Family Law
Does a Paternity Order Establish Child Support in Oklahoma?
A paternity order is one of the most important elements in establishing a legal duty to support a child in Tulsa, Oklahoma. If the child is yours, you are legally bound to support the child. If the child is not yours, you have no legal obligation to support the child absent other circumstances. However, paternity, custody, and […] Read more »What is Property Division in an Oklahoma Divorce?
A common question is, “What is property division in an Oklahoma divorce?” When a couple divorces in Tulsa, one of the tasks that must be taken care of the division of marital property and marital debt. What is Marital Property? Marital property is usually considered to be that property acquired during the marriage. This can […] Read more »What is Discovery in an Oklahoma Divorce?
Discovery is an important part of the Oklahoma divorce process. Discovery is the name given to a set of legal tools that enable a party involved in a court proceeding to “discover” or learn certain facts that are important to the handling of a court matter. Discovery begins after the initial filing of the Petition […] Read more »What is a Parenting Plan in Oklahoma?
Creating a parenting plan is often a vital step in Tulsa, Oklahoma divorces that involve minor children. Usually, one or both parents request joint custody when there are children involved in a divorce. Courts try to ensure that parents work together through their divorce to make the process as easy as possible for their children. What […] Read more »Oklahoma Divorce Laws
The first step in following Oklahoma divorce laws is to prepare, file, and serve a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. It must be filed in the county in which you and your spouse live. A Petition for Dissolution of Marriage must include the legal grounds or “reason” for divorce. These grounds or reasons can be […] Read more »The Oklahoma Divorce Decree
Your Divorce Decree Explained Once everything is settled in your divorce, you can get a Tulsa, Oklahoma divorce decree. A divorce decree is the document that finalizes your divorce. It is signed by the judge and will include the date which your divorce is final. It also may include other dates by which certain things […] Read more »What are Tulsa Divorce Residency Requirements?
Every state, including Oklahoma, has divorce residency requirements that must be met in order to file for legal divorce or separation in that state. These requirements are meant to ensure that the court in which the action is filed is the correct one for the parties involved. The legal name for this is jurisdiction. In […] Read more »How Protective Orders Affect an Oklahoma Divorce
Not all divorces in Tulsa, Oklahoma are amicable; thus, protective orders become necessary. For some couples, the road to divorce is littered with a long history of arguments, including physical arguments. For these couples, protective orders can be helpful to allow enough physical and emotional space for healing to begin. What is a Protective Order? […] Read more »Filing for Divorce in Tulsa
Filing for divorce in Tulsa, Oklahoma begins with preparing and filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. The petition is filed in the county in which you and your spouse live. Along with the petition, a summons must be served upon the responding spouse. Among other things, a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage must include the […] Read more »How to Serve Divorce Papers in Oklahoma
Oklahoma law requires that a spouse seeking to end his or her marriage serve divorce papers on the other spouse. This includes a copy of the petition, the notice of hearing, and in some cases, a copy of a blank form answer. Getting a Process Server to Serve Divorce Papers Most of the time, it […] Read more »Marrying More Than One Person is Bigamy in Oklahoma
All jurisdictions have laws prohibiting bigamy in Oklahoma. Oklahoma law defines bigamy as marrying a person while still married to another living person. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 881 This is not a common crime, but it does occur. Bigamy is a felony offense. Punishment for Bigamy in Oklahoma There are exceptions to the crime. […] Read more »Oklahoma Child Custody Considerations
Tulsa, Oklahoma child custody considerations are uniformly determined according to what is in the best interests of the child. Sometimes, it is easy to determine what is in the best interests of the child. For example, a court will usually find that when one of the parents is involved in criminal activity or uses alcohol […] Read more »Steps in an Oklahoma Divorce
Early Steps in an Oklahoma Divorce One of the spouses must file a petition in an Oklahoma family court as one of the first steps in an Oklahoma divorce. A Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is also known as a Petition for Divorce. The petition is filed in the county in which you or your […] Read more »What Are Grounds for Divorce in Oklahoma?
Fault vs. No-Fault Grounds For Divorce In order to obtain a divorce in Oklahoma, you must have a legal reason to do so. This reason is commonly known as “grounds” for divorce. Every divorce petition in Oklahoma must allege the grounds under which the party filing the petition is seeking to end the marriage. Okla. […] Read more »Automatic Temporary Injunction
One of the least understood and most important actions when filing for divorce in Oklahoma is the automatic temporary injunction. When you want to file for divorce in Oklahoma, one of the spouses must file a Petition in an Oklahoma family court to begin the process. A Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is also known […] Read more »The Divorce Trial in Tulsa, OK
The divorce trial is sometimes necessary in Tulsa, OK, because not all divorces are amicable. When couples cannot agree or when there are contested issues in a divorce, these contested issues must be settled by the court. Some of these matters may be able to be resolved in hearings before the court. However, some of […] Read more »Settlement Negotiations and Mediation in Oklahoma Divorce
Mediation in Oklahoma divorce can be helpful to all parties. Like all litigation, Tulsa, Oklahoma divorce cases often have contested issues that must be settled, mediated, or litigated at a hearing or trial. Child custody, child and spousal support, and the division of marital property are all issues that may be subject to settlement negotiations […] Read more »What is a Temporary Order in an Oklahoma Divorce?
When a couple files for divorce in an Oklahoma court, a temporary order will address some issues that simply cannot wait weeks or months to resolve. Temporary orders are orders that the court puts in place early in a divorce proceeding to address these issues until they can be resolved via hearing or settlement. When […] Read more »Hearings in the Oklahoma Divorce Process
Court hearings in the Oklahoma divorce process are required for varying issues. Each county has its own local rules and requirements regarding hearings. In addition, each Tulsa divorce case is different. Some cases require more hearings, while others need fewer hearings. A hearing is a court proceeding in which some matter, whether procedural or substantive, is […] Read more »Waiting Periods and Quick Divorce in Oklahoma
People are Unique and Divorces are Too Getting a quick divorce in Tulsa, Oklahoma is often desirable, but not always possible. Each marriage is different, thus each divorce is also different. Your history, your financial life, and the specific facts of your marriage will dictate whether you can get a quick divorce in Oklahoma. The […] Read more »Determining Child Custody and Child Support
If you are going through a divorce in Oklahoma and have children, you may have many questions about determining child custody and child support. Whether you are considering divorce or are in the process of ending your marriage, it is important to understand the laws regarding custody and support as they pertain to your situation […] Read more »Filing a Response and Counterclaim in Divorce
You Must File a Responsive Pleading So your spouse has filed and served you with a Petition for Divorce in Oklahoma. Being on the receiving end of this petition can be an emotional experience if you don’t know that it is coming. And how you respond to a divorce petition matters. You can prepare and […] Read more »Can Grandparents Be Foster Parents to Their Grandchildren?
Grandparent Foster Care Can Be Preferred in an Emergency When a parent or parents are unable to properly care for their child, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) may intervene. Specifically, when the DHS Child Protective Services (CPS) unit identifies a deprived child, CPS can take custody of the child from the parents – […] Read more »Oklahoma Grandparent Adoption Attorney
Helping Grandparents Adopting Grandchildren Grandparents can often be highly important figures in the lives of their grandchildren. They can be role models and provide love, guidance, and support. In some situations, a grandparent can take on an even bigger role if they decide to legally adopt a grandchild in Oklahoma. They then become a parent […] Read more »Grandparents Visitation Rights in Oklahoma
Protecting Oklahoma Grandparents Visitation Rights The bond between grandparents and their grandchildren can be strong, and maintaining this relationship can be emotionally beneficial for everyone involved. However, there are certain situations in which a parent will refuse to allow their child to visit with grandparents. In these cases, grandparents often ask, “do grandparents have visitation […] Read more »
