Couch v. Couch

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

Ashley Couch, Appellant/Respondent,

v.

Rita Couch, Respondent/Appellant.

Appellate Case No. 2013-000802

Appeal From Jasper County
Gerald C. Smoak, Jr., Family Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2015-UP-045
Heard January 15, 2015 – Filed January 28, 2015

AFFIRMED

Emma I. Bryson, of Bryson Law Office, LLC, of
Columbia, and Catherine D. Badgett, of Ridgeland, for
Appellant/Respondent.

Pamela W. Blackshire, of Clark & Stevens, of Hilton
Head, and Donald B. Clark, of the Law Office of Donald
B. Clark, LLC, of Charleston, for Respondent/Appellant.

Marshall L. Horton, of Horton Law Firm, LLC, of
Bluffton as Guardian Ad Litem.
PER CURIAM: In this appeal from the family court, Ashley Couch (Father)
argues the family court erred in (1) finding he failed to prove a material change in
circumstances substantially affecting his children's welfare and warranting a
change in custody; (2) making Rita Couch (Mother) the "tie-breaker" in parental
decision-making; and (3) awarding Mother attorney's fees. Mother cross-appeals
arguing the family court erred in awarding her only one-third of the attorney's fees
and costs she incurred. We affirm pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the
following authorities: Simmons v. Simmons, 392 S.C. 412, 414-15, 709 S.E.2d
666, 667 (2011) ("In appeals from the family court, this [c]ourt reviews factual and
legal issues de novo."); Lewis v. Lewis, 392 S.C. 381, 384-85, 709 S.E.2d 650,
651-52 (2011) (holding this court has jurisdiction to find facts in accordance with
its own view of the preponderance of the evidence; however, this broad scope of
review does not require the court to disregard the findings of the family court,
which is in a superior position to make credibility determinations); Latimer v.
Farmer, 360 S.C. 375, 381, 602 S.E.2d 32, 35 (2004) ("[W]hen a non-custodial
parent seeks a change in custody, the non-custodial parent must establish the
following: (1) there has been a substantial change in circumstances affecting the
welfare of the child and (2) a change in custody is in the overall best interests of
the child."); E.D.M. v. T.A.M., 307 S.C. 471, 476-77, 415 S.E.2d 812, 816 (1992)
(holding the family court should consider the following factors when determining
whether to award attorney's fees: "(1) the party's ability to pay her own attorney's
fee; (2) beneficial results obtained by the attorney; (3) the parties' respective
financial conditions; and (4) effect of the attorney's fee on each party's standard of
living"); Glasscock v. Glasscock, 304 S.C. 158, 161, 403 S.E.2d 313, 315 (1991)
(holding the family court should consider the following factors when determining
the amount of reasonable attorney's fees: "(1) the nature, extent, and difficulty of
the case; (2) the time necessarily devoted to the case; (3) professional standing of
counsel; (4) contingency of compensation; (5) beneficial results obtained; [and] (6)
customary legal fees for similar services"); Griffith v. Griffith, 332 S.C. 630, 646,
506 S.E.2d 526, 534-35 (Ct. App. 1998) (stating that when the family court awards
attorney's fees, it "must make specific findings of fact on the record for each of the
required factors"); Strout v. Strout, 284 S.C. 429, 430-31, 327 S.E.2d 74, 75 (1985)
(stating that if the family court's order fails to set out the appropriate findings, this
court has jurisdiction to make its own findings of fact in accordance with its view
of the preponderance of the evidence).

AFFIRMED.

FEW, C.J., and THOMAS and LOCKEMY, JJ., concur.