Making a Difficult Time Easier
Whether you’re just considering divorce or are ready to start the proceedings, it’s important to know what’s involved. Divorce is difficult for a lot of couples because there is a rush of emotions and the stress that comes with a major life change. At Wirth Law Office – Chickasha, Grady County divorce lawyers want to make things easier for you by helping you understand the process. First, let’s take a look at the different types of divorce. There are:
- Contested
- Uncontested
- With children
- Without children
A contested divorce occurs when the spouses disagree about the divorce. One spouse either does not want a divorce or does not agree with the conditions of the divorce, such as division of property and assets and child custody and support.
An uncontested divorce occurs when the spouses both agree to get a divorce and agree on the conditions of the divorce.
Divorces between spouses who have children have more complications than those between spouses without children. In addition to dividing assets, there is the matter of child custody and child support in divorces that involve children.
How Long Does A Divorce Take?
The amount of time it takes to get a divorce varies based on a number of factors, especially what type of divorce it is. Uncontested divorces without children generally take the least amount of time, while contested divorces with children generally take the most. A relatively quick divorce could take up to seven and half months, depending on how long it takes to get a court date.
However, if a settlement is reached prior to a trial, there is no need to wait for a court date. In that case, it could take less than six weeks. A longer divorce could take ten or more months, which also includes waiting for a court date. Some divorces can be quite drawn out, in cases where the spouses have multiple disagreements. Where there are children involved, matters of child support or child custody may be brought back to court long after an initial divorce decree has been handed down. It’s important to have representation from the beginning to the end. Grady County divorce lawyers at Wirth Law Office are on your side.
How Much Does a Divorce Cost?
The cost of a divorce depends on what services each spouse wants, how much they agree on, and more. Filing for divorce in Oklahoma usually costs around $270. Whoever files then has to serve a summons to their spouse. This could cost between $50 and $100. To avoid the cost of a lawyer, some divorcing spouses hire non-lawyer clerical staff to draft paperwork, or they hire a lawyer to draft pleadings without appearing in court on their behalf. In a simple divorce, a drafting service can cost between $200 and $500.
One thing that often determines divorce costs more than anything else is whether the divorce is contested. Uncontested divorces are simpler and, therefore, cheaper. At Wirth Law Office, we charge $1,250 for representation in uncontested divorces. For contested divorces, a retainer could require upwards of $2,500.
When you take all these factors into account, even a do-it-yourself divorce without legal counsel or representation will likely cost several hundred dollars. A simple uncontested divorce might be only a few hundred dollars more with a Grady County divorce lawyer’s skilled representation than a do-it-yourself divorce.
A more complicated divorce can cost several thousand dollars and could cost you much more in lost opportunities without a lawyer representing your interests. Both spouses save time and money and avoid unnecessary pain by agreeing on the terms of the divorce early on.
What Are the Steps of a Divorce?
A divorce is composed of a number of steps. The first step requires one of the spouses to file a petition for the dissolution of the marriage. Then he/she files with the court clerk and pays the necessary fee to serve his/her spouse with the summons. At that point, the spouse who was served has twenty days to file a responsive pleading. If they don’t, the spouse who filed for divorce is likely to receive the divorce on their terms.
Divorces between parents may require a parenting plan conference. If the spouses still disagree at this point, they enter into mediation. After that comes pretrial, where a court date is set as many as six to eight months out. At the trial, a final decision is reached. Grady County divorce lawyers at Wirth Law Office – Chickasha understand the process and can simplify it for you.
However, in many divorce cases, a settlement is reached before a trial is required. In those cases, a decree of dissolution of marriage is drafted and signed off on by both parties before being entered as an agreed order with the judge. That being said, a waiting period is required between the initial filing of the divorce petition and the official dissolution of the marriage. If minor children are involved, the waiting period is ninety days. Otherwise, it is only ten days.
What Happens If We Have a Prenuptial Agreement?
A prenuptial agreement, commonly referred to as a prenup, is drafted by a couple before they enter into a marriage together. It details the division of assets and property in the case of a divorce. A prenup can come in handy during divorce proceedings if the conditions of the prenup are still agreed upon by both parties and the prenup is still valid. In order to be considered valid, the prenup must be signed and in writing. However, either party is able to request that the prenup be disregarded, but they must have a good reason. One such reason is if one party claims to have been coerced into making the prenup the way it is. Depending on whether both parties agree with the conditions of the prenup, it can make your divorce proceedings easier.
Low-cost Consultation with a Grady County Divorce Lawyer
We want your divorce to be as quick and painless as possible. Let a skilled Chickasha family lawyer help. With experience and knowledge under their belts, they have what it takes to ensure the best possible outcome in the least amount of time. For a free consultation with Wirth Law Office – Chickasha, call us today at (405) 272-4100 or fill out the form at the top of this page.