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    • Divorce of Tulsa Law Office

    Divorce of Tulsa Law Office

    Oklahoma divorce information

    It is not uncommon for many individuals to go into their first family law attorney consultation expecting the attorney to talk the entire time. This is actually the opposite of what happens. Typically, your first family law attorney consultation will entail you talking about your family history, assets and debts, children, and foreseeable issues in the case dealing with your soon to be ex-spouse.
     First Family Law Attorney Consultation
    The meeting ends and then you are left wondering, “How much time will this take?” or, “How much is this going to cost?”.  Informing yourself ahead of time will help with any surprises later and leave you with a better sense of control over your own case. You will know the procedures and how the office works, as well as how to communicate best with your attorney.
    We cover here the top five most asked questions during the first family law attorney consultation.

    1. How Do You Charge?

    Most attorneys charge by the hour, but you will want to ask your attorney if they provide flat rates. If not, you should know your attorneys hourly rate before you leave the office, in addition to how often bills are sent out.

    2. What About Additional Costs?

    Additional costs such as copies, faxes, filing fees, process servers, court reporters, expert witnesses, and copies of transcripts can be expensive.
    Ask your attorney who pays for this up front or if it is included in their hourly rate. Some attorneys have an increased rate so their clients do pay for the additional charges.

    3. Will There Be a Retainer?

    Usually at your first family law attorney consultation you will be required to give a retainer in order to hire your attorney. These retainers can be anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 or more depending on your case.
    Make sure to ask if your retainer will be used to pay your bills first or if the retainer is to remain at a certain minimum amount, also known as an “Evergreen Retainer”.

    4. What is the Total Cost of My Case?

    During your first attorney consultation your attorney may be able to tell you the average amount spent on a divorce or child custody. Beware an attorney that will give you an actual figure.
    It is impossible to predict human nature. So, while your spouse appears to be docile and agreeable now, later the case could become very contentious. This will increase the hours spent on the case.
    It is perfectly acceptable for your attorney to give you a rough ballpark, but be careful of the attorneys who quote you a price that seems too good to be true.

    5. Do You Prefer to Settle or Go to Court?

    This is a really important question because it can change the trajectory of your case entirely. Many attorneys prefer to mediate and settle their cases outside of court. This can be less expensive, more harmonious, and generally faster.
    However, if this is a high conflict case – meaning you and your spouse cannot agree on anything – then going to court may be your only option unless you have an attorney that also preforms mediation.
    An attorney that prefers to go to trial no matter what may be a red flag because trial tends to be more expensive, and if both spouses are generally agreeing on division of assets and debts, trial isn’t necessary.
    A Few Additional Questions for Your First Family Law Attorney Consultation
    While we covered the top five most asked questions, here are some additional questions we have included that deserve some attention.
    • Who handles the majority of cases? Paralegal or attorney?
    • How long have you specifically been practicing (insert your type of case here)?
    • How many clients do you currently have (a good number is 40 to 50)
    • How often do you speak with your clients daily or weekly?
    • How do you prefer to communicate with your clients?

    Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Family Law Attorney

    Feeling comfortable with your family law attorney is a must, you shouldn’t be “compromising” or going along with them because you feel like you don’t know as much as them.
    A really great way to begin your search is calling us! We offer low-cost consultations, so you can practice these questions and feel more empowered. Plus, you are assured to get some expert information from our team.

    Hiring a knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorney will ensure the process is expertly conducted and your interests are well represented.

    Contact an experienced Tulsa family law attorney when you need to go through the Oklahoma divorce process.
    For a low-cost confidential consultation, call now: 918-924-5526.

    One of the most difficult situations for a parent to be in is not having control over who your child is around or what kind of individuals are influencing your child’s development. Your child custody attorney can help you feel hopeful in explaining that you do have remedies if you feel your child is being harmed in any way, both physically and psychologically. unknown people around my child

    Below we discuss factors judges consider when evaluating this type of situation, general advice most judges traditionally give to parents when custody is at issue, and the possible long road ahead the other parent may be facing if the negative environment is not corrected.

    Traditional Advice

    In general, most family court judges will tell each parent that during an open custody case, living with a new partner during this time may negatively impact the outcome of the case for that parent.

    A parent’s living arrangement, environment, and who resides in the home is always at issue during custody determinations. If you suspect the other parent has moved a new person into the house that you are not aware of, nor have you met, and suspect that the new person does not have the best of intentions, you can introduce that during your custody hearing.

    Environment Considered as a Whole

    While a family court judge will not outright deny custody to a parent that is living with another individual, especially if the environment is stable and loving, some of judges’ beliefs about unwed couples raising a child may cloud the situation.

    In many judges’ experiences, the sudden cohabitation of a new partner does not show wise judgement, considering a child has just had their family torn apart. Showing consideration, respect, and allowing some time to pass allowing your child to get used to the new way of life is looked upon as more appropriate.

    Although the law does not state cohabitation between unwed individuals or adultery is against the law, the judge will consider every piece of the new environment to determine if it is in the best interest of the child to reside with that parent.

    The greatest value that your child custody attorney will reveal, which is the judge’s main goal, is to maintain stability. Having your child in a home with the other parent and a new roommate or romantic partner can cause feelings of instability and threaten structure, especially if your child has never met the other person.

    Next Steps

    If you are concerned about having unknown people around your child in the other parent’s home, let your child custody attorney know as soon as possible so that a child custody modification can be filed.

    Collect evidence stating why this is not a good environment for your child, and make sure your attorney has those before the hearing.

    Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Child Custody Attorney

    Not knowing who your child may be around or what situation they may be involved in can be a parent’s worst nightmare. Your child custody attorney is here to help and advocate on your behalf.

    Hiring a knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorney will ensure the process is expertly conducted and your interests are well represented.

    Contact an experienced Tulsa child custody attorney when you need to go through the Oklahoma relocation process.

    For a low-cost confidential consultation, call now: 918-924-5526.

     

    You have probably seen a movie or heard a story from a friend that gave you false information about adoptions and the adoption process. However, without speaking to a family adoption attorney, you will not have an accurate view of the subject.

    adoption

    This is true information straight from an experienced family adoption attorney that seeks to empower your choice to adopt and reassure you about the process.

    Adoptions are Always Closed

    Previously, most adoptions were technically “closed.” A closed adoption means the birth mother or birth parents do not have any contact with the child after the adoption process is complete.

    It has become more common in recent years for the adoptions to be “open.” This means that the biological mother and the adoptive parents have an agreement on the level of communication that will occur after the adoption.

    Often, an open adoption includes the adoptive parents sending pictures to the biological mother and inviting the biological mother to milestone events. The biological mother becomes either a distant family member or like a close aunt.

    Adoptive Parents Must Be Wealthy and Educated to Impress Birth Mother

    Realistically, this is not the case. When polled, biological mothers are not looking for wealthy parents or hoping for a payout. Biological mothers working with an agency are really looking for a family that has strong moral character and a meaningful value system.

    Nature Always Wins Over Nurture

    When you adopt a child in Oklahoma, it is hard to know what their life was like before you brought them into your home. The older a child gets, the more foster homes they are passed to, the harder it is to rid them of a negative past. While this can be true, it is not the norm.

    The media likes to sensationalize horrific events surrounding adopted children, however this is simply just not the case. The Department of Health and Human Services conducted a study in 2009 (last available statistics) that stated 85 percent of adopted children were in “good to excellent health” according to their adoptive parents.

    Additionally, 81 percent of families with adopted children stated their relationship was “very warm and close” with their adopted child. It is clear that adopted children are able to grow up as healthy and adjusted children.

    Adopted Children Despise Their Birth Parents

    This is a common depiction in movies and television shows, showing only feelings of hatred and inability to cope by a child whose biological parent give them to another family. While initial feelings of abandonment and distrust may occur, many adopted children find closure by being in contact with their biological parents.

    Being able to have open lines of communication with their biological parents, when the child is old enough to understand, helps the child understand the hardship their parent suffered and the ultimate sacrifice the biological parent made in order to give their child a better life. Statistics show the majority of adoptive parents have nothing but respect for the biological parents.

    Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Divorce Lawyer

    It is important to not let friends, family, the media, or Hollywood influence your understanding of the adoption process. It is a beautiful process between new parents welcoming in a previously family-less child.

    Meeting with an adoption attorney will help you understand the process more thoroughly and be educated on the process before beginning.

    Contact an experienced Tulsa divorce attorney when you need to go through the Oklahoma adoption process.

    For a low-cost confidential consultation, call now: 918-924-5526.

    Most child support and custody agreements will broadly address medical decisions. This can include: who pays for medical insurance, special medications, and medical care not covered by insurance. However, standard custody agreements typically do not include when to take your child to the doctor, approved doctors, sharing medical records, or notifying the other parent when your child has to see the doctor. medical decisions
    It becomes especially important when your child has a medical condition to have an agreement in place ahead of time. This removes a lot of the last-minute guess work and stress you may experience if a medical situation arises.

    How to Structure Your Custody Agreement So You Can Avoid Disagreements

    An experienced Tulsa divorce attorney should advise you of the best way to protect your child and ensure proper medical treatment is consistently provided by covering specific medical aspects in the custody agreement.
    Some great categories to discuss with the other parent and with your divorce attorney are:
    • approved physicians that your child can visit
    • when each parent should be notified when the child is taken to the doctors
    • surgeries
    • medications
    • sharing medical records
    • what circumstances necessitate a doctor’s visit
    • frequency of check-ups
    • vaccines
    Discussing with the other parent about these medical decisions prior to a situation arising creates an easy and straightforward plan that both parents both agree on.

    Who Has Final Decision Making?

    It is really important to note that if your custody agreement does not speak to medical decisions, or situations, your divorce attorney can help explain who has the final say in these kinds of choices.
    In general, medical decisions are open-ended, so knowing which parent has legal custody or who the primary custodial parent is, will help immensely when needing to make these types of decisions. Typically the parent who has “legal custody” has the final word when making medical decisions.
    If you have joint legal custody, then it is very important to create your custody agreement with a divorce attorney outlining the above topics in order to minimize confusion in a medical event.

    Requesting Change in Custody

    Grounds for a change in custody may include a parent’s action or inaction in providing medical attention. For example, if a parent is not giving prescribed medication to the child, this could be grounds for a change in custody.
    Other examples for a change in custody include if one parent has better access to medical care the child needs, home environment is more conducive to the child’s medical condition, or one parent is more available to provide surgery aftercare.

    Emergencies

    In the case of an emergency, state law allows either parent to seek immediate emergency care even if you are not the primary parent. If you have been in a car accident with your child, you have the right to take your child to the emergency room or allow emergency personnel to transport your child to the hospital under your care.
    However, if there is an emergency situation that you become aware of involving your child and your child is not in your care, and the other parent is refusing to provide medical care then you may need to involve the court system.
    A skilled Tulsa divorce attorney can assist you in preparing a motion for either a temporary restraining order or emergency custody modification. In addition, your divorce attorney may advise contacting the police or the Oklahoma Child Welfare Agency. Children have protections and rights to medical services under the law and the authorities may need to know when this is not being honored.

    Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Family Law Attorney

    Having a family law attorney that is highly skilled will ensure that your child custody agreement is properly drafted to protect your child in the case of a medical situation.  If your custody agreement has already been filed with the court, an experienced family law attorney can still make sure your position and your child’s health is well represented in the case of a medical event.

    Hiring a knowledgeable family law  attorney will ensure the process is expertly conducted and your interests are well represented.

    Contact an experienced Tulsa divorce attorney when you need to go through the Oklahoma custody agreement process.

    For a low-cost confidential consultation, call now: 918-924-5526.

    If you suspect your child is being abused by their other parent, you must collect sufficient evidence as soon as possible. However, because this is your child, collecting the evidence should be done in such a way that it does not harm your child’s well-being. child is being abused

    Before You Start Collecting Evidence to Prove Your Child is Being Abused

    If your child is with you and discloses they were abused or you notice signs of abuse on your child’s body, you must take immediate action if you think your child is being abused. A family doctor or even the emergency room is a good resource, but make sure you remain calm and explain to your child it is only a routine visit. Try not to alarm your child during the process.
    If your child is not with you and discloses that they are being abused, or a friend or family member tells you that your child is being abused, you must act right away, especially if it is the other parent that is abusing your child.
    First, locate your child, find out where they are at the moment you find out that your child is being abused. Next, call law enforcement and explain the situation. They are able to do a welfare check and can issue an emergency protective order if they find your child is being abused.

    Working With Your Attorney to Prove Your Child is Being Abused

    Your best and most valuable resource is your family law attorney in the instance that your child is being abused. They are able to file an emergency order if the police do not issue one. This is called an “ex party” order. The order will ask for immediate change in custody and will probably include a protective order for your child and possibly you as well.
    Your attorney will help you learn how best to protect yourself and your child if your child is being abused. Family law attorneys who have experience in this area of law are extremely skilled in making sure that their client and client’s child remain safe.

    Collecting Evidence to Prove Your Child is Being Abused

    Your family law attorney will help you figure out the most important and relevant evidence that you need to present. They will also inform you that Oklahoma courts tend to view abuse more seriously than neglect.
    Courts do not like to get involved when parents differ on parenting styles. If one parent believes in letting the child watch television all day, but they are clothed and fed, it is hard for the court to intervene. Neglect is often harder to prove.
    Your family law attorney request the following information in order to prove that your child is being abused and use the evidence in the petition requesting a change in custody.
    • photographs of the abuse, usually on the body
    It is important not to draw attention to what you are photographing to minimize any stress to your child.
    • any mental health records or therapy session appointment dates or notes
    Often a therapist is happy to help you and your family law attorney if your child is being abused.
    • doctor’s reports, either from your family doctor, urgent care, or the emergency room
    • witness statements from anyone who witnessed the abuse or anyone the child disclosed the abuse
    Keeping clear and accurate records is essential to protect your child from their abuser. Your family law attorney will guide you through collection of this evidence so that your interests and your child’s interests are properly protected.

    Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Child Support Attorney

    If your child is being abused, the most important thing to remember is to act fast. You do not want to delay getting your child help.  Your best resource is your family law attorney who can make this difficult time more manageable.
    Hiring a knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorney will ensure the process is expertly conducted and your interests are well represented.
    Contact an experienced Tulsa divorce attorney when you need to go through the Oklahoma child custody process.
    For a low-cost confidential consultation, call now: 918-924-5526.

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