Ready for a Divorce?
If you’re considering a divorce, you probably want to know what’s involved. Divorce is not something that should be rushed. While you may be eager to move forward, it’s important to be thorough to avoid problems arising in the future.
Apart from ending a marriage, divorce requires the division of a couple’s shared assets. If both parties can’t agree on how these should be divided, things can get messy. That’s one reason you should retain a Nowata divorce attorney. Wirth Law Office’s family lawyers know how to get you what you want. They understand the legal process of all types of divorces. These are:
- Contested
- Uncontested
- With children
- Without children
A contested divorce is when it’s not mutual. Only one spouse wants a divorce. It also extends to a disagreement on the conditions of the divorce. Contested divorces can be tricky. It’s important to have a divorce attorney in Nowata who will serve your interests.
An uncontested divorce is when both spouses agree to get divorced. It sometimes also means they agree on the details of the divorce.
Both contested and uncontested divorces can involve children. When minor children are involved, a divorce becomes more complicated. Child custody and child support come into play. This makes the process even more stressful. A divorce attorney from Wirth Law Office – Nowata can help you protect your children’s best interests.
Divorce Time Frame
No one wants a long, drawn-out divorce. In an ideal world, it’d be quick and simple. Unfortunately, that is seldom the case. The length of a divorce depends on various factors, including what type it is. Generally, uncontested divorces with no children involved are the fastest. Conversely, contested divorces that do involve children often take the longest.
Even a divorce that’s considered quick could last up to seven and a half months, including the time it takes to set a court date. However, not all divorces go to trial. If you reach a settlement first, you don’t need to set a court date. In that case, the divorce could take under six weeks.
On the other hand, some divorces can seemingly go on forever. This happens when the spouses struggle or refuse to agree. These could take over 10 months.
Even after a divorce is finalized, child support and child custody still need to be decided when children are involved. For your best chance at a smooth process with your desired outcome, let Wirth Law Office’s Nowata divorce attorneys represent you.
Divorce Cost
While money is one of the things divided up in a divorce, it is also necessary to get one. The cost of filing for divorce in Oklahoma is around $270. Next, the spouse who filed must serve the other spouse a summons. This service costs between $50 and $100.
It may seem frugal to hire clerical staff instead of a lawyer to draft paperwork. You may think you can hire a lawyer just to draft pleadings without going to court on your behalf. However, you don’t want to sacrifice quality to save money in such an important matter. A drafting service for a simple divorce could cost anywhere from $200 to $500.
Whether a divorce is contested is the biggest determiner of cost. Uncontested divorces are cheaper because they’re simpler. The Nowata divorce attorneys at Wirth Law Office charge $1,250 for representation in an uncontested divorce. A contested divorce could cost up to $2,500.
You may be tempted to save money with a do-it-yourself divorce. This could cost a few hundred dollars. But what you save in money, you lose in quality. While a do-it-yourself divorce may get the job done, there’s no guarantee it’ll get done well.
The Nowata divorce lawyers at Wirth Law Office can guarantee they will do their best and fight for you. How much is your peace of mind worth? The best way to save money in a divorce is by coming to an agreement with your spouse as soon as possible. It’ll be better for both of you.
Divorce Process
The process of getting a divorce begins with one spouse filing a petition for the dissolution of their marriage. That spouse then files with the court clerk and pays between $50 and $100 to have the other spouse served with the summons.
The spouse who receives the summons has 20 days to file a responsive pleading, where he/she answers every allegation made in the petition. If he/she doesn’t respond in time, the spouse who filed for the divorce will likely receive it on their terms.
A divorce involving minor children may require that the parents attend a parenting plan conference. If the spouses haven’t come to an agreement yet, they’ll need mediation. Next is the pre-trial, which is when a court date is set. It could be up to 6 to 8 months later.
The final decision is made at the trial. However, many divorce cases don’t go to trial because a settlement is reached earlier on. A decree of dissolution of marriage is drafted and signed by both spouses. Then it’s entered as an agreed order with the judge.
Even then, there’s a required waiting period between when the divorce petition is initially filed and when the dissolution of marriage is official. That is only 10 days without minor children and 90 days with minor children.
A Note on Prenups
A prenup is short for a prenuptial agreement. Some couples opt to draft one before getting married. They agree on how money, property, and assets will be divided if they ever get divorced.
If both spouses still agree on the conditions of the prenup, and it’s still valid, it can simplify divorce proceedings.
That being said, either spouse can request to have the prenup disregarded if they have a good reason. A prenup is as useful as the spouses allow it to be.
Consultation with a Nowata Divorce Lawyer
Don’t let your divorce be more difficult than it has to be. A Nowata divorce lawyer from Wirth Law Office can guide you through the whole process, so there’s no need to stress. For a consultation call (918) 932-2872 or fill out the form at the top of this page.