OKC Legal News

Legal Separation in Oklahoma: What It Means and How It Works

Legal Separation in Oklahoma: What It Means and How It Works

Couples sometimes reach a point where living together is no longer workable, yet divorce does not feel like the right step. In Oklahoma City, spouses near Midtown, Nichols Hills, or Lake Hefner often ask whether legal separation offers protection without ending the marriage. Oklahoma law allows married couples to live apart under court supervision while remaining legally married. This option provides structure during uncertainty and addresses financial and parenting concerns without a final dissolution. Putnam Law Office assists clients [...]

How Paternity Affects Child Custody and Support in Oklahoma

How Paternity Affects Child Custody and Support in Oklahoma

Questions about paternity often arise during stressful and uncertain periods. In Oklahoma City, parents living near Bricktown, Capitol Hill, or Lake Hefner frequently ask how legal fatherhood affects custody and financial responsibility. Oklahoma law treats paternity as the legal foundation for nearly every parental right and obligation. Until paternity is established, courts cannot issue enforceable custody, visitation, or child support orders. Putnam Law Office assists parents throughout Oklahoma County with paternity matters that shape long-term stability for children and [...]

Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in Oklahoma: Which Is Right for You?

Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in Oklahoma: Which Is Right for You?

Divorce forces difficult choices that shape a family’s future. In Oklahoma City, spouses near Bricktown, Nichols Hills, or Lake Hefner often ask which divorce path best protects stability. Oklahoma law offers two primary paths: uncontested and contested divorce. Each process follows different rules, timelines, and costs. The right choice depends on agreement levels, safety concerns, finances, and parenting needs. Putnam Law Office assists clients throughout the Oklahoma County District Court with both approaches. This article explains how each option [...]

Domestic Violence & Protective Orders in Oklahoma: Legal Steps & Protections

Domestic Violence & Protective Orders in Oklahoma: Legal Steps & Protections

Domestic violence affects families throughout Oklahoma City and often creates urgent safety concerns. Survivors in neighborhoods near Bricktown, the Asian District, or around Lake Hefner frequently face overwhelming stress as they navigate immediate danger, complex legal procedures, and uncertain family dynamics. Protective orders offer critical support during these moments, yet many people feel unsure about how the process works or what the courts require. Understanding Oklahoma’s legal framework helps survivors take decisive action and secure safety for themselves and [...]

Divorce in Oklahoma: Property Division and Asset Division Rules

Divorce in Oklahoma: Property Division and Asset Division Rules

Divorce brings some of the most significant financial transitions a family will ever experience. In the Oklahoma City metro, whether a couple lives near Bricktown, the Paseo Arts District, or close to Lake Hefner, the division of marital assets often becomes the central point of conflict and confusion. Property division under Oklahoma law follows established statutory rules, yet no two cases look alike. Courts must evaluate each marriage’s financial history, the spouses’ unique contributions, and the long-term needs of [...]

Grandparent Visitation Rights in Oklahoma

Grandparent Visitation Rights in Oklahoma

Grandparents often play a profound and stabilizing role in a child’s life. In communities throughout Oklahoma City, whether near Nichols Hills, Capitol Hill, the Paseo Arts District, or close to Lake Hefner, grandparents frequently provide emotional guidance, childcare, cultural connection, and a sense of family history. When contact between a grandparent and grandchild becomes restricted or cut off, the situation can be deeply painful for everyone involved. Oklahoma law recognizes this reality but also balances it against a parent’s [...]

Modifying Child Support & Custody Orders in Oklahoma

Modifying Child Support & Custody Orders in Oklahoma

Child custody and child support arrangements are meant to provide stability, fairness, and consistency for children and parents. Yet life rarely stays the same. Families move, jobs change, expenses increase, and children’s needs evolve. In Oklahoma City, whether a family lives near Crown Heights, Capitol Hill, the Plaza District, or close to Lake Overholser, these changes can make an existing order unworkable. When circumstances shift, Oklahoma law allows parents to request a modification of child custody, visitation, or support, [...]

Prenuptial Agreements in Oklahoma: Are They Worth It?

Prenuptial Agreements in Oklahoma: Are They Worth It?

Marriage is one of the most meaningful decisions a couple can make, and in Oklahoma City, whether planning a ceremony in Midtown, Nichols Hills, or near Lake Hefner, it comes with both joy and uncertainty. Beyond choosing venues and flowers, many couples quietly worry about financial stability, personal assets, and what the future might hold. A prenuptial agreement does not take the romance out of marriage; it adds clarity and peace of mind. It allows partners to define financial expectations, [...]

Spousal Support (Alimony) in Oklahoma: Rules, Duration & Modifications

Spousal Support (Alimony) in Oklahoma: Rules, Duration & Modifications

When a marriage ends, the emotional challenges are often matched by complex financial realities. One of the most significant of these is spousal support, or alimony, which is a court-ordered payment designed to help a former spouse maintain stability after divorce. In Oklahoma City and surrounding communities, understanding how alimony works can be crucial to protecting long-term financial security. Whether someone lives near the bustling downtown courthouse, in Midtown, or in quieter neighborhoods such as Nichols Hills or Edmond, the [...]

Step-Parent Adoption in Oklahoma: What You Need to Know

Step-Parent Adoption in Oklahoma: What You Need to Know

Becoming a step-parent is more than joining a family, it’s building one. Over time, many stepparents form deep, genuine bonds with their stepchildren, sharing in everyday moments of care, trust, and love. For many families in Oklahoma City, whether in Midtown, Edmond, or Moore, the desire to make that connection permanent often leads to step-parent adoption. This legal process turns emotional commitment into legal parenthood, giving a child the same security, inheritance rights, and sense of belonging as any [...]