Filing for divorce is a little different in each state. If you’re in Oklahoma, getting divorced is only slightly similar to getting divorced in California or Florida. Oklahoma is one of the few states that still maintains fault grounds for divorce, although it also allows people to get no-fault divorces on the grounds of incompatibility (or irreconcilable differences). In order to get divorced, you must do the following.
First, you or your spouse must have lived in Oklahoma for 6 months, and you or your spouse must have been a resident of the county where the divorce is filed for at least 30 days. Once one of you meet the residency requirement, you or your spouse may file a petition for divorce. These have to be filed in the District Court of the county of residence of either spouse.
If neither of you has children, the divorce can be finalized as early as 10 days from the date of filing; however, with children, it can take at least 90 days. The divorce is settled in a final hearing that occurs in the county court where you initially filed the divorce.
On average, a divorce in Oklahoma can cost $12,500 or more, depending on how long the process takes. Around $9,800 of that chunk will be used to pay legal fees. The average hourly rate for attorneys in the state is $240; however, this may vary depending on the size of the staff and the rate of any paralegals who may be involved in your case.
For cases in which spouses can agree with each other on all critical aspects of the divorce, you may not need a lawyer at all. However, if one or both of you cannot settle on any agreements during the proceeding, you will need an attorney to help you negotiate the terms of a divorce or to represent you in court against your spouse. Attorneys are particularly crucial in cases where custody is concerned.
If you need help filing for divorce, negotiating the terms of your divorce, or you require a representative in court, don’t hesitate to call our skilled Tulsa divorce attorney. Mary R. Bundren, our founding attorney, has extensive litigation and courtroom experience she can apply to your case. She also understands how stressful this time can be for a family. Let her use her family law knowledge to help you meet your goals.
Contact us at (918) 992-3300 or fill out our online form to schedule a case consultation with us today.