Oklahoma divorce information

Perhaps one of the most frightening aspects of the divorce process in Oklahoma is the possibility that you will be deposed by the other side’s attorney.

However, Tulsa divorce depositions are typically rare and only occur in situations involving a lot of money and property.

About “Discovery”

Discovery is the process through which attorneys obtain information about the other party and the circumstances surrounding an event.

The discovery process includes a questionnaire called “interrogatories.”

In an Oklahoma divorce, you may be required to answer interrogatory questions such as, “list all of your assets” or “list all of your property.”

Your spouse’s attorney will also serve “requests for production of documents,” which will ask that you provide specific documents, such as tax returns, receipts or other relevant evidence.

Your divorce attorney can object to any request.

FAQ: Tulsa Divorce Depositions

Another phase of discovery is Tulsa divorce depositions.

Depositions allow the other side to ask you a series of questions under oath so that they can build their defense or theory of the case.

Depositions are rare in divorce because an attorney usually does not need to “prove” anything in order to resolve your case.

Depositions are useful when the other spouse has a lot of money and it is hard to determine how much or where it all is.

In some limited cases, it may be necessary to depose another spouse on their infidelity, but only if it had a negative impact on the children or a couple’s finances.

The Deposition Process

During a deposition, the other side’s attorney will ask you a number of questions related to any aspect of their case.

Your attorney can object, as well.

During the deposition, a court reporter will be present to transcribe the entire proceeding.

Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Divorce Lawyer

A Tulsa divorce deposition can be an opportunity for the other side to retrieving damaging or personal information about you.

Before you go into a deposition alone, contact an experienced Oklahoma divorce attorney.

A no-cost initial consultation can help you decide whether Divorce of Tulsa Law Office can provide the best Tulsa divorce lawyer for your family law matter.

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

Many couples who have decided to get divorced are nervous when it comes to the issue of alimony.

Unlike child support, there is no alimony formula Oklahoma, and it is not a guarantee in Tulsa or any other community.

If you are unsure of whether you may have to pay or will be able to receive alimony, contact an experienced Oklahoma divorce attorney today.

FAQ: Alimony Formula Oklahoma

Typically, a Tulsa court only grants alimony in certain circumstances.

Although there is no set alimony formula Oklahoma, courts consider the following factors in deciding whether to award alimony:

1. The length of the marriage: A court is more likely to award alimony when there has been a lengthy marriage.
2. Whether or not the spouse requesting alimony worked during the marriage: If a spouse did not work during the marriage, a court is likely to award alimony.
3. The spouse’s need for financial support: If a spouse will have little to no source of income after a divorce, a court may award alimony.
4. The possibility the spouse will return to the workforce quickly: If a spouse has little education or work experience, the court is likely to award alimony.

Consider the following scenarios:

A) Mary and John were married for 20 years. During the marriage, Mary stayed at home, took care of the children and maintained the household. John became a partner at a large law firm and made $300,000 a year. Mary has a college degree in economics, but has not worked at all since she married 20 years ago.

Here, Mary did not work during the marriage and she will have no source of income after the Tulsa divorce. Even though she has a college degree, she has not worked and therefore has no skills in an industry that would require an economics degree.

The couple was also married for a long period of time. Accordingly, the court is likely to award alimony.

B) Mary and John separated after five years of marriage. John made $300,000 a year as a partner at a large law firm and Mary made $40,000 a year as a teacher. There are no children in the marriage.

Although the couple was married for five years, Mary has worked the duration of the marriage and will still have a job one the divorce is finalized. The court may decline to award alimony in this scenario.

However, Mary may receive alimony for a short period of time to allow her to get on her feet, especially because of the income disparity between the two of them.

She would, of course, be entitled to a portion of the marital property, which will include anything her husband has earned or acquired during the past five years of their marriage.

C) Mary and John were separated after one year of marriage. Mary was 22 and had just graduated college when she married John who was 45, and making $300,000 a year as a partner at a large law firm downtown.

Mary earned a degree in computer sciences and has worked as a computer programmer, web designer and application coder while in college. She turned down three job offers at major technology companies and chose not to work when she married John.

The court here would be unlikely to award alimony to Mary. First, they were only married for one year, which is not substantial enough to warrant long-term alimony payments.

Also, John can prove that Mary has skills which are highly coveted in the current job market. He can also argue that employers are willing to hire her, as evidenced by the fact she turned down several job offers just one year earlier.

The court may award a small portion of the marital property (whatever John earned, saved or acquired over the past year) to her, but this will likely be all that she receives from the divorce. Mary should at least ask for temporary alimony while she gets on her feet.

How Does Alimony Last?

Alimony can last for a few months, a few years or a lifetime, depending on the length of marriage and inability of a spouse to work.

However, alimony will always terminate upon the death of either spouse or the re-marriage of a spouse.

Contact Us: Tulsa Alimony Attorney

Paying or receiving alimony is truly a matter that is up to the courts.

However, an experienced Tulsa alimony attorney can help argue on your behalf.

For a low-cost consultation about alimony formula Oklahoma matters, call the Divorce of Tulsa Law Office today at 918-924-5526.

Although movies and television paint divorce as long, dramatic court battles, most divorces take place in rooms with just two attorneys, two spouses and a mediator.

These meetings are called mediations and are meant to help parties discuss and resolve issues of child custody, child support, property division and alimony.

Unless parties absolutely agree on all of these issues, mediation Tulsa Oklahoma is required during the divorce process.

What Happens During Mediation?

During mediation both parties come together with the intention of reaching an agreement on all of the issues in a divorce.

A neutral third party – called a mediator – serves as the go between in helping parties reach resolution.

Sometimes, parties are kept in separate rooms, with a mediator going in between parties.

Other times, they work things out in the same room.

The goal is to resolve the issues, and sign a mediation agreement, the court will use as the basis for your Oklahoma divorce decree.

Benefits of Mediation Tulsa Oklahoma

The primary benefit of mediation Tulsa Oklahoma is that it costs significantly less and takes less time than going through a hearing.

Also, there is no public record of the things discussed in mediation, which can be a huge benefit when discussing private family matters.

Finally, you may be able to reach an agreement that is more beneficial to you than if a judge decided.

Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Divorce Lawyer

Mediation Tulsa Oklahoma is a great tool for most couples who are divorcing.

However, having a divorce attorney present to negotiate on your behalf can make a significant difference in the outcome.

A no-cost initial consultation can help you decide whether Divorce of Tulsa Law Office can provide the best Tulsa divorce lawyer for your family law matter.

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

Getting divorced can be stressful, but your attorney shouldn’t add to the stress.

If you’ve been looking for a good Tulsa Oklahoma divorce lawyer, then consider the following factors before choosing.

Personal Referrals

The best way to find a great Tulsa Oklahoma divorce lawyer is to simply ask around.

Your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors may know a family lawyer because of their own experiences.

Be sure to ask people whom you trust, though.

If you do not want to tell someone that you are thinking of divorce, you can also ask if they know any good family lawyers in Tulsa.

Law Directories

Even if no one in your circle knows a divorce lawyer, you can easily find one through the Oklahoma State Bar Referral directory. There, you can view information on attorneys by practice area.

Low-cost Consultations

Once you’ve made a list of two or three lawyers you’d be interested in hiring, schedule a low-cost consultation to determine if he or she is the lawyer for you.

During the consultation, gauge their personality, the way they interact with you, and how well they communicate legal ideas to you.

Ultimately, you should feel as thought you can communicate well with and trust the lawyer you hire.

Other Tips

Before hiring a lawyer, set a budget for yourself and be upfront with any attorney you hire how much you can spend.

Also, it is important to identify what the issues in your divorce will be – child support, child custody, property division, and alimony are all issues that may come up in any divorce.

Finally, figure out what is important to you and what you really want to fight for, and what you can compromise on.

Communicating these things to your Tulsa divorce lawyer will help the both of you form your case going forward.

Low-cost Initial Consultation: Tulsa Oklahoma Divorce Lawyer

Divorce laws in Oklahoma are complex. If you are considering obtaining a divorce, it would be in your best interested to hire a reputable Tulsa divorce attorney to protect your interests.

For a initial consultation with a professional divorce attorney, call Divorce of Tulsa Law Office at 918-924-5526 to schedule your appointment now.

Getting a divorce is not only emotionally devastating, but can also be a major financial setback as well, especially if one spouse has relied on the other for several years.

Unlike child support, however, alimony rules in Oklahoma don’t always guarantee payments.

Tulsa courts consider a number of factors in determining whether alimony is appropriate.

Basic Alimony Rules in Oklahoma

When determining whether to grant alimony, the court will consider:

1) a spouse’s need arising from the marriage, and

2) the spouse’s ability to pay alimony.

If, for example, a court finds that a husband kept his wife from earning a living for 25 years and continues to make money himself after the divorce, a court would likely find that he should make payments under alimony rules in Oklahoma.

Or, a stay-at-home parent may also be granted alimony.

On the other hand, if a woman was married to her husband for three years and had a lucrative career during the marriage, the court would be less likely to order alimony.

Making Payments Under Alimony Rules in Oklahoma

Courts usually order one spouse to pay another a specific dollar amount per month as a part of the final divorce decree. A failure to pay can lead to a contempt action.

Courts may also order one spouse to pay the other a lump sum, which can be paid through transferring property to your spouse.

The amount of payments and the length of time can usually be negotiated. However, if parties cannot agree on the terms, then a judge will have to decide under alimony rules in Oklahoma.

However, alimony payments are terminated when a receiving spouse re-marries or dies.

Initial Consultation: Tulsa Alimony Attorney

To find out more about alimony rules in Oklahoma, contact the family law attorney at Divorce Law Office of Tulsa: 918-924-5526. We offer low-cost, no obligation consultations.

If you prefer you may send your question using the “Ask the Lawyer” form on the right side of this page.