Preparing for a divorce can be an emotional and difficult time, even if both spouses agree. The divorce process can be complicated, involving court hearings and legal paperwork. If you have minor children or valuable property, you may be worried about how your visitation rights and property division could be affected.
At LaCourse Law, we have experience with the Tulsa divorce process. Our divorce attorneys could review and examine your case to ensure it is managed in a way that benefits you, your family, and your children. If you and your spouse agree, we could help you write a settlement agreement that reflects your wishes. If the case is contentious, our team could negotiate with your spouse or their attorney to protect your rights to a fair share of the property and any required custody arrangements.
Unless you and your spouse have no children and plan to divide your property equally, your dissolution of marriage in Tulsa should follow these basic steps.
You will need to file the petition and summons and have them delivered or served to your spouse. If there is domestic violence involved, you may also need an automatic injunction. Your spouse has 20 days to file their response, notifying the court that they received the petition.
If you have children, you must have a mandatory conference to discuss a parenting plan during the divorce process. The judge may issue temporary custody orders and child support orders unless you have already reached an agreement with your spouse.
You and your spouse must exchange financial and other information. You must exchange this information even if you believe your spouse already has the documents. In high-value or complex cases, discovery may be the most time-consuming part of the dissolution process.
After discovery is complete, your Tulsa divorce will move through a couple of common stages.
Family court judges often order mediation in an effort to reach a pre-trial agreement. In longer cases, judges hold status hearings to keep the case on course and ensure that all parties are communicating.
If you and your spouse cannot reach an agreement, the judge reviews the evidence and issues rulings on custody, property division, child support, etc. The judge then issues a final order, making the divorce official.
These steps proceed faster when both parties exchange information promptly. Most discovery requests have a 45-day deadline. However, the sooner spouses provide the discovery information, the less time it takes for your attorneys to review it and proceed to the next step. Our team could help you move through this process with ease.
At LaCourse Law, our attorneys are experienced in handling the Tulsa divorce process for our clients. We understand that ensuring cooperation during the discovery process is not always easy, and we could work with you and the opposing counsel to keep the process moving.
If you have questions or concerns during the divorce process, we can explain what to expect at each step with the Southern hospitality we are known for. If the case goes to trial, our attorneys could help you and ensure that your legal and property rights are protected. Contact our office for a free, confidential appointment today.
(918) 744-7100