Walking You Through the Phases of Divorce

Going through a divorce for the first time or second time if this is your first time dealing with a contested divorce, can be overwhelming. So many legal and emotional factors are involved when you have children. You have to worry about child custody, visitation, and child support. Even if you do not have kids, you must deal with the division of property, finances, and debt. You may not have to go through your divorce alone if you talk to an Oklahoma divorce lawyer for answers.

The Beginning Phases of Divorce

When it comes to the beginning stages of an Oklahoma divorce, the first step is making sure you meet the basic requirements. You both must meet the marriage and residency requirements in Oklahoma. In other words, you must have been legally married and you must have been living in Oklahoma.

Specifically, you must have lived in Oklahoma for at least six months before you file for divorce. If you do not meet this criterion, your spouse can meet the residency requirements for you. When neither you nor your spouse meets that requirement, the exception is if you or your spouse were an army post resident in the United States.

Then you must meet one of the grounds for divorce. You cannot simply say you want a divorce, but you must have one of the following reasons:

• Adultery
• Impotence
• Abandonment
• Cruelty, abuse, or habitual drunkenness
• Neglect of duty
• Insanity
• Criminal charges
• Pregnancy by someone else

If you do not fit these, do not panic. You might be able to file for divorce because of irreconcilable differences. This means you and your spouse are unable to live together peacefully to the point that repairing the marriage is impossible.

Next, you file the petition for divorce. When you and your spouse disagree over anything, this becomes a contested divorce that must go to court.

Court Phases of a Divorce in Oklahoma

When your divorce enters the court, the legal stages of divorce start with the court sending you and your spouse a summons. This summons will tell you and your spouse when to come to court. You will be asked in court to explain any of your needs for restraining certain actions of your spouse for a temporary amount of time.

Then your spouse has 20 days to respond to the summons. You will need to respond to that response if your spouse makes a counterclaim. An automatic temporary injunction is placed to stop you both from certain financial changes and requires the exchanging of documents. Your case might go before a judge after which the final orders will take effect.

Try contacting an Oklahoma City divorce lawyer if you have any questions.

Family Lawyer in Oklahoma City

Navigating through the divorce process can be confusing when you have so much going on at once. Consider asking an Oklahoma divorce attorney for guidance. All you have to do is contact the Putnam Law Office by dialing (405)-849-9149 for a consultation today about your options. We can help you work towards the divorce outcomes you want the most. Mr. Putnam is a dedicated lawyer in Oklahoma City, OK who can help you defend your claim.