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Lawyers of South Carolina
McGuire Law
30 Years of Experience
Matthew M. McGuire, Esq.
Fighting for Justice Since 1989 - Call 24/7
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Our History
For more than three decades, we have been dedicated to delivering exceptional legal services with a personalized approach. Our commitment to clear communication and unwavering integrity ensures that each client receives the attention and results they deserve.
We provide tailored legal solutions across a wide range of practice areas, including criminal defense, personal injury, family law, and more. Our experienced team is here to guide you through every step, answer your questions, and fiercely advocate for your best interests.
Whether you need advice, representation, or support, we're here to help you navigate the complexities of the legal system with confidence and peace of mind.
Criminal Defense
If you have been accused of a crime, you need the best in South Carolina. We have helped folks and their families since 1989 get the justice they deserve.
Assault and Battery: charges related to causing physical harm or threatening harm to another person.
Homicide: murder, manslaughter, and other charges related to the unlawful killing of another person.
Domestic Violence: crimes involving violence or abuse within a domestic setting, such as between spouses or family members.
Armed Robbery: the act of committing a robbery while armed with a deadly weapon, or while using a device or object that a reasonable person would believe to be a deadly weapon.
Kidnapping: the unlawful act of seizing, confining, inveigling, decoying, abducting, or carrying away any person by force, threat, or deception, with the intent to hold them against their will.
Attempted Murder: a deliberate act with the intent to kill another person, where the person takes a direct, overt action toward that end but ultimately does not cause the death of the victim.
Property Crimes
Burglary: unlawfully entering a building with the intent to commit a crime, usually theft.
Theft and Larceny: stealing someone else's property.
Shoplifting: unlawfully taking goods from a retail store with the intent to deprive the merchant of the full retail value of the items. Shoplifting doesn’t necessarily require physically leaving the store with merchandise.
Robbery: taking property from a person through force or intimidation.
Arson: deliberately setting fire to property.
Trespassing: unlawfully entering or remaining on someone else's property without permission.
Vandalism: intentionally damaging or destroying someone else's property without permission to do so.
Possession of Stolen Property: also called receiving stolen goods, this involves knowingly receiving, possessing, or disposing of property that has been stolen.
Drug Crimes
Possession of Controlled Substances: having illegal drugs in your possession.
Distribution and Trafficking of Drugs: selling, transporting, or distributing controlled substances.
Manufacturing of Drugs: the production, preparation, compounding, processing, or packaging of controlled substances.
Prescription Drug Fraud: obtaining or attempting to obtain prescription medications through deceit, forgery, fraud, or other illegal means.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: having items that are intended for, or used in, the consumption, production, or concealment of illegal drugs.
White-Collar Crimes
Fraud: deceiving someone for financial gain, including credit card fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud, healthcare fraud, and securities fraud.
Embezzlement: misappropriating funds or property entrusted to your care.
Money Laundering: concealing the origins of illegally obtained money.
Identity Theft: using or attempting to use another person’s identifying information without permission to commit fraud or gain financial benefit.
Forgery: creating, altering, or using a written document with the intent to defraud.
Bribery: offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value with the intent to influence the actions, decisions, or duties of a public official or employee in a way that benefits the person offering the bribe or a third party.
Sex Crimes
Sexual Assault: sexual assault encompasses a range of unlawful sexual behaviors, broadly classified under various criminal offenses such as criminal sexual conduct (CSC) and sexual battery.
Rape: refers to non-consensual sexual penetration through force, coercion, or without the ability to consent.
Indecent Exposure: the intentional and willful exposure of one's private parts in a public place or in view of others that is in a manner that is likely to offend, embarrass, or alarm others.
Sexual Exploitation: the use of individuals for sexual purposes, particularly when it involves minors or non-consensual acts.
Prostitution: prostitution laws in South Carolina criminalize engaging in, soliciting, or facilitating sex work for money or other compensation.
Solicitation of a Prostitute: the act of offering, requesting, or attempting to engage in sexual services for money or other forms of compensation, whether or not the act of prostitution actually occurs.
Statutory Rape: sexual intercourse or other sexual acts between an adult and a minor who is under the age of 16, regardless of whether the minor gives consent.
Child Pornography: possession, distribution, or production of sexually explicit material involving minors.
Cyber Crimes
Hacking: unauthorized access or unauthorized use of computer systems to steal, alter, or destroy data.
Internet Fraud: online schemes to defraud individuals or businesses.
Cyberstalking: the use of electronic communication or digital devices to repeatedly harass, threaten, or intimidate another person.
Driving-Related Crimes
DUI / DWI or DUAC: driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Reckless Driving: operating a vehicle in a manner that shows a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others or property.
Hit and Run: leaving the scene of an accident without providing contact information or helping the injured.
Driving with a Suspended License: operating a motor vehicle while your driver's license is temporarily or permanently revoked, suspended, or invalid.
Vehicular Manslaughter: the unlawful killing of another person as a result of a motor vehicle accident caused by negligent or reckless driving.
Open Container: the unlawful possession or transportation of an open container of alcohol in certain public or restricted areas, particularly in a moving vehicle.
Public Order Crimes
Disorderly Conduct: engaging in behavior that disturbs the public peace.
Public Intoxication: being visibly drunk or under the influence in a public place.
Resisting Arrest: any action taken to prevent, obstruct, or interfere with a law enforcement officer’s attempt to lawfully arrest an individual.
Probation Violations: occur when an individual fails to adhere to the terms and conditions set forth by the court as part of their probation sentence.
Failure to Appear in Court: when an individual, after being summoned or ordered, does not show up for a scheduled court date.
Juvenile Crimes
Crimes committed by individuals under the age of 18, which may include truancy, underage drinking, theft, assault, battery, vandalism, shoplifting, and drug offenses.
Federal Crimes
Drug Trafficking across State Lines: transporting, distributing, or selling illegal drugs from one state to another.
Immigrations Offenses: violations of U.S. immigration laws and regulations, which govern who can enter, remain, or work in the United States and under what conditions.
Terrorism Related Offenses: criminal acts committed with the intent to intimidate, coerce, or harm a government, population, or segment of the public to advance political, religious, or ideological goals.
Crimes against Federal Officers: actions that threaten, harm, or interfere with federal government employees while they are performing their official duties.
Organized Crime Activities (RICO): criminal enterprises that operate systematically, often involving a group or network of individuals who work together to carry out illegal activities for profit, power, or influence.
Weapons Offenses
Illegal Possession of Firearms: individuals are prohibited from owning or carrying firearms due to specific legal restrictions.
Illegal Sale of Firearms: prohibited actions related to the transfer of firearms.
Use of a Firearm in Committing a Crime: possession or display of firearms while committing or attempting to commit certain violent crimes.
Personal Injury
Most personal injury cases are based on the concept of negligence, and to win a negligence case, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant had a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused the plaintiff's injuries as a result. For over 30 years, we have helped plaintiffs prove just that.
Most Personal Injuries occur in the following circumstances:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Injuries resulting from car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, or rideshare accidents.
Medical Malpractice
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: a healthcare provider fails to diagnose a condition accurately or on time, leading to harm or worsening of the patient’s condition.
Surgical Errors: mistakes made during surgery that deviate from the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient.
Birth Injuries: injuries sustained by an infant or, in some cases, the mother, during labor, delivery, or prenatal care due to the negligence or substandard care of healthcare providers.
Medication and Prescription Errors: mistakes made by healthcare providers in prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications that deviate from the accepted standard of care and cause harm to the patient.
Anesthesia Errors: mistakes made by healthcare providers when administering or managing anesthesia before, during, or after a medical procedure.
Hospital and Nursing Negligence: occurs when hospitals, nurses, or other healthcare staff fail to meet the accepted standard of care, leading to harm or injury to a patient.
Premises Liability
Slip and Fall: injuries sustained from slipping, tripping, or falling due to hazardous conditions on someone else's property.
Negligent Security Claims: a property owner or manager fails to provide adequate security measures, leading to harm to someone on their property.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: a dog owner is typically responsible if their dog attacks someone, whether on their own property, in a public space, or on another person’s property.
Swimming Pool Accidents: a property owner or operator may be held liable for injuries or fatalities occurring at a pool on their property.
Fires and Explosions on Property: a property owner or occupier’s negligence contributed to the incident and resulted in injuries or property damage.
Product Liability
Defective Consumer Products: goods that are unreasonably dangerous or pose unexpected risks to users due to flaws in their design, manufacturing, or labeling.
Defective Medical Devices: products intended for medical use that fail to work as intended, causing harm to patients due to flaws in their design, manufacturing, or labeling.
Dangerous or Defective Drugs: medications that pose an unreasonable risk to patients due to flaws in their design, manufacturing, or labeling.
Automotive Defects: flaws in the design, manufacturing, or labeling of a vehicle or its components that lead to injury, harm, or death.
Toxic or Harmful Chemicals: substances that pose a risk to human health due to their chemical composition or harmful effects.
Workplace Injuries and Accidents
Construction Site Accidents: injuries sustained by workers, contractors, or visitors due to unsafe conditions, equipment, or practices at a construction site.
Industrial Accidents: injuries sustained in industrial workplaces, such as factories, warehouses, manufacturing plants, oil refineries, and power plants, due to unsafe conditions, equipment malfunctions, or human error.
Slip and Falls at Work: a person slips, trips, or falls due to unsafe conditions on the premises.
Workers' Compensation Claims: claims made by employees who are injured or become ill due to conditions at their workplace or while performing job-related duties.
Employer Negligence Cases: an employee is injured or harmed because their employer failed to take reasonable measures to ensure a safe working environment.
Wrongful Death
Fatal Accidents: various situations where the responsible party's actions, inaction, or negligence caused the death.
Medical Malpractice Leading to Death: a healthcare provider’s negligence, error, or failure to meet the accepted standard of care results in a patient’s death.
Defective Product Fatalities: a person dies as a result of using or being exposed to a dangerously defective product.
Workplace Fatalities: occur when an employee dies due to conditions or incidents on the job.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Fatalities: a resident of a nursing home or long-term care facility dies as a result of abuse, neglect, or substandard care.
Catastrophic Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries: TBI's occur when the brain sustains damage due to a sudden, violent impact, jolt, or penetrating injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries / Paralysis: a type of severe injury affecting the spinal cord, which can result in partial or total loss of sensation and function below the point of injury.
Severe Burns: injuries that cause significant damage to the skin, muscles, tissues, and sometimes bones, often resulting in long-term physical, emotional, and financial impacts.
Amputations: severe injuries involving the loss of a limb or extremity, either due to a traumatic incident or as a surgical necessity following significant tissue damage.
Blindness and Loss of Vision: significant, often permanent, damage to an individual’s eyesight, resulting in partial or total loss of vision.
Hearing Loss: a significant, often permanent, reduction in the ability to hear, which can range from partial impairment to total deafness.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Physical Abuse of Elderly Residents: any deliberate act that causes physical harm, injury, or unnecessary suffering to a resident.
Neglect and Malnutrition: the failure of a caregiver or nursing home staff to provide the necessary care, attention, and services required to maintain a resident’s health, safety, and overall well-being.
Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers: occur when patients, particularly those with limited mobility, are not given adequate care and attention.
Improper Medication Administration: any situation where residents receive medications in a way that is inconsistent with a physician’s orders, the standard of care, or the medication’s intended use.
Financial Exploitation of Nursing Home Residents: the unauthorized or improper use of a resident’s funds, property, or assets.
Toxic Exposure and Environmental Claims
Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals: exposure to hazardous chemicals occurs when an individual comes into contact with substances that can cause harm to their health.
Water Contamination Claims: when individuals are exposed to polluted or contaminated water, resulting in health issues, property damage, or other harms.
Mold Exposure: often arise when individuals are exposed to mold in residential, workplace, or public environments due to negligence, improper maintenance, or poor building practices.
Toxic Tort Litigation: legal actions where individuals or groups seek compensation for harm caused by exposure to toxic substances due to another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct.
Aviation and Boating Accidents
Airplane Crashes: incidents where an aircraft is involved in a collision, crash landing, or other catastrophic event resulting in significant harm to passengers, crew, or those on the ground.
Helicopter Accidents: incidents where a helicopter crashes, malfunctions, or otherwise fails, resulting in injuries, fatalities, or property damage.
Boat and Jet Ski Accidents: occur when boats, jet skis, or other watercraft are involved in collisions, capsizes, or other dangerous events that result in injuries, fatalities, or property damage.
Commercial and Private Aviation Injuries: harm sustained by passengers, crew members, or others due to accidents involving commercial airliners, charter flights, private jets, or small aircraft.
Cruise Ship Injuries: passengers, crew members, or visitors aboard a cruise ship sustain injuries due to the negligence of the cruise line, its employees, or unsafe conditions on the vessel.
Railroad and Public Transportation Accidents
Train Accidents: incidents where passengers, railroad workers, pedestrians, or motorists suffer injuries or fatalities due to collisions, derailments, or other failures involving trains.
Subway and Light Rail Accidents: incidents where passengers, pedestrians, or transit workers suffer injuries or fatalities due to collisions, derailments, platform incidents, or other hazardous conditions on subways or light rail systems.
Bus Accidents: incidents where passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists are injured due to collisions or other accidents involving public or private buses.
Amtrak and Commuter Train Injuries: incidents where passengers, crew members, or bystanders suffer harm due to accidents involving Amtrak trains, regional commuter trains, or other passenger rail services.
Assault and Intentional Torts / Civil Wrongs
Torts are a category of civil wrongs recognized by law that allow individuals to file lawsuits to seek compensation for harm or injury caused by the actions or inactions of another party.
We can help defend you in tort cases.
Unlike criminal cases, which involve the government prosecuting a defendant for violating a law, tort cases are civil in nature and are brought by the injured party (the plaintiff) against the party allegedly responsible for the harm (the defendant).
Physical Assault and Battery Claims: one person intentionally harms or threatens harm to another.
Sexual Assault Claims: an individual intentionally engages in unwanted and non-consensual sexual conduct with another person.
Defamation, Libel, and Slander: a person's reputation is harmed through false statements.
False Imprisonment: involves unlawfully confining or detaining someone against their will, even if no physical barriers are used.
Sports and Recreational Injuries
School and Youth Sports Injuries: injuries sustained by children and teenagers while participating in organized sports or athletic activities at schools, clubs, or youth sports leagues.
Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snowmobiling Accidents: injuries that occur during these popular winter activities.
Amusement Park Injuries: injuries sustained by visitors while on rides, attractions, or within the premises of an amusement park or theme park.
Gym and Fitness Center Injuries: injuries sustained by individuals while using equipment, participating in classes, or engaging in physical activities at gyms, health clubs, or fitness centers.
Insurance Bad Faith
Denial of Valid Insurance Claims: occurs when an insurance company unreasonably or unjustly refuses to pay a legitimate claim that should be covered under the terms of the insurance policy.
Delayed Payment of Claims: situations where an insurance company unreasonably delays processing, approving, or paying out a legitimate insurance claim without a valid reason.
Underpayment of Insurance Claims: occurs when an insurance company pays less than what is rightfully owed under the terms of the policy.
Disability Insurance Disputes: when insurance companies unfairly deny, delay, or underpay disability insurance claims.
Family Law
Our firm is here to provide compassionate guidance through divorce, child custody, and other family-related matters. We understand every situation fully.
Divorce and Separation
Contested Divorce: occurs when spouses cannot agree on one or more issues—such as grounds for divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, alimony, or property division—requiring a Family Court judge to resolve the disputes.
Uncontested Divorce: when both spouses agree on all issues, such as grounds for divorce, child custody, property division, and support, allowing the divorce to proceed without a trial.
Legal Separation: In South Carolina, there is no formal legal separation; instead, spouses can live apart under a "separate support and maintenance" order that addresses issues like custody, support, and property division while remaining legally married.
Fault and No-fault Divorce Grounds: in South Carolina, fault-based divorce grounds include adultery, desertion, physical cruelty, and habitual drunkenness, while no-fault divorce requires one year of continuous separation without cohabitation.
Property Division and Equitable Distribution: property division follows the principle of equitable distribution, meaning marital property is divided fairly—but not necessarily equally—based on factors like each spouse's contributions, the length of the marriage, and economic circumstances.
Alimony and Spousal Support: financial payments one spouse may be required to make to the other after a divorce, based on factors like the duration of the marriage, the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's income, and their physical and emotional health.
Child Custody and Visitation
Child Custody Arrangements: based on the best interests of the child, with the court considering factors like each parent's ability to care for the child, the child's relationship with each parent, and the child's needs, leading to either joint or sole custody decisions.
Parenting Plans: plans outline how divorced or separated parents will share responsibilities for raising their child, detailing custody arrangements, visitation schedules, decision-making authority, and how disputes will be resolved, all focused on the child's best interests.
Visitation Rights: the legal right of a non-custodial parent or sometimes grandparents to spend time with a child, as determined by the court, based on the child's best interests.
Modifications to Custody or Visitation: can be requested if there is a significant change in circumstances affecting the child's best interests, such as a parent's relocation, changes in a parent's stability, or the child's needs.
Relocation or Move-Away Cases: involve a custodial parent seeking court approval to move with the child to a different location, which the court evaluates based on the best interests of the child, considering factors like the reasons for the move and its impact on the child's relationship with the other parent.
Child Support
Establishing Child Support Orders: designed to ensure that a child's financial needs are met when parents are no longer together.
Modifying Child Support Orders: orders can be modified when a substantial change in circumstances occurs, affecting either the needs of the child or the financial situation of the parents.
Enforcement of Child Support Orders: legal actions taken when a parent fails to meet their support obligations, which can include wage garnishment, interception of tax refunds, suspension of driver's or professional licenses, and even contempt of court charges that could lead to fines or jail time, all to ensure compliance with the court-ordered support.
Paternity Testing for Child Support: paternity testing for child support involves using DNA tests to legally establish a child's biological father, which is necessary if paternity is in question before a child support order can be issued; the court may require testing to confirm paternity and assign financial responsibility.
Adoption
Domestic Adoptions: an individual or couple becomes the legal parents of a child who is already residing within the United States.
Stepparent Adoptions: a stepparent becomes the legal parent of their spouse’s child.
Grandparent Adoptions: occurs when grandparents legally adopt their grandchild, becoming the child's legal parents with all associated rights and responsibilities.
Foster Care Adoptions: occurs when grandparents legally adopt their grandchild, becoming the child's legal parents with all associated rights and responsibilities.
Private or Independent Adoptions: often pursued in situations where the biological parents are unable or unwilling to care for the child due to issues like substance abuse, incarceration, or severe financial hardship, allowing the grandparents to provide a stable and loving home for the child.
Interstate and International Adoptions: adopting a child from another state or country, which requires compliance with both state laws and additional legal frameworks.
Paternity
Establishing Paternity: the legal process of determining a child's biological father, which is crucial for securing parental rights and responsibilities.
Disputing Paternity: challenging the legal recognition of a person as the biological father of a child.
Rights of Biological Fathers: the rights of biological fathers are recognized and protected, but they often depend on whether paternity has been legally established and the father's relationship with the child.
Paternity Testing and Orders: essential legal processes used to establish the biological father of a child, especially in cases where paternity is disputed or unclear.
Domestic Violence and Protection Orders
Filing for Protective Orders or Restraining Orders: a legal process designed to protect individuals from abuse, harassment, or threats. The Family Court typically issues these orders to prevent further harm and provide safety for the victim.
Defending Against Protective Orders: challenging allegations made by the petitioner (the person seeking the protective order) and proving that the issuance of such an order is not justified.
Orders of Protection in Cases of Domestic Abuse: a critical tool to protect victims of domestic abuse, providing them with legal recourse to ensure their safety. The Family Court system is designed to respond quickly to protect those in danger, while also ensuring due process for the accused.
Emergency Temporary Orders: typically issued in cases involving child custody, protection from abuse, or other critical family matters.
Division of Property and Assets
Division of Marital Property: under South Carolina family law, the division of marital property follows the principle of equitable distribution, meaning the court divides marital assets fairly, though not necessarily equally, between spouses during a divorce.
Business Valuation and Division: a complex process that requires careful consideration of financial, legal, and tax implications.
Division of Retirement Accounts (QDROs): retirement assets accumulated during the marriage are considered marital property and are subject to fair, though not necessarily equal, division.
High-Asset Divorce Cases: involves the dissolution of a marriage where the couple has accumulated significant financial assets, complex investments, and valuable property.
Spousal Support (Alimony)
Establishing Alimony and or Spousal Support: involves the Family Court determining whether one spouse should provide financial assistance to the other after a divorce.
Temporary and Permanent Alimony: serve different purposes in ensuring financial stability for a spouse following separation or divorce.
Modifications or Termination of Alimony: possible when certain conditions change significantly after the original alimony order was issued.
Premarital and Postnuptial Agreements
Drafting Prenuptial Agreements: a strategic way to protect individual assets and clarify financial responsibilities before entering into marriage.
Drafting Postnuptial Agreements: outlines how the couple’s assets, debts, and other financial matters will be handled in the event of a separation, divorce, or death.
Enforcing or Challenging Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreements: involves ensuring that these agreements are legally binding and fair, while also allowing for the possibility that they can be contested if certain legal requirements were not met.
Guardianship and Conservatorship
Establishing Guardianship for Minor Children: a legal process through which an individual is granted the authority to care for a child who is not their biological child.
Conservatorship for Incapacitated Adults: involves a legal process in which the court appoints a responsible person, known as a conservator, to manage the financial affairs and property of an adult who is unable to do so due to incapacity.
Guardianship of Elderly or Disabled Family Members: a legal process through which a court appoints a responsible person, known as a guardian, to manage the personal, medical, and daily living needs of an adult who is unable to care for themselves due to age, illness, or disability.
Guardianship Disputes: occur when there is disagreement over the appointment of a guardian for an incapacitated person or when concerns arise regarding the actions or qualifications of an existing guardian.
Termination of Parental Rights
Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights: involves a legal process where a parent willingly gives up their rights and responsibilities to their child.
Involuntary Termination Due to Abuse or Neglect: a severe measure taken only when a child's safety and well-being are at significant risk due to abuse, neglect, or other serious circumstances.
Rights of Biological Parents vs. Adoptive Parents: a legal process through which the Family Court permanently severs the relationship between a parent and their child without the parent's consent.
Grandparents' Rights
Visitation Rights for Grandparents: grandparents can seek visitation rights if they can demonstrate that being denied contact with their grandchildren would cause significant harm to the child.
Custody Rights for Grandparents: while grandparents can seek custody of their grandchildren, the Family Court will prioritize the rights of the biological parents unless it is proven that the parents are unfit or unable to provide a safe and stable environment for the child.
Seeking Guardianship for Grandchildren: a legal process through which grandparents can be granted the authority to care for and make decisions on behalf of their grandchildren when the parents are unable or unwilling to do so.
Call NOW or Connect HERE:
Physical Address:
2001 Assembly St., Suite 102-B
Columbia, SC 29201
Mailing Address:
1025 Calhoun St., Box 2
Columbia, SC 29201
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