Menu
- Call
When you are facing a family law matter, you are rightfully concerned about your future, your children, and your financial stability. The first step toward finding a resolution is getting clear, straightforward answers.
Oklahoma family law contains specific procedures and requirements, from the six-month residency rule for divorce to the legal standards that guide all decisions about child custody. Our firm ensures you understand every right and obligation you have under these laws. We believe that informed clients make empowered decisions.
Handling these issues by yourself puts your future at risk. We are prepared to manage the legal process for you, allowing you to focus on your family. If you have questions about your case, contact Oklahoma family law lawyers at Green Country Law Group today, call at (918) 456-6113 for a consultation.
We understand that family law cases are deeply personal and stressful. Our approach is built on providing calm, clear, and compassionate guidance. We listen to your story, explain your options in plain language, and create a legal strategy that aligns with your goals. Our commitment is to give you honest counsel so you can make confident decisions for your future.
Our practice focuses on family law across Northeast Oklahoma. We handle cases in both Oklahoma State Court and Tribal Court and have a strong working knowledge of the distinct legal frameworks in each. This dual familiarity is important in our region, where jurisdiction can be complex.
Family law is a broad field that addresses the legal relationships between family members. An attorney in this area provides legal counsel and court representation for some of the most sensitive issues you will ever face.
Divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage. In Oklahoma, a divorce may be uncontested, where both spouses agree on all terms, or contested, where a judge must make the final decisions. We handle both types of cases, always aiming for an efficient resolution that fairly protects your assets and your future.
For any parent, their children are the highest priority. Custody decisions determine who has the authority to make major decisions for a child (legal custody) and where the child lives (physical custody). Every custody determination in Oklahoma is governed by the “Best Interest of the Child” standard.
Both parents have a legal duty to support their children financially. Oklahoma uses specific Child Support Guidelines to calculate the amount of support required. The calculation is based on several factors, primarily each parent’s gross income and the amount of time the child spends in each parent’s care.
During a marriage, you and your spouse acquire assets and incur debts. This is known as the “marital estate.” Oklahoma is an equitable distribution state, meaning that in a divorce, property and debts are divided in a way that is fair and just…which does not always mean a 50/50 split.
Establishing paternity is the legal process of identifying a child’s biological father. Once paternity is established, a father gains legal rights, such as seeking custody or visitation, and also takes on legal responsibilities, including paying child support.
Adoption is the legal process where a person becomes the legal parent of a child who is not their biological offspring. Our firm assists families with stepparent adoptions, private adoptions, and adoptions through state agencies.
As life changes, court orders may need to change, too. Orders for child custody, visitation, or support can be modified if there has been a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. We also help clients enforce existing court orders when the other party fails to comply.
A divorce proceeds through a series of steps, each with specific legal requirements. Our firm manages each stage for you, protecting your rights from start to finish.
The divorce process officially starts when one spouse, the “Petitioner,” files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the district court. To file, at least one spouse must have been an Oklahoma resident for a minimum of six months.
Soon after filing, we can ask the court to issue temporary orders. These are short-term rulings that set arrangements for child custody, support, and even who remains in the family home while the divorce is ongoing. Alanda’s Law requires courts to schedule these hearings within just 10 days if domestic violence is alleged.
This is the formal process of exchanging relevant information. We will request financial documents, property records, and other evidence from the other party. This step ensures that all decisions about property and support are based on complete and accurate information.
Most Oklahoma courts require spouses to try mediation before going to trial. Mediation is a confidential meeting where you and your spouse work with a neutral mediator to negotiate a settlement. This process can resolve cases more privately and with less conflict than a court battle.
If you and your spouse cannot reach an agreement on all issues, your case goes to trial. At trial, both sides present evidence and testimony to a judge, who then makes the final decisions. We prepare thoroughly to present your case clearly and persuasively.
The final step is the Decree of Divorce. This official court order, signed by the judge, legally ends your marriage. It contains all agreements or rulings, creating a binding document that sets out the terms of your divorce.
When parents cannot agree on a custody plan, a judge must decide.
A judge cannot rely on personal opinions. Instead, they must apply the “best interest of the child” standard we mentioned earlier. This requires the court to evaluate several factors, including:
Oklahoma law makes a distinction between two types of custody, and parents may share one or both.
Family law cases get more complicated when parents reside in different states. To prevent parents from moving just to find a more favorable court, Oklahoma and nearly all other states follow the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). This law establishes clear rules for which state has the legal authority—or jurisdiction—to make and modify custody orders. Because these situations are complex, we advise consulting an attorney for clarity.
Modern families face challenges that traditional divorce law never anticipated. Our firm addresses these evolving issues with the specialized knowledge each situation requires.
Oklahoma’s legal landscape has transformed dramatically since marriage equality became law. Same-sex couples now possess identical marriage and divorce rights. Yet unique complications persist—particularly regarding property acquired during periods when marriage remained legally unavailable and children conceived through assisted reproductive technology.
The Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell decision established nationwide marriage equality. However, this landmark ruling created complex retroactive questions. Property purchased as domestic partners before 2015 might require different legal treatment than assets acquired after marriage became available. We analyze each couple’s timeline to ensure proper classification under Oklahoma’s equitable distribution laws.
For same-sex couples, biology doesn’t guarantee legal parenthood. Second-parent adoption is a way for one partner to legally adopt their spouse’s child, ensuring full parental rights even if the relationship ends or the biological parent passes away.
Oklahoma courts must apply the “best interest of the child” standard uniformly. Sexual orientation and gender identity cannot influence custody decisions. We document our clients’ parenting capabilities meticulously, ensuring judges focus solely on relevant factors: stability, emotional support, and the child’s established relationships.
Sudden deployment orders disrupt established custody schedules. Oklahoma courts distinguish between temporary military obligations and long-term custody determinations. We secure expedited temporary orders that protect the deployed parent’s rights while maintaining the child’s stability through video calls, extended leave visits, and other creative solutions.
The Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act governs military retirement division. This federal law overrides state property division rules in specific circumstances. An attorney will walk you through how this might apply to you, as there are unique benefits.
Military housing cannot be divided like civilian real estate. The service member loses base housing privileges immediately upon divorce finalization. This creates urgent housing needs that civilian divorce attorneys miss entirely. We coordinate with base housing offices and factor these transitions into temporary support calculations. Base housing refers to on-base residential accommodations provided by the military. When military members divorce, they often lose the right to continue living in this housing. We can work with base housing authorities to ensure these costs are factored into temporary support agreements during the divorce process.
Your divorce decree marks a legal ending and an administrative beginning. Failing to complete these tasks creates vulnerabilities that might come back to haunt you.
Oklahoma permits name changes only through specific divorce decree language. Miss this opportunity? You’ll need a separate legal proceeding later—requiring additional court appearances, filing fees, and publication requirements. We include name restoration provisions automatically when requested, streamlining your transition.
Death doesn’t wait for your estate planning updates. Oklahoma law automatically revokes certain provisions favoring ex-spouses in wills and trusts. But many things continue on like how it was before, such as:
We provide comprehensive checklists ensuring nothing gets overlooked.
Your divorce decree doesn’t bind creditors. Joint debts remain joint until paid or refinanced—regardless of what your divorce says about responsibility. Your ex-spouse defaults on the car loan assigned to them? The bank will pursue you anyway. We help clients close joint accounts, establish individual credit histories, and monitor ongoing obligations to prevent future surprises.
Yes, Oklahoma is one of the few states that recognizes common law marriage. A valid common law marriage exists if a couple mutually agrees to be married, presents themselves to the public as a married couple, and cohabitates as spouses. A common law marriage must be formally dissolved through a legal divorce, just like a ceremonial marriage.
A divorce legally ends a marriage, allowing both people to remarry. A legal separation lets a couple live apart and formalize arrangements for finances and child custody through a court order, but they remain legally married. This option is sometimes chosen for religious reasons or to preserve benefits like health insurance.
The timeline varies. An uncontested divorce with no minor children can be finalized as quickly as 10 days after filing. However, a contested divorce with complex assets or custody disputes could take a year or more to resolve through the court system.
Sometimes. An Oklahoma judge can order one spouse to contribute to the other’s attorney fees. This usually occurs when there is a large gap in the spouses’ incomes, and one person would otherwise be at a financial disadvantage. An award of fees is not guaranteed and depends on the specific facts of the case.
Not always. Most divorce cases are settled without a formal trial. If you and your spouse can reach a full agreement on all issues, either directly or through mediation, your attorney can draft the final paperwork for a judge to sign. This allows you to finalize your divorce without appearing in a courtroom for a trial.
This information provides a foundation, but your situation is unique. The best path forward depends on the specific facts of your case. We are here to provide the answers and support you need.
Our team at Green Country Law Group is ready to handle the legal process so you can focus on what matters most. For a confidential, no-cost initial consultation to discuss your Oklahoma family law matter, contact us today at (918) 456-6113.