Monthly Archives: February 2015

A “Guest Blog Post” From Family Law Attorney Nancy Jo Thomason – “The Ease (And Sense Of Security) In Filing A Family Court Transcript Of Judgment”

My good friend, and mentor, Barry Knobel, recently wrote a blog about protecting your family court client’s potential assets in a divorce case by filing a lis pendens at the commencement of the action, and that blog concluded with a reference to filing a transcript of judgment as “additional protection”.  The blog could not have been more timely.

Recently, I had my first opportunity in my 21-year family law career where I found it necessary to file a family court-authorized transcript of judgment, and I asked Barry if he would be willing to let me share with you the very simple steps necessary to perfect such a lien.  Since I don’t have my own blog (and rarely have anything new or useful to offer), Barry said he would welcome my being his “guest blogger” so that I could share my experience with you.

There are two sections found in Title 20 (domestic relations) of the South Carolina Code of Laws which govern the filing and enrolling of a transcript of judgment with the clerk of court’s office – South Carolina Code Ann. §20-3-670 and §20-3-680. The first section gives you the authority to record the transcript of judgment; the second actually gives you the form to use and file. Very easy!

In my case, my client (the wife) is to receive certain payments when some land which was solely in the former husband’s name is sold. Since a title search might “miss” the order entered by the family court, it was essential to file, record, and index a transcript of judgment which would better protect her financial interest in this property.

The husband’s attorney and I agreed to include a “transcript of judgment” provision in the parties’ divorce decree, and I then sent the judge both the decree and the transcript of judgment. Continue reading →

For The South Carolina Family Law Attorney – “Scenarios” To Read At Your Own Peril: Scenario No. 2

Last week I posted the first “scenario” in a blog series which I’ve entitled “Scenarios” To (Insure) You Will Need To Insure That Your Professional Liability Policy Is Current (Read At Your Own Peril; and rather than my restating the “history” behind these “scenarios”, I would simply request that you read that last post … and I’ll press on.

Scenario No. 2

You represent the husband in a contentious divorce action resulting from an even more contentious, long-term marriage.  The litigation has been pending for some time now, and finally after engaging in several previous settlement conferences and a protracted mediation, progress has finally been made in the parties reaching a complete agreement.

Your client is an engineer who has been employed for a number of years by a well-known and hugely successful engineering firm, and he’s convinced that he’ll become a partner in this firm sometime in the future.  The husband has been the sole source of income for the family throughout this lengthy marriage.  The wife has been a homemaker.  The children are all now adults and living away from home. The wife’s attorney and you have been diligently working on drafting a detailed marital settlement agreement covering a variety of marital issues, including the division of extensive financial holdings acquired by the husband over the years of their marriage.

Continue reading →