L. Wayne Patterson

I have over forty five years of business and legal experience. Prior to entering law, I owned and managed corporations involved in various fields of the construction industry and am a past president of Carolina's Associated General Contractors. I currently handle divorce, probate, estate planning, personal injury and construction claims. I have successfully settled a lawsuit against a city for sewer backup into a residence and a developer for faulty construction of a residence. My years of business and personal experience enable me to offer my clients professional advice and legal representation from a point of view that is not available from many other attorneys.

I graduated from North Carolina State University in 1972 with a BS in Civil Engineering and Cum Laude in 2008 from the Charleston School of Law.

While my office is in Greenville, I practice on a regular basis in all areas of the state, especially in the Charleston area including Berkeley and Dorchester Counties. I have extensive trial experience in common law marriage disputes and military divorces. It doesn't cost you anything to give me a call to discuss your options

South Carolina

Since 2008

Charleston School of Law

J.D. | Law

2005 - 2008

North Carolina State University

B.S. (1972) | Civil Engineering

Greenville County Bar Association

2008 - Current

Q. Do I have to pay an attorney to get my inheritance?

February 13, 2015

A: Your question is very general and depends on the specifics of your situation. I would suggest that you consult with a South Carolina probate attorney who can review the probate file with you and advise you of your rights to receive any inheritance.

This answer is for general advice. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney client relationship. For legal advice you have to retain your own attorney.

Q. Both my parents died and they didn't have wills. They owned a car. Can I have the car put in my name?

February 13, 2015

A: A South Carolina probate estate will have to be opened in order to transfer the title to a vehicle. Contact the probate court in the county where they resided for the requirements to open an estate. You will need an original of their death certificates and wills if they had a will. South Carolina does have a small estate procedure where the total value of the estate is less than $25,000.00.

This answer is for general information only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney client relationship. For legal advice you have to retain your own attorney.

Q. SC Divorce; Property entitlement

September 26, 2013

A: Marital property includes all real and personal property the parties acquired during the marriage and owned as of the date of filing or commencement of marital litigation. S.C. Code Ann. § 20-3-630(A) (Supp. 2009). "The doctrine of equitable distribution is based on a recognition that marriage is, among other things, an economic partnership." Mallett v. Mallett, 323 S.C. 141, 150, 473 S.E.2d 804, 810 (Ct. App. 1996). "Upon dissolution of the marriage, property acquired during the marriage should be divided and distributed in a manner which fairly reflects each spouse's contribution to its acquisition, regardless of which spouse holds legal title." Id. The ultimate goal of apportionment is to divide the marital estate, as a whole, in a manner that fairly reflects each spouse's contribution to the economic partnership and also the effect on each of the parties of ending that partnership. Johnson, 296 S.C. at 298, 372 S.E.2d at 112.

The division of property is an equitable one so you could ask the judge to consider the items purchased during the marriage regardless of the fact that his mother is on the title and it would be at the judge's discretion.

This is not legal advice but simply general information. For legal advice please contact your own attorney. ... Read More