Legal issues to resolve in 2022

At the beginning of each year, we all generate a list of resolutions devoted to healthy eating, exercise and other various personal improvement achievements. If you are like us, then any resolution that equals sleeping more soundly at night is worth its weight in gold. Thus, this year we thought it helpful to outline a list of legal resolutions which just may be those issues that sometimes consume your mental energy at 3:15 a.m.

 

Estate Planning In South Carolina

An estate plan usually consists of three documents: Last Will and Testament; General (Durable) Power of Attorney; and Healthcare Power of Attorney. Also, if you have not re-visited your estate plan in the past five years, since a major life event (marriage, divorce, childbirth, etc.), or since moving to South Carolina, then there is no better time than now.

 

Child Support

Are you owed child support? Do you owe child support? Or is your child support obligation financially smothering? Sleeping better at night will only come after any child support matters have been paid or properly resolved.

 

Divorce

South Carolina has a rule that no fault divorces can only be granted after one year of separate living. This rule — and other rules governing child support and alimony — result in couples living separately and otherwise acting as if they are divorced, when in fact the divorce proceeding was never commenced or finalized. There can be a myriad of reasons this type of “divorced, yet not technically divorced” arrangement is troublesome. 

 

Traffic Tickets/DUI

Hoping the South Carolina DMV and/or law enforcement will forget about your transgression is not a sound legal strategy. Putting these types of issues behind you will afford you many more restful nights.

Landlord/Tenant

The Daniel Island housing market includes a vibrant renter’s market. Whether you are the landlord or tenant, ensuring a written lease documents the terms is important. Otherwise, disagreements and misunderstandings regarding rent, maintenance, and vacancy of the property may arise. Even if you are already in a landlord/tenant relationship, a written lease can still be memorialized before disagreements arise. The cost of securing a proper lease is much less than the cost of a lawyer to handle the inevitable later disagreement.

 

Business matters

Do you need to start a business? Do you need to document a business relationship with a written contract? Does your business have a registered agent (or for that matter do you know what a registered agent does)? Is your business properly licensed by local and state government authorities?  

 

We hope this list was helpful for you or provided you with the encouragement you needed to once and for all knock off some of your legal needs. Knowing your affairs are in order, thus allowing restful nights, is invaluable.

Chris Mingledorff and Michael Patterson are attorneys with Mingledorff & Patterson LLC on Daniel Island. For more information, go to mptrial.com.