South Carolina Directory of Divorce Mediation and Mediators

Divorce Mediation provides a directory of mediators and arbitrators available to provide assistance both through the court system and independently. ADR, alternative dispute resolution, often provides an accelerated result with greater cooperation in addition to less contention and cost to both parties.  

Mediation is an informal, voluntary process in which a mediator, trained in facilitation and negotiation techniques, assists all parties to reach a mutually acceptable conclusion. What distinguishes mediation from other forms of dispute resolution, principally litigation in court and arbitration, is that the mediator does not impose a solution but rather assists the parties to create their own understanding. Mediated agreements, especially in situations involving families and divorce, often include unique solutions tailored to specific situations that are not available in arbitration or litigation through the court system.

The actual process of mediation is flexible and creative varying with the needs of the parties involved and the methods used by the mediator.  While the parties may meet face to face to discuss the issues involved, it is also possible that private caucus, physically separated from the other party, can be useful in reaching a compromise.  Private caucus in mediation can be used to send messages, clarify a position, ask questions and tender proposals, offers and counter offers to either party.  Mediation is non-binding unless both parties agree to a settlement.  

Find a mediator and/or arbitrator in your state from the following list:

M. Dawes Cooke, Jr., Esq.
Barnwell, Whaley, Patterson & Helms, LLC
P.O. Drawer H
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 577-7700
Fax: (843) 577-7708


William C. Helms, III, Esq.
Barnwell, Whaley, Patterson & Helms, LLC
P.O. Drawer H
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 577-7700
Fax: (843) 577-7708


Franklin J. Smith, Jr., Esq.
Richardson, Plowden, Carpenter & Robinson, PA
P.O. Drawer 7788
Columbia, SC 29202
Phone: (803) 771-4400
Fax: (803) 799-7555


Cody W. Smith, Jr., Esq.
P.O. Box 1637
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 216-0600
Fax: (843) 216-0607
Date Certified: 3/13/96


Thomas Waring, Esq.
Moore & Van Allen, PLLC
P.O. Box 22828
Charleston, SC 29413-2828
Phone: (843) 579-7000
Fax: (843) 579-7099
Date Certified: 3/13/96



Frances I. Cantwell, Esq.
Regan, Cantwell & Stent
P.O. Box 1001
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 722-4064
Fax: (843) 722-3320
Date Certified: 3/28/96


Eugene P. Corrigan, III, Esq.
Grimball & Cabaniss, LLC
P.O. Box 816
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 722-0311
Fax: (843) 372-2137
Date Certified: 3/28/96


Trent M. Kernodle, Esq.
P.O. Box 12009
Charleston, SC 29422-2009
Phone: (843) 795-7800
Fax: (843) 795-3032
Date Certified: 3/28/96


Arvid R. Lesemann, Jr., Esq.
134 Meeting Street, Suite 150
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 722-0503
Fax: (843) 722-0543
Date Certified: 3/28/96

Thomas J. Wills, IV, Esq.
Wills & Massalon, LLC
134 Meeting Street, Suite 100
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 727-1144
Fax: (843) 727-7696
Date Certified: 3/28/96


Beatrice Whitten, Esq.
745 A Johnnie Dodds Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 881-1399
Fax: (843) 881-6695
Date Certified: 3/28/96


David M. Collins, Esq.
Buist, Moore, Smythe & McGee, PA
5 Exchange Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 722-3400
Fax: (843) 723-7398
Date Certified: 4/18/96


Capers G. Barr, III, Esq.
Barr, Unger & McIntosh, LLC
P.O. Box 1037
Charleston, SC 29402-1037
Phone: (843) 577-5083
Fax: (843) 723-9039
Date Certified: 4/18/96

J. Kenneth Rentiers, Esq.
P.O. Box 277
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 723-4831
Fax: (843) 722-0173
Date Certified: 4/18/96


Harvey M. Spar, Esq.
11 Fort Royal Avenue
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 556-6793
Fax: 
Date Certified: 4/18/96


Ronald J. Tryon, Esq.
Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein, LLP
P.O. Box 1509
Columbia, SC 29202-1509
Phone: (803) 255-8911
Fax: (803) 255-8017
Date Certified: 4/18/96


Susan T. Wall, Esq.
Nexsen, Pruet, Jacobs, Pollard & Robinson, LLP
P.O. Box 486
Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: (843) 577-9440
Fax: (843) 720-1777
Date Certified: 4/18/96


Leo H. Hill, Esq.
Hill & Hill, LLC
P.O. Box 2585
Greenville, SC 29602
Phone: (864) 242-5133
Fax: (864) 235-0199
Date Certified: 5/23/96



Joseph S. Brockington, Esq.
Joseph S. Brockington, PA
171 Church Street, Suite 160
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 722-2807
Fax: (843) 720-3739
Date Certified: 5/23/96


E. Douglas Pratt-Thomas, Esq.
Pratt-Thomas, Pearce, Epting & Walker, PA
P.O. Drawer 22247
Charleston, SC 29413-2247
Phone: (843) 727-2212
Fax: (843) 727-2239
Date Certified: 5/23/96


N. Steven Steinert, Esq.
Steinert Law Firm
Three Broad Street - Suite 200
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 723-1199
Fax: (843) 577-0839
Date Certified: 5/23/96


Dennis E. O’Neill, Esq.
P.O. Box 160
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465
Phone: (843) 884-9494
Fax: (843) 971-9292
Date Certified: 8/2/96


John S. Wilkerson, III, Esq.
Turner, Padget, Graham & Laney, PA
P.O. Box 22129
Charleston, SC 29413-2129
Phone: (843) 576-2801
Fax: (843) 577-3369
Date Certified: 8/2/96


O. Grady Query, Esq.
Query & Hawkins, PA
147 Wappoo Creek Drive, Suite 202
Charleston, SC 29412
Phone: (843) 795-9500
Fax: (843) 762-1500
Date Certified: 8/12/96


Morris A. Ellison, Esq.
Buist, Moore, Smythe & McGee, PA
P.O. Box 999
Charleston, SC 29402-0999
hone: (843) 722-3400
Fax: (843) 723-7398
Date Certified: 12/3/96


Samuel H. Altman, Esq.
Altman & Altman, PC
184 East Bay Street
Charleston, SC 29402-0339
Phone: (843) 723-9804
Fax: (843) 723-7446
Date Certified: 5/8/97


Suzanne E. Groff, Esq.
171 Church Street, Suite 160
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 720-3735
Fax: (843) 577-0460
Date Certified: 12/6/96

Certified Family Mediators
Cindy M. Floyd, Esq.
2850 Ashley Phosphate Road
Charleston, SC 29418
Phone: (843) 572-5000
Fax: (843) 764-3603
Date Certified: 4/18/96

Deborah Seabrook, MED, LPC
Colors Counseling Center
212 Scott Street
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 856-8855
Fax: (843) 856-5205
Date Certified: 4/18/96

Deborah Wright, Esq.
193 A King Street, Suite 3C
P.O. Box 1042
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 577-2776
Fax: (843) 577-6212
Date Certified: 8/12/96

Barbara Melton, LPC
Mediation Associates
215 East Bay Street, Suite 306
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 723-8002
Fax: (843) 723-0420
Date Certified: 12/3/96

Mindelle K. Seltzer, M.Ed., LPC
Seltzer Mediation Services
21 Arabian Drive
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 571-1886
Fax: (843) 766-3351
Date Certified: 12/3/96

Susan K. Dunn, Esq.
Susan K. Dunn, Attorney & Mediator
171 Church Street, Suite 160
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 722-6337
Fax: (843) 577-0460
Date Certified: 2/17/98

Kathleen J. Moraska, Esq.
Vincent & Bostic, LLP
P.O. Box 31842
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 402-0102
Fax: (843) 402-0119
Date Certified: 5/13/98

L. Mendel Rivers, Jr., Esq.
741 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite C
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 971-0555
Fax: (843) 971-1550
Date Certified: 5/13/98

Linda A. Erikson, MA, LPC
702 Essex Drive
Summerville, SC 29485
Phone: (843) 871-4138
Fax: (843) 875-5077
Date Certified: 3/23/99

Sally A. King-Gilreath, Esq.
174 East Bay Street, Suite 302
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 722-6319
Fax: (843) 722-6372
Date Certified: 3/23/99

Diane C. Current, Esq.
Nexsen, Pruet, Jacobs, Pollard & Robinson, LLP
200 Meeting Street, Suite 301
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 577-9440
Fax: (843) 720-1777
Date Certified: 3/23/99

Sean F. Keefer, Esq.
The Mason Law Firm, PA
P.O. Box 1271
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465
Phone: (843) 884-1444
Fax: (843) 884-4595
Date Certified: 3/23/99

Linda C. Lambert, M.Ed., Ph.D.
935 Shetland Court
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 884-2849
Fax: (843) 643-7866
Date Certified: 3/23/99

Gina J. McAlhany, Esq.
128 South Main Street, Suite 5
Summerville, SC 29483
Phone: (843) 832-8025
Fax: (843) 875-5300
Date Certified: 3/23/99

John T. Taylor, Esq.
P.O. Box 1639
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 722-0157
Fax: (843) 577-0460
Date Certified: 3/23/99

Diane Hamrick, Ph.D.
655 St. Andrews Blvd.
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 571-2040
Fax: (843) 556-0701
Date Certified: 6/11/99

Patricia O. DeTreville, Esq.
P.O. Box 31925
Charleston, SC 29417
Phone: (843) 571-0537
Fax: (843) 769-0225
Date Certified: 6/16/99

Suzanne E. Groff, Esq.
171 Church Street, Suite 160
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 720-3735
Fax: (843) 577-0460
Date Certified: 6/11/99

Peggy M. Infinger, Esq.
Belk, Cobb, Infinger & Goldstein, PA
P.O. Box 71121
Charleston, SC 29415-1121
Phone: (843) 554-4291
Fax: (843) 554-5566
Date Certified: 9/27/99

Melinda A. Lucka, Esq.
3 Wesley Drive
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 763-5240
Fax: (843) 571-2698
Date Certified: 9/27/99

Bernard F. Mack, Esq.
2151 Ashley Phosphate Road
Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: (843) 797-3771
Fax: (843) 797-1213
Date Certified: 1/18/00

Jania Sommers, LMSW
106 Chadwick Drive
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 766-1120
Fax: (843) 766-0341
Date Certified: 1/18/00

Walter S. Ameika, Esq.
Ameika Law Offices
2151 Ashley Phosphate Road
Charleston, SC 29418
Phone: (843) 797-3771
Fax: (843) 797-1213
Date Certified: 5/17/00

C.C. Harness, III, Esq.
325 Coleman Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 856-2627
Fax: (843) 856-2664
Date Certified: 5/17/00

Dorothy A. Badger, Esq.
2129 Dorchester Road
Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 554-8881
Fax: (843) 554-6126
Date Certified: 5/17/00

D. Nathan Davis, Esq.
Davis Law Firm
1565 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Suite 205
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 571-4042
Fax: (843) 763-5619
Date Certified: 5/17/00

Jane J. Steele, MSW, LISW
315 King Street, Suite 208
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 722-0803
Fax: (843) 722-0855
Date Certified: 5/17/00

Certified Arbitrators
Louis E. Condon, Esq.
999 B Morrison Drive
Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: (843) 853-5944
Fax: (843) 853-5945
Date Certified: 3/13/96

William C. Helms, III, Esq.
Barnwell, Whaley, Patterson & Helms, LLC
P.O. Drawer H
Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 577-7700
Fax: (843) 577-7708
Date Certified: 3/13/96

Helen E. Clawson, Esq.
4 Limehouse Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 724-6719
Fax: (843) 724-6785
Date Certified: 3/28/96

Daniel Goldstein, Esq.
P.O. Box 1290
Folly Beach, SC 29439
Phone: (843) 588-9773
Fax: (843) 588-9773
Date Certified: 3/13/96

Arvid R. Lesemann, Jr., Esq.
134 Meeting Street, Suite 150
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 722-0503
Fax: (843) 722-0543
Date Certified: 3/28/96

Thomas J. Wills, IV, Esq.
Wills & Massalon, LLC
134 Meeting Street, Suite 100
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 727-1144
Fax: (843) 727-7696
Date Certified: 3/28/96

Harvey M. Spar, Esq.

11 Fort Royal Avenue

Charleston, SC 29407

Phone: (843) 556-6793

Fax: 

Date Certified: 4/18/96



Jonathan J. Anderson, Esq.

Anderson Law Firm, PA

P.O. Box 87

Charleston, SC 29402

Phone: (843) 723-0185

Fax: (843) 723-0977

Date Certified: 5/23/96



Joseph S. Brockington, Esq.

Joseph S. Brockington, PA

171 Church Street, Suite 160

Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: (843) 722-2807

Fax: (843) 720-3739

Date Certified: 5/23/96



Stanley C. Rodgers, Esq.

Lawton & Rodgers, LLC

300 W. Coleman Blvd., Suite 207

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Phone: (843) 856-3880

Fax: (843) 856-3877

Date Certified: 5/23/96



Mary L. Arnold, Esq.

P.O. Box 265

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465

Phone: (843) 971-6053

Fax: (843) 971-6055

Date Certified: 8/2/96



Dennis E. O’Neill, Esq.

P.O. Box 160

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465

Phone: (843) 884-9494

Fax: (843) 971-9292

Date Certified: 8/2/96



O. Grady Query, Esq.

Query & Hawkins, PA

147 Wappoo Creek Drive, Suite 202

Charleston, SC 29412

Phone: (843) 795-9500

Fax: (843) 762-1500

Date Certified: 8/2/96



Edward D. Buckley, Jr., Esq.

Young, Clement, Rivers & Tisdale, LLP

P.O. Box 993

Charleston, SC 29402

Phone: (843) 724-6686

Fax: (843) 724-6600

Date Certified: 12/3/96



M. Dawes Cooke, Jr., Esq.

Barnwell, Whaley, Patterson & Helms, LLC

P.O. Drawer H

Charleston, SC 29402

Phone: (843) 577-7700

Fax: (843) 577-7708

Date Certified: 12/3/96



Michael J. Ferri, Esq.

Grimball & Cabaniss, LLC

P.O. Box 816

Charleston, SC 29402-0816

Phone: (843) 722-0311

Fax: (843) 722-1374

Date Certified: 12/3/96



Max G. Mahaffee, Esq.

Grimball & Cabaniss, LLC

P.O. Box 816

Charleston, SC 29402-0816

Phone: (843) 722-0311

Fax: (843) 722-1374

Date Certified: 12/3/96



Robin R. Anderson, Esq.

Ness, Motley, Loadholt, Richardson & Poole

P.O. Box 1792

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465

Phone: (843) 216-9275

Fax: (843) 216-9450

Date Certified: 9/23/98



H. Michael Bowers, Esq.

Young, Clement, Rivers & Tisdale, LLP

28 Broad Street

Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: (843) 724-6661

Fax: (843) 579-1336

Date Certified: 9/23/98



J. Wescoat Sandlin, Esq.

1840-27 Carriage Lane

Charleston, SC 29407

Phone: (843) 763-6243

Fax: (843) 763-4673

Date Certified: 10/15/97



E. Warren Moise, Esq.

Grimball & Cabaniss, LLC

P.O. Box 816

Charleston, SC 29402-0816

Phone: (843) 722-0311

Fax: (843) 722-1374

Date Certified: 9/23/98



E. Douglas Pratt-Thomas, Esq.

Pratt-Thomas, Pearce, Epting & Walker, PA

P.O. Drawer 22247

Charleston, SC 29413-2247

Phone: (843) 727-2212

Fax: (843) 727-2239

Date Certified: 9/23/98



Aubrey J. Wooddy, Jr., Esq.

The Wooddy Law Firm

622 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Phone: (843) 881-3700

Fax: (843) 881-2511

Date Certified: 9/23/98



James L. Bell, Esq.

The Bell Law Firm, PA

P.O. Box 778

Charleston, SC 29402-0778

Phone: (843) 723-3262

Fax: (843) 722-7028

Date Certified: 9/25/98



Susan K. Dunn, Esq.

Susan K. Dunn, Attorney & Mediator

171 Church Street, Suite 160

Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: (843) 722-6337

Fax: (843) 577-0460

Date Certified: 6/11/99



Nancy Bloodgood, Esq.

Young, Clement, Rivers & Tisdale, LLP

28 Broad Street

Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: (843) 724-6659

Fax: (843) 579-1352

Date Certified: 6/11/99



Joseph S. Mendelsohn, Esq.

P.O. Box 250

Charleston, SC 29402

Phone: (843) 577-7210

Fax: (843) 723-7231

Date Certified: 6/11/99



D. Nathan Davis, Esq

Davis Law Firm

1565 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Suite 205

Charleston, SC 29407

Phone: (843) 571-4042

Fax: (843) 763-5619

Date Certified: 9/27/99



John M. Campbell, Esq.

Law Offices of William A. Green

P.O. Box 70306

Charleston, SC 29415

Phone: (843) 747-2455

Fax: (843) 554-4496

Date Certified: 9/27/99



Thomas H. Hesse, Esq.

Pratt-Thomas, Pearce, Epting & Walker

P.O. Drawer 22247

Charleston, SC 29413

Phone: (843) 727-2256

Fax: (843) 727-2231

Date Certified: 9/27/99



Mark W. McKnight, Esq.

P.O. Box 1455

Charleston, SC 29402

Phone: (843) 577-2837

Fax: (843) 722-4094

Date Certified: 9/27/99



Thomas H. Milligan, Esq.

Clawson & Staubes, LLC

304 Meeting Street

Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: (843) 577-2026

Fax: (843) 722-2867

Date Certified: 9/27/99



Patrick F. Stringer, Esq.

Peeples & Stringer

P.O. Box 12066

Charleston, SC 29422-2066

Phone: (843) 795-1331

Fax: (843) 762-0144

Date Certified: 9/27/99



Joseph E. DaPore, Esq.

Young, Clement, Rivers & Tisdale, LLP

P.O. Box 993

Charleston, SC 29402-0993

Phone: (843) 724-6671

Fax: (843) 724-6600

Date Certified: 1/18/00



Robert R. Black, Esq.

P.O. Box 643

Charleston, SC 29402

Phone: (843) 763-1818

Fax: (843) 763-5455

Date Certified: 1/18/00



J. Lawrence Duffy, Jr., Esq.

P.O. Box 323

Charleston, SC 29402

Phone: (843) 577-5810

Fax: (843) 723-9276

Date Certified: 1/18/00



Thomas S. Tisdale, Jr., Esq.

Young, Clement, Rivers & Tisdale, LLP

28 Broad Street

Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: (843) 724-6650

Fax: (843) 579-1338

Date Certified: 1/18/00



David W. Whittington, Esq.

960 Morrison Drive, Suite 201

Charleston, SC 29403

Phone: (843) 723-4500

Fax: (843) 577-4326

Date Certified: 1/18/00



Charles S. Bernstein, Esq.

Bernstein & Bernstein

5416-B Rivers Avenue

N. Charleston, SC 29406

Phone: (843) 529-1111

Fax: (843) 529-0035

Date Certified: 1/24/00



Lawrence A. Laddaga, Esq.

Laddaga, Drachman & Garrett, PA

300 W. Coleman Blvd., Suite 205

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Phone: (843) 849-3030

Fax: (843) 849-3035

Date Certified: 2/9/00



C.C. Harness, III, Esq.

325 Coleman Blvd.

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Phone: (843) 856-2627

Fax: (843) 856-2664

Date Certified: 5/17/00



Matthew H. Henrikson, Esq.

Barnwell, Whaley, Patterson & Helms, LLC

134 Meeting Street, Suite 300

Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: (843) 577-7700

Fax: (843) 577-7708

Date Certified: 10/6/00



Douglas A. Barker, Esq.

Douglas A. Barker, PA

171 Church Street, Suite 160

Charleston, SC 29401

Phone: (843) 722-3312

Fax: (843) 577-0460

Date Certified: 4/10/01



A. Elliott Barrow, Jr., Esq.

Barrow Law Firm

2850 Ashley Phosphate Road

Charleston, SC 29418

Phone: (843) 572-5000

Fax: (843) 764-3603

Date Certified: 4/10/01



Nancy A. Chiles, Esq.

P.O. Box 31155

Charleston, SC 29417-1155

Phone: (843) 571-5000

Fax: (843) 852-9860

Date Certified: 4/10/01



Henry E. Grimball, Esq.

Buist, Moore, Smythe & McGee, PA

P.O. Box 999

Charleston, SC 29402

Phone: (843) 720-4615

Fax: (843) 723-7398

Date Certified: 4/10/01



Trent M. Kernodle, Esq.

Kernodle, Taylor & Root

P.O. Box 12009

Charleston, SC 29422-2009

Phone: (843) 795-7800

Fax: (843) 795-3032

Date Certified: 4/10/01



David P. Schwacke, Esq.

The Schwacke Law Firm

P.O. Box 370

Charleston, SC 29402-0370

Phone: (843) 853-9300

Fax: (843) 853-9377

Date Certified: 4/10/01


Lon H. Shull, III, Esq.
Andrews & Shull
755 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 881-8886
Fax: (843) 881-5899
Date Certified: 4/10/01


William L. Taylor, Esq.
Taylor & Powell, LLC
130 Spartina Court
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Phone: (843) 559-2810
Fax: (843) 559-3742
Date Certified: 4/10/01