For parents navigating custody disputes in Charleston, Berkeley & Dorchester counties. Send a confidential message — we'll reply by email or phone, whichever you prefer.
Hall & Means represents parents in custody disputes across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. Mary Ann Hall and Jessica Means are Charleston child custody attorneys focused on family law — whether you're seeking primary custody, modifying an existing order, or facing an emergency, you'll work directly with your attorney, not a paralegal screening calls.
Why Hall & Means
Mary Ann Hall and Jessica Means lead Hall & Means together, representing clients through divorce, custody, alimony, and the financial decisions that come with them. Both attorneys focus on family law in the 9th and 1st Judicial Circuit Family Courts, with deep local relationships across mediators, guardians ad litem, and financial professionals throughout the tri-county region.
Meet your attorneys →Built around advocating for our clients in divorce, custody, and family transitions. The Family Law Hub reflects that focus — written for the questions our clients actually ask.
Three-county family law practice across the 9th and 1st Judicial Circuit Family Courts, with a local network of mediators, guardians ad litem, and financial professionals.
You work with Mary Ann or Jessica. Your calls and emails are returned by your attorney — not screened by a paralegal, not routed to an associate.
What to expect
From the first call to active representation, the path is the same for every client. We tell you what's happening, what it costs, and what choices are yours to make — before we ask you to commit to anything.
Phase 1
You reach out by phone or message. One of our staff or firm team members responds — typical response time within 24 hours. Confidentiality starts with the first interaction. The first conversation is focused on understanding your custody situation, not selling you on services.
Response within 24 hoursPhase 2
We schedule a 2-hour consultation and review any existing custody orders or court history. An initial retainer is quoted at that consultation, based on the facts of your case — initial because the final cost depends on how the case unfolds. We lay out the pathways available to you — primary custody, modification, or emergency relief — with honest costs and timelines for each.
Attorney-client privileged from word onePhase 3
If we're a fit, we put a representation agreement in place. We file a custody action or modification petition when you're ready — and immediately if the situation calls for emergency relief under Rule 21 SCRFC.
Emergency filings prioritized when neededFinal Phase
Initial filings submitted. We coordinate service, work with any appointed Guardian ad Litem, and prepare for the first temporary hearing. You retain authority over substantive decisions — settlement terms, signatures on agreements, and key strategy choices. We handle procedural matters (discovery, scheduling, extensions to keep your case moving) without asking permission for each step. Throughout, you work directly with Mary Ann or Jessica.
Direct attorney access throughoutResources
Our Family Law Hub covers South Carolina custody law in depth. If you want to understand what you're walking into before you call, these are the places to start.
Hub article
SC Code § 63-15-210, the "best interest of the child" standard, and how parents can position themselves before filing.
Read article →Hub article
The Income Shares model, worked examples, and what the final order math looks like in real cases.
Read article →Hub article
The ex parte process under Rule 21 SCRFC, what counts as an emergency, and same-day filing in the 9th Circuit.
Read article →Get in touch
Submit the form and we'll reply within one business day — by email or phone, whichever you prefer. Everything you share is protected by attorney-client privilege from the first message.
Phone
Office
1816 Belgrade Avenue, Ste. 101
Charleston, SC 29407
Hours
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
