Oklahoma Blog: Family Law and Lawsuits

Many people who find their marriage in trouble consider their options between filing for a legal separation also known as separate maintenance or a divorce. One of the most asked questions is what is the difference between a legal separation and a divorce? The primary difference is that the parties are still married in a legal separation. In essence you get all the headache of a divorce without ending the marriage. The Court may make findings and orders dividing and awarding property, child custody, child support alimony and temporary possession of property. Another significant difference is the Court is not bound by any residency or waiting periods. There is no requirement that the Petitioner reside in a particular county or the State for a specific period of time. Further, a Decree of Legal Separation may be granted the same day of filing of the Petition. A person may seek a legal separation on the same grounds or basis that one would for a divorce.

Have you been raising a child that is not is not yours biologically but you are interested in taking steps toward making the child yours? If you are raising the child of your spouse and are interested in adopting that child, please contact us to discuss the possibility of filing a petition for step-parent adoption.

Several months ago, MSN ran an article titled “How to leave your husband”1. I was a little shocked at the title, but I understand the need for something catchy to draw readers in. This article was aimed at women who had already made the decision to seek a divorce to advise them on how to be prepared financially. In the United States, nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. If you happen to be one of those unlucky statistics, I agree that it is best to do some pre-planning if you can in order to make the transition from married life to single life as painless as possible. Divorce can be quite costly in more ways than one. The truth is, it doesn’t have to be costly, but you need to know what is worth fighting for and what isn’t. If you are level headed about your divorce and make decisions that are not driven by your emotions, it shouldn’t cost you a fortune.

Do you have questions regarding altering the custody status with your child? This is a question we receive all the time, so you are not alone. There are legal standards in Oklahoma that must be followed in Oklahoma regarding which parent has custody of the child/children. If you would like to learn more about being awarded custody of your children after a divorce has been complete, please read on.