Mechanic’s lien law in South Carolina
A mechanic’s lien is a legal way for contractors, subcontractors or suppliers to collect money owed to them for projects of all sizes – anything from a simple home renovation to a multi-million-dollar development. Repairs to a building and well-digging also are covered. In South Carolina, they’re created by S.C. Code Ann. § 29-5-10, and […]
Posted on June 15th, 2017
| Michael HatchTax classes for companies: How should I structure my business?
By Melissa G. Cassell The first question any entrepreneur faces is what type of business to create and what legal entity to use. The answer typically determines which forms to file and what taxation the company will have (at least initially). Here is a summary of the options: Sole Proprietorship – default taxation for single-owner […]
Posted on May 19th, 2017
| Melissa CassellA sobering decision: South Carolina Supreme Court ruling changes liquor license limits
By Dan Ballou South Carolina historically has limited the number of liquor licenses a retailer could own to three. A recent court ruling, though, will dramatically change the regulatory landscape in which liquor retailers operate, if the ruling stands. The three-store rule had been justified by the broadly defined “police” power of the General Assembly […]
Posted on May 4th, 2017
| Dan BallouAffinity Health Center breaks ground on new facility in Tech Park
ROCK HILL, SC – Affinity Health Center has broken ground for a 30,000-square-foot facility in Tech Park that will become its new main site when it opens next year. Affinity’s four satellite sites are expected to remain open to continue serving the entire York County. Affinity, formerly known as Catawba Care, is a community health […]
Posted on May 3rd, 2017
| Melissa CassellSmith discusses collaborative law on WRHI talk show
Morton & Gettys partner Michael Smith was a guest on WRHI’s “Close Up” recently to talk about collaborative divorce, an innovative approach to family law he’s working to bring to the Rock Hill community. Collaborative divorce involves a team of professionals working to help guide parties toward solutions, rather than engaging in costly litigation. The […]
Posted on April 28th, 2017
| Michael SmithJohn Gettys announces run for mayor of Rock Hill
John Gettys, a co-founder of Morton & Gettys, has announced his intention to run for mayor of Rock Hill, S.C. Gettys announced on Wednesday, March 29, that he would file in August for the nonpartisan October election for the office. The previous day, it had been announced that longtime Mayor Doug Echols would not run […]
Posted on March 29th, 2017
| John GettysJohn Gettys selected for Furman’s Riley Institute program
John Gettys, a partner with Morton & Gettys, Attorneys at Law, is one of 44 leaders selected to participate in the 10th Midlands class of the Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative this spring. The DLI program trains participants to understand their diversity and inclusion “blind spots” and how to suspend assumptions. They come […]
Posted on February 14th, 2017
| John GettysSmith discusses collaborative divorce on WRHI talk show
Morton & Gettys partner Michael Smith was on WRHI’s “Straight Talk” recently to discuss collaborative divorce, a new approach to family law that he’s helping bring to the Rock Hill community. This exciting new concept involves a team of professionals working to help guide parties toward mutually agreeable solutions, rather than engaging in conflict and […]
Posted on December 5th, 2016
Morton & Gettys honored in Best Law Firms in America
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Morton & Gettys is being included in the just-released 2017 Best Law Firms in America for its work in Trusts & Estate Law. Morton & Gettys is listed among Tier 2 law firms in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, an area that includes Rock Hill. In 2016, a mere 16 total […]
Posted on November 17th, 2016
Collaborative divorce could be a better way
The term “collaborative divorce” at first seems like an oxymoron. How can people who are ending a relationship work together? How can the concept of collaboration, which typically involves creation, come into play when a marriage is breaking up? At Morton & Gettys, we are excited about this concept. Family law attorney Michael Smith has […]
Posted on November 11th, 2016
| Michael SmithWriting your own will is not such a good idea
Joseph L. Raad, Attorney At Law A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client – unknown This often-heard saying is never more true than when it comes to writing a Will. A lawyer, specifically one who specializes in estate planning, is necessary to make sure this important document is properly […]
Posted on November 11th, 2016
| Joe RaadJoin us in YorkCountySCGives on GivingTuesday 2016
Morton & Gettys is proud to again be a sponsor of #YorkCountySCGives, the local initiative that’s part of the international #GivingTuesday movement. The annual initiative takes place this year on Nov. 29 – that’s the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when many people traditionally begin holiday shopping. The GivingTuesday movement asks people to […]
Posted on November 11th, 2016
Commercial lease transaction? Tenant, beware!
By Joshua B. Vann Commercial leases present particular headaches to potential tenants in South Carolina. There is often a great disparity between potential landlord and potential tenant in bargaining power and in knowledge regarding what is and what is not customary. To further complicate matters, inexperienced tenants in commercial leases often are unaware that they […]
Posted on November 11th, 2016
| Josh VannPalmetto Focus: A conversation about the consequences of Act 388
On Nov. 15 at Winthrop University, our own Elizabeth Smith Owen will moderate a discussion of the consequences of a major change in South Carolina’s tax law. Ten years ago, the South Carolina General Assembly passed Act 388, which shifted the burden of paying for public school operations from homeowners to businesses and onto an […]
Posted on November 4th, 2016
| Elizabeth Smith OwenRaad included in 2017 Best Lawyers in America
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Joseph L. Raad, a senior counsel with Morton & Gettys, is profiled in the just-released 2017 Best Lawyers in America for his work in Trusts & Estates Law. A state-certified specialist in South Carolina Estate Planning and Probate Law, Raad has been included in six consecutive editions of Best Lawyers. […]
Posted on August 18th, 2016
| Joe RaadLancaster County considering wholesale changes to development ordinance
By Dan Ballou Property owners in Lancaster County should be aware that the County is in the final stages of a wholesale rewrite of the Uniform Development Ordinance, or UDO, that establishes zoning and development regulations for all real property in the unincorporated areas of Lancaster County. In June 2015, the County approved a moratorium […]
Posted on July 11th, 2016
| Dan BallouSouth Carolina separation or divorce: What NOT to do
By Elizabeth Smith Owen When family law litigation is ongoing or being anticipated, tension runs high and too often emotions, rather than intellect, control the actions of litigants. An experienced and knowledgeable family law attorney can bring a sense of professional clarity to an emotionally difficult time. Therefore, it is incredibly important to seek the […]
Posted on June 3rd, 2016
| Elizabeth Smith OwenNew hires: What to know before you pay
By Melissa G. Cassell Growing up, summertime was primetime for making money – whether in between school years or looking for your first real job. Now, all grown up, you find yourself on the hiring side of the table and you wonder how to negotiate employee compensation. If hiring for a temporary position, you may […]
Posted on June 1st, 2016
| Melissa CassellSafeguard your estate planning documents
By Joseph L. Raad All too frequently, clients call this law firm asking for a copy of their Will or other estate planning document because they cannot locate the original. My first response is to tell them that if they cannot find the original document, they really don’t have a Will. This is because in […]
Posted on June 1st, 2016
| Joe RaadBeating the competition: The art of crafting non-compete agreements
By Dan Ballou ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – In today’s business world, the value of a company is often defined as much by information and relationships as by the actual products or services provided. At the same time, employees are more transient than ever before, and employers need to know that when (not if) change […]
Posted on May 18th, 2016
| Dan BallouSouth Carolina Responsible Father Registry helps dads protect rights
By Michael B. Smith Men who want to make sure their parental rights are protected have an easy way to do that in the Palmetto State. It is called the South Carolina Responsible Father Registry, and it is free and convenient to use. The registry is open to any man who has fathered a child […]
Posted on May 3rd, 2016
| Michael SmithMorton serving on York County Free Clinic Advisory Council
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – James Morton, one of the founding partners of Morton & Gettys, has been appointed to the serve on the York County Free Clinic Advisory Council. The facility, located in Rock Hill, is the only non-profit medical clinic in York County. It operates without government subsidies, serving uninsured low-income adults ages […]
Posted on April 28th, 2016
| Jim MortonDIY Corporate Law: Great expectations turn into unexpected consequences
By Melissa G. Cassell Many of us are reared to save money by rolling up our sleeves and putting in sweat equity, but sometimes we really should call a professional. Just as we would not tackle a bathroom addition in our home without professional help, a business owner or entrepreneur should not tackle the formation […]
Posted on March 31st, 2016
| Melissa CassellSouth Carolina DUI videotaping law protects the rights of those accused
By John Mark Shiflet and James Morton Law enforcement officers are bound by the laws that spell out how they must conduct DUI investigations. Those laws are designed to protect the rights of the accused and to provide the best information should the case go to trial. In South Carolina, the requirements include videotaping DUI […]
Posted on March 21st, 2016
| Jim Morton, John ShifletEven prescription medication can trigger a DUI charge
By John Mark Shiflet and James Morton At Morton & Gettys, we frequently represent clients who are facing DUI charges where the officer alleges their driving was impaired by drugs instead of alcohol. Quite often in these cases the driver’s breath sample registers less than a 0.08 alcohol level. Despite being below the legal blood […]
Posted on March 14th, 2016
| Jim Morton, John ShifletDrunk driving field sobriety tests explained
By John Mark Shiflet and James Morton You have seen it in the movies and on television shows: Someone is pulled over, and the police officer asks him to stand on one leg and recite the alphabet. What is the purpose of this strange-looking exercise? It is part of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) […]
Posted on March 7th, 2016
| Jim Morton, John ShifletOwen joins York County Community Foundation Board of Trustees
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Elizabeth Smith Owen, a partner at Morton & Gettys, is the newest member of the York County Community Foundation Board of Trustees. The foundation was established in 1988 with a goal of increasing the charitable resources available in the community. What began 28 years ago with one, $10,000 grant has […]
Posted on February 16th, 2016
| Elizabeth Smith OwenKimbrell, Savage promoted to Senior Paralegal
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Morton & Gettys has promoted Jill Kimbrell and Courtney Savage to the position of senior paralegal. Both earned the title by virtue of their number of years’ experience, their levels of skill and professionalism and their educational backgrounds. Kimbrell, a graduate of Winthrop University, started at Morton & Gettys in […]
Posted on February 9th, 2016
Owen updates principals on legal issues
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Morton & Gettys partner Elizabeth Smith Owen provided a group of school principals with a legal update as part of an on-going professional development and networking program for education leaders associated with the Olde English Consortium. Owen’s presentation was part of a series of monthly meetings sponsored by the Olde […]
Posted on February 2nd, 2016
| Elizabeth Smith OwenVann honored with Acquisitions International 2015 Legal Award
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Acquisitions International, a global magazine that prides itself as being “The Voice of Corporate Finance,” has honored Morton & Gettys partner Joshua B. Vann with a 2015 Legal Award. In order to earn inclusion in the annual publication, attorneys must be nominated by a client or peer. The magazine’s more […]
Posted on January 5th, 2016
| Josh VannA living trust can ease financial planning and estate concerns
By Joseph L. Raad Family problems! Tax problems! The living trust may be helpful in solving them all. And you don’t have to be a multi‑millionaire to take advantage of the living trust’s problem solving capacity. The reason for the living trust’s effectiveness in solving problems is twofold. The living trust is a distinct legal […]
Posted on November 9th, 2015
| Joe RaadIncreasing South Carolina auto insurance coverage can increase protection
By J. Richards McCrae In another article, I explained South Carolina auto insurance coverage requirements and why those minimums are not enough when a person has been involved in a major accident. I advise my clients to, whenever possible, increase bodily injury and property damage coverage beyond the minimums of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per occurrence/$25,000 […]
Posted on November 9th, 2015
| Richards McCraeFull coverage auto insurance might not be enough
By J. Richards McRae III When people come to see me after a car wreck, one of the first things I ask is to see their auto insurance declarations page. Your declarations page is the document that summarizes the types and amounts of coverage provided under your auto insurance policy. It is a document that […]
Posted on November 9th, 2015
| Richards McCraeMorton & Gettys backs new RockHillGives initiative
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Morton & Gettys has joined a dozen local agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals to bring #GivingTuesday, a national movement that celebrates generosity, to Rock Hill. The initiative, #RockHillGives, encourages people to contribute time, needed supplies or money to their favorite local causes on Dec. 1. That date is the Tuesday […]
Posted on October 21st, 2015
Duncan appointed to Cultural and Heritage Commission
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – James David Duncan, an associate with Morton & Gettys, has been appointed to the York County Cultural and Heritage Commission. Duncan was sworn in as a member of the seven-member commission on Sept. 28. His term runs through July 2017. The panel provides oversight and guidance to York County Cultural […]
Posted on October 16th, 2015
| James David DuncanShiflet admitted to federal court practice
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – John Mark Shiflet, an attorney with Morton & Gettys, has been admitted to practice in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. This means he now is permitted to represent clients in federal criminal and civil cases throughout the state. Shiflet’s practice at Morton & Gettys focuses on […]
Posted on October 8th, 2015
| John ShifletMorton & Gettys welcomes Dan Ballou as Senior Counsel
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Daniel J. Ballou, a veteran attorney who has more than 20 years’ experience trying cases in South Carolina courts, has joined Morton & Gettys as senior counsel. Ballou began practicing in Rock Hill in 1993. At Morton & Gettys, he’ll focus on trial and appellate work, including commercial and construction […]
Posted on August 21st, 2015
| Dan BallouRaad listed in 2016 Best Lawyers in America
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Morton & Gettys senior counsel Joseph L. Raad is included in the 2016 Best Lawyers in America, a publication widely regarded as one of the country’s leading directories of legal professionals. Raad is listed in the just-released edition in the practice area of Trust and Estates, the fifth consecutive year […]
Posted on August 18th, 2015
| Joe RaadYork native James Duncan joins Morton & Gettys; practice will focus on family law
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – James D. Duncan, a York County native who returned to Rock Hill to practice law more than a year ago, is the newest associate at Morton & Gettys. His practice will concentrate on family law. Duncan recently completed a clerkship with 16th Circuit Court Judge Daniel D. Hall, who’s based […]
Posted on August 17th, 2015
| James David DuncanSmith listed among Top 10 South Carolina Family Law Attorneys
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Michael B. Smith, a partner at Morton & Gettys, is ranked among the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys’ Top 10 in the state for 2015. Lawyers are included in the list of Top 10 South Carolina Family Law Attorneys only after a peer nominates them. A processing committee reviews […]
Posted on June 15th, 2015
| Michael SmithQ&A: How South Carolina Probate works
By John P. Gettys Jr. Not having a Will does not mean the State of South Carolina is going to take your property after you die, but it can cause complications when your family is administering your estate. Your assets, by law, will pass to your family even if you don’t have a Will. However, […]
Posted on June 8th, 2015
| John GettysRock Hill Knowledge Park takes a big step
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – An ambitious redevelopment project that takes in historic downtown, Winthrop University and areas in between took a key step when developers hired Morton & Gettys to represent them in negotiating and preparing a master development agreement with the City of Rock Hill. Morton & Gettys also will represent Rock Hill […]
Posted on May 29th, 2015
Business can make sure workplace social media is a tool, not a weapon
By Melissa G. Cassell In an era when nearly three-quarters of adults use social media sites, workplace social media issues are impossible to avoid. It’s an area of law evolving as quickly as a Tweet can go viral, but one thing is clear: there is no point in employers trying to avoid or ban Facebook, […]
Posted on May 29th, 2015
| Melissa CassellElizabeth Smith Owen confirmed as member of York County Natural Gas Authority Board
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Elizabeth Smith Owen, a partner at Morton & Gettys, is the newest member of the York County Natural Gas Authority Board. Owen will serve a three-year term. The South Carolina State Senate confirmed her appointment in April. The York County Natural Gas Authority, established in 1954, is a not-for-profit corporation […]
Posted on May 1st, 2015
| Elizabeth Smith OwenJ. Richards McCrae becomes newest partner at Morton & Gettys
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – J. Richards McCrae III, who grew up in Fort Mill and came home to York County to join Morton & Gettys in 2009, has become the firm’s newest partner. An experienced litigator, McCrae focuses his practice on personal injury cases. He’s represented survivors in wrongful death suits and victims, including […]
Posted on March 24th, 2015
| Richards McCraeSC texting while driving law strikes a balance
By John Mark Shiflet ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Motor vehicle laws in South Carolina are an often-evolving list. New rules are written and old ones changed as new public policy issues and road safety concerns arise. A great example of this was about a year ago, when South Carolina joined a majority of other […]
Posted on March 18th, 2015
| John ShifletShiflet talks with television station about York County arson-murder case
John M. Shiflet, an associate at Morton & Gettys, talked with Charlotte television station WCNC about a York County criminal case that’s in the news in both states. The case involves 17-year-old Jacob Morgan, who is accused of starting a trailer fire that killed his 14-month-old half brother. Morgan has been charged with murder and […]
Posted on March 12th, 2015
| John ShifletGettys joins South State Bank Advisory Board
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – John Gettys, a founding member of Morton & Gettys, now is a member of the advisory board of South State Bank. Advisory board members are selected based on civic and community knowledge and involvement. South State Bank turns to the board for insight on the needs of the York County […]
Posted on March 4th, 2015
| John GettysMorton & Gettys part of Rock Hill Cultural District
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The South Carolina Arts Commission has designated Rock Hill’s downtown as the state’s first official cultural district, and the region includes Morton & Gettys’ new Fountain Park Place office. The cultural district designation, announced Feb. 18, came after months of work coordinated by the Arts Council of York County. Morton […]
Posted on February 25th, 2015
| Michael SmithSouth Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Suspension Eligibility Week 2015
By John Mark Shiflet Many South Carolina drivers burdened by a suspended driver’s license might be able to take advantage of Driver Suspension Eligibility Week and have their driving privileges restored sooner than they had expected. This year’s DSEW is available, March 16-20 in all DMV offices across the state. During that period, South Carolina […]
Posted on February 17th, 2015
| John Shiflet
