[[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"Answer Question","text":"When a couple is unmarried and expecting a baby, the father must establish\u00a0paternity\u00a0before he can seek custody. In cases where a child is born to unmarried parents, the court automatically grants sole custody to the natural mother unless she voluntarily forfeits her legal rights or signs an affidavit to acknowledge the father\u2019s legal rights.","@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/blog\/sc-custody-laws-for-unmarried-parents\/#Answer"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"Answer Question1","text":"After a court order custody arrangement, both parents must be willing to put the best interests of their child front and center. To avoid potential legal complications, parents must follow court-established custody guidelines. That means adhering to visitation schedules, custody arrangements, and other relevant court orders. Violating a family court order can come with significant legal ramifications.","@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/blog\/sc-custody-laws-for-unmarried-parents\/#Answer1"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","name":"South Carolina Custody Laws for Unmarried Parents","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Does a Father Have to Establish Paternity Before Seeking Custody of a Child?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/blog\/sc-custody-laws-for-unmarried-parents\/#Answer"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/blog\/sc-custody-laws-for-unmarried-parents\/#Question"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What Should the Parents Do After Custody Is Granted?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/blog\/sc-custody-laws-for-unmarried-parents\/#Answer1"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/blog\/sc-custody-laws-for-unmarried-parents\/#Question1"}],"@id":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/blog\/sc-custody-laws-for-unmarried-parents\/#FAQPage"}],{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"South Carolina Custody Laws for Unmarried Parents","item":"https:\/\/www.mtllawfirm.com\/blog\/sc-custody-laws-for-unmarried-parents\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]