounts; stock and bond certificates; current credit card statements; and the last five (5) years of tax returns.  If you are over forty (40), contact the Social Security Administration and request, free of charge, a Personal Earnings and Benefits Estimate Statement that shows your SS earnings over the years, how much you have paid in SS taxes, and your estimated future benefits.  The Social Security Administration’s toll-free number is 1- 800-772-1213 or you may go on line at www.socialsecurity.gov to assist you in finding out and understanding everything you need to know about your program.  The line is open 24 hours a day but if you need to speak with someone call from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. They also suggest that you avoid calling during the peak hours: i.e., the first week of any month, and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The hours from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. are the best times to call.

Putting you at ease

When you enter our office in Columbia, the first thing you will notice is our steel gray Scottish Fold cat, Ali—short for Alimony. We maintain a casual, comfortable atmosphere at all three of our office locations. For clients allergic to cats we have alternative meeting/ conference facilities.

We have a dedicated staff, many of whom have been in the family law practice for years. As a client in our office, you will have a paralegal assigned to your case that is always polite, accessible, and knowledgeable about your case and is assigned to your case on a day to day basis. You will also receive copies of all documents about your case that come into and go out of the office.  We strive to keep you informed so that you fully understand the strategies behind the actions we take on your behalf.

Our three-step approach to family law consultation

Initial consultation

Our office requests that each potential client come in for an initial consult to meet with an attorney. Mr. Lester's consult fee is $500; Mrs. Hendrix's consult fee is $300; and Mr. Charles' consult fee is $150.   In your first meeting, Mr. Lester, Mrs. Hendrix or Mr. Charles discusses with you how our office works, what we expect of our clients, what our clients can expect of us, give you some general advice regarding South Carolina law, and answer questions you may have.

Your novel

We will then ask that you prepare a novel that outlines, in detail, factual and financial information regarding your current situation.

         1.   Your short-term and long-term priorities
         2.   All the "rotten things" your spouse has done with emphasis on the most recent
         3.   All the "rotten things" you have done or rotten things your spouse will say you have done
         4.   List in detail a chronology of important events in your marriage/relationship
         5.   List in detail all your contributions and then your spouse's contributions to the marriage
         6.   List educational background for both of you
         7.   Give general employment history for both of you
         8.   List in detail all the "foregone opportunities" that you or your spouse have lost, including
               economic and career opportunities such as seniority or lost retirement, because of your
               marriage
         9.   Complete our Financial Declaration Form using the instructions provided to assist you
       10.   Inventory all personal property with fair market value and how the personal property was
               acquired
       11.   Provide a list of all real estate owned and titled in your name and/or your spouse's name,
               including location and legal description

Second meeting

Once you have completed your novel, the attorney reviews it and has a second meeting with you to discuss the information you provided.  At that time, we let you know if our firm will take your case, what your retainer fee will be, how we will proceed on your behalf and what we expect will be the outcome of your case.  We need all of the information you provide in your novel before we can effectively advise you on any legal matter.  The consultation fee you pay covers the initial consultation and review of your novel.  We do not charge for reviewing a reasonable amount of materials and for the follow-up meeting.  If for any reason we cannot take your case, we will help you find a competent family law practitioner to represent you.

Contact the Law Offices of Lester & Hendrix for your family law issues

When you are dealing with divorce, separation, child custody, child support, alimony or other family law issues, let us be your stabilizing force.  We guide you through the legal process so you can make the best decisions for you and your family. Call us at 803-252-4700 or complete the online form to schedule your initial consultation.

Serving South Carolina with offices in Columbia, Beaufort, and Myrtle Beach