GOWER LAW OFFICE - Your Trusted Partner in Divorce Legal Services

At Gower Law Office, we understand that divorce proceedings can be a challenging and emotionally charged process. That's why we offer comprehensive divorce services to ensure that your divorce proceedings are handled with care, professionalism, and efficiency. We provide you with the guidance and support you need to navigate through this difficult time.

The divorce process starts with filing a Petition for Divorce and Dissolution in marriage in the county where you live and paying the filing fees. Once the divorce petition is filed, you will need to serve the other party with a summons and your petition for divorce. The other party traditionally has twenty (20) days to respond to your Petition once they receive the filed paperwork.

When it comes to divorce, there are various important decisions that the court makes, such as child custody and visitation, financial support for the children or a spouse, property division, and debt management. Hiring a knowledgeable and skilled attorney is crucial to receiving proper legal advice and guidance throughout the process.

How do I start the divorce process?

After a petition for divorce is filed, we will start to collect the necessary documents to value your marital estate, including cars, homes, retirements, and debts. We will also collect information about the children that will be necessary to fight for custody and visitation. Evidence is gathered through the discovery process and we will seek documents such as emails, photos, text messages, income records, and all other relevant information to build a strong case on your behalf.

Will I have to go to Court?

Many divorce cases can be settled outside of court with mediation or negotiating with the other side. If an agreement can be obtained, you may avoid appearing before the Court. Our office is well-prepared with all the necessary tools to gather evidence and information, ensuring that you can make informed decisions about your case.

It is possible you will need to attend Court if the parties are not in agreement. We understand that time is of the essence, and while getting final orders from the court can take several months, we can request a hearing to address immediate concerns. At the temporary order hearing, the judge can make rulings as to child custody, child support, and financial obligations for the parties to follow until the divorce is finalized.

What about the children in a divorce?

In the State of Oklahoma, there is a presumption that both parents should have custody of the children and that both parents should have sufficient visitation time unless visitation is harmful to the child. How will the court determine joint or sole custody? The children’s best interests will be evaluated by a judge using the following factors:

1. The parent’s physical and mental health.

2. The parent’s willingness to foster a relationship with the other parent.

3. A parent’s dependency on drugs or alcohol.

4. The child’s preference if over the age of 12.

5. Any history of domestic violence during the marriage.

6. Which parent has been the primary caretaker of the children during the marriage.

If I agree to joint custody, does the other parent receive half of the time with the children?

No. Legal custody refers to a parent’s ability to direct a child’s medical care, education, and religion to name a few. The court must also determine a physical custody schedule for the minor child. Sometimes, physical custody is referred to as visitation.

If a parent is not a danger to the children and can provide a safe environment, a visitation schedule will be ordered by the Court. At the very least, Oklahoma provides a parent shall receive visitation per the standard visitation. The standard visitation schedule varies from county to county. Generally, the standard visitation schedule for each county will award visitation on the weekends, split a summer schedule of a child, and order a holiday schedule for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and spring break among other holidays.

Divorce Services: Simplified and Accessible

We understand the importance of efficiently and effectively resolving all issues surrounding finalizing your divorce matter, and we will work directly with you to achieve the optimal outcome. Having worked on these and other related issues for almost 17 years, we at Gower Law Offices have extensive experience in navigating you through your divorce.

We handle cases in most counties, including Oklahoma County, Cleveland County, and Canadian County. To discuss your specific case with attorney Dustin Gower, please call us at 405-562-5652 or email our firm at gowerlegal@gmail.com for a free consultation. Payment plans are available.