Oklahoma divorce information

The city of Tulsa offers mediation to parents through its Early Settlement Program. The Early Settlement Program, which is a division of the Tulsa Municipal court system, was set up to aid parents in resolving family law disputes outside of court through mediation to avoid engaging in costly legal battles.

The Advantages of Mediation in Your Tulsa Area Family Law Case

Resolving family law issues through mediation holds several advantages over doing so in court:

1. It allows you to keep the needs of your children at the forefront of your negotiations by avoiding the need to build a case against your counterpart, which can cause a rift within the family and detract you from your main focus, the wellbeing of your children.

2. Mediation provides parents with a means of negotiating that can become a solid foundation for resolving future family law issues.

3. Mediation provides parents with a structured environment to vent frustration and discuss highly charged issues, without the threat of a complete breakdown in communication.

4. Mediation through the Early Settlement Program allows parents to resolve issues confidentially while retaining control over their family’s future and without giving up any legal rights.

The cost of mediation through the Early Settlement Program is free for those who have already filed for divorce in an Oklahoma district court and only $5.00 per party otherwise.

A case for mediation can be initiated under the Early Settlement Program by either a party to the dispute, or by referral from a judge, attorney or member of the community.

Once a case is initiated, both parties to the dispute will be contacted and schedule for an intake screening. After the screenings have taken place and the dispute has been deemed appropriate for mediation, the initial mediation session will be scheduled within 10 to 21 days of the case being approved.

Mediation through the Early Settlement Program is not intended to be a replacement for good legal representation and your attorney may participate in the process to advise and help you better understand the issues being discussed. However, your attorney is not allowed to cross examine or interrogate the other party.

If you and your attorney decide that he or she will not participate in the process at all, he or should still be available during, before, after and between sessions to advise you as needed.

Mediation sessions are conducted by an Early Settlement mediator.  However, their role in the process is not to give legal advice but to assist you in reaching an understanding on all or any parts of the disputed issues.

These understandings will then be formally drafted in a “memorandum of understanding”  by your own legal counsel to be presented to the court.

Tulsa Family Law Attorney: Low-cost Initial Consultation

We know it’s not always easy to find a family law attorney who understands your particular needs. Because we want to earn your trust before you invest your resources in someone who will represent you in court, we offer private initial consultations. To find out how the Divorce of Tulsa Law Office can assist in your Tulsa family law matter, call us today.

Alternately, send the Tulsa divorce lawyer a question using the “Ask a Lawyer” form on this page. Enter your e-mail address or phone number and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

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

You must file for divorce in Tulsa at the Tulsa County District Court, but the law requires either spouse to be a resident of the state of Oklahoma for more than six (6) months and a resident of Tulsa County for more than thirty (30) days before you may file for a divorce in Tulsa.

Filing for Divorce in Tulsa

If you have not been a resident of Oklahoma for six (6) months, you may file an action for a legal separation, which will allow you much of the same relief that you will get from filing a divorce, namely:

• division of property,

• child custody,

• visitation,

• child support, and

• alimony

Once you have met the six (6) months residency requirement,  your legal separation can be amended to a divorce.

Why Where You File is Important

Where you file for divorce is generally one of the most important factors to consider when filing for divorce. If you do not file for divorce in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where you have residency, the courts here will not have jurisdiction to rule on issues such as child support, alimony, custody and visitation. For this reason, it is important that you speak with an experienced Tulsa divorce attorney to insure that you have properly considered jurisdiction before filing any divorce papers.

Call Now for a Low-cost Consultation

For a initial consultation with a  Tulsa divorce lawyer, call now: (918) 924-5526.

Alternately, send us a question at Divorce of Tulsa Law Office by using the “Ask a Lawyer” form on this page. Enter your e-mail address or phone number and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

The Cost of Filing for Divorce in Tulsa

It is always a challenge when a couple splits up and must divide their assets to create two households instead of one. Obviously, when money, income and property are divided, each spouse will end up with less than they had together. Along with this, each spouse will incur the expense of setting up his or her individual life after the divorce.

There are also standard court fees that apply to every divorce, including the original filing fee and other service fees. In some cases, there will also be fees for professional services needed during the divorce, such as appraisers, accountants and mediators.

The Filing Fee

The current filing fee for a divorce in Tulsa is between $176 to $191; and this fee does not include the attorney’s fee, transcript fees or other court fees. But for uncontested divorces, there are typically no other costs besides the filing fee and your attorney’s fee, if you are using one.

Legal Fees

It is difficult, however, for an attorney to tell you how much your divorce will ultimately cost you without knowing a bit about your case. How much your divorce will ultimately cost often depends on how much time a lawyer must spend on your case and how complicated it is.

If you have children, you may be required to pay for mandatory parenting classes, or the court may require a professional custody evaluator to help you to resolve child custody and visitation issues.

If you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement on the terms of your divorce, litigation can drag on, which means more involvement with the court and more costs.

DIY Divorce Options

The ultimate cost of your divorce depends on your unique set of circumstances, and the outcome of your divorce can have a profound affect on the rest of your life.

So, while there are some tempting do-it-yourself options available, it is not recommended to go it alone. The advice and skills of an experienced divorce attorney will give you the best chance to achieve the best possible outcome.

Low-cost Initial Consultation: Tulsa Divorce Attorney

For a low-cost consultation to find out how the Divorce of Tulsa Law Office can protect your interests and help preserve your peace of mind, call us today.

Alternately, send the Tulsa divorce lawyer a question using the “Ask a Lawyer” form on this page. Enter your e-mail address or phone number, and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

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

If you are considering a divorce, you may also be wondering if you can change your name after a divorce in Tulsa.  Changing your name after divorce in Tulsa is simple, if you do it as part of your divorce, but it may require more effort on your part if you do it after your divorce is completed.

If you took your spouse’s surname when you got married, there are a number of reasons why you may want to continue to use your former spouse’s surname after a divorce in Tulsa.

For example, you may be concerned how a name change will affect your children, or you may not want to lose the professional goodwill you have established with your current surname. On the other hand, you may feel that you need to restore your previous surname for a fresh start.

Change Your Name After a Divorce in Tulsa

If you desire to return to using your previous surname or birth name, you may do so by requesting that the judge who presides over your divorce enter a formal order to restore your previous surname.

If this order is entered into your divorce decree, that is all you need to do. However, if your name change is not entered into your divorce decree, you can still return to your previous surname, especially if it is the name listed on your birth certificate.

You can simply change the surname listed on your identification cards and personal documents, and begin to use your previous surname in a consistent manner. However, you may want to file for an official name change to head off any complication and to make it clear that the name you are using is your legal name, especially if you were married for many years.

Tulsa Family Law Attorney: Low-cost Initial Consultation

To find out how the Divorce of Tulsa Law Office can assist in your Tulsa family law matter, call us today.

Alternately, send the Tulsa divorce lawyer a question using the “Ask a Lawyer” form on this page. Enter your e-mail address or phone number and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

For a initial, confidential consultation, call now: (918) 924-5526.

How the assets are divided is one of the biggest questions asked by those considering divorce in Tulsa. Often, the biggest concern is who stays in the house after the divorce. This decision is often emotionally charged, but you and your spouse may be able to come to an agreement on your own. On the other hand, if you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement, the court will make this decision for you.

Your House: Separate Property or Marital Property?

In Tulsa, your marital assets are broken down into two categories: separate property and marital property. Property acquired by a spouse before marriage or after permanent separation, as well as any property acquired as a gift or inheritance by either spouse, is considered separate property. Meanwhile, marital property is defined as any property that you acquire jointly or individually during the course of your marriage. Typically, only marital property is subject to division in a Tulsa divorce.

How Tulsa Courts Decide Who Gets the House

In a Tulsa divorce, property is divided based on the principle of “equitable division.” This means that property will be divided equitably based on each spouse’s contribution to marital property, and in accordance with what is in the best interest of your children.

All things being equal, if you have children, the parent who spends the most time caring for them will typically be awarded the house. If you have no children, who gets to stay in the house after a divorce in Tulsa will largely depend on whether the house is considered marital property or separate property.

If the house is considered separate property, whoever holds title to the house will retain sole ownership and be allowed by law to request that the other spouse leave the home. On the other hand, if the house is considered marital property, neither spouse has a legal right to make the other leave, unless domestic violence is involved and a court has ordered the removal of the offending party.

If you cannot come to an agreement on who stays in the house after the divorce, an Oklahoma court will make the decision for you. This could mean that the court will grant possession of the house to one party, while granting possession of other assets of equitable value to the other. Alternatively, the court may order that the house be sold and the proceeds divided amongst the two of you equitably.

How Divorcing Couples Can Deal with the House

There are generally three ways you and your spouse can deal with a house that is considered marital property:

1. Sell the house and divide the proceeds.

2. One spouse can take out a second mortgage and buy-out the other’s equity in the house.

3. One spouse can grant possession of the house to the other for a specific length of time; for instance, until the last child leaves the home or until that spouse is financially self-sufficient. Afterward, one of them can buy out the other spouse’s equity or the house can be sold and the proceeds divided between them.

If you feel that you need more time to negotiate an agreement with your spouse or to seek mediation, you may request a temporary court order to determine who will remain in the house until a decision is made and your divorce is granted.

Low-cost Initial Consultation: Tulsa Divorce Attorney

For a low-cost consultation to find out how the Divorce of Tulsa Law Office can protect your interests and help preserve your peace of mind, call us today.

Alternately, send the Tulsa divorce lawyer a question using the “Ask a Lawyer” form on this page. Enter your e-mail address or phone number and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

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