The divorce is rarely a pleasant experience, even if both spouses manage to reach an agreement on every aspect. That is why it is understandable that most people want to get through this part of their lives as quickly as possible. Luckily, these days, there are plenty of options for making aspects of the divorce process more manageable. In this article, you’ll find everything you need for making divorce in Oklahoma convenient.
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Filing For Divorce in Oklahoma: Everything You’ll Need
If you’re considering getting a divorce in Oklahoma, you need to know the exact steps to take. With a solid strategy in mind, you may be able to go through this process faster and with less unnecessary drama.
Step 1: Meeting the Residency Requirements
A dissolution of marriage or a divorce in Oklahoma begins with one of the spouses signing a petition. According to Oklahoma state law, this document must be filed in the county where one of the spouses has lived for over 90 days. If you want your filing for divorce to be successful, you’ll also need to make sure that you or your spouse has lived in Oklahoma for at least 6 months.
Step 2: Choosing Grounds for the Divorce
In Oklahoma, spouses have an opportunity to choose between a no-fault and fault-based divorce. A no-fault divorce implies that the couple has previously agreed on every divorce matter, such as child custody, alimony, and property division.
In the case of the second divorce type, in Oklahoma, the following grounds are considered to be valid:
- One of the spouses has abandoned the other one for more than a year;
- One of the spouses has been diagnosed with insanity for over 5 years;
- Adultery;
- One of the spouses has been imprisoned with criminal charges;
- One of the partners is incapable of providing for the other financially;
- One of the spouses has shown signs of cruel behavior towards the other;
- Impotence;
- Regular and uncontrolled drunkenness of one of the spouses;
- The wife’s infidelity that resulted in her pregnancy;
- The marriage has been initially built on fraud.
The uncontested divorce is a fast and less troubling way to end a marriage, so most couples choose this route.
Step 3: Document Preparation
Filling out divorce forms is challenging for many couples. Depending on the case’s peculiarities and the state of residence, the divorce papers required for the proceeding may vary. The good thing is that once you know which forms you need to fill out, you can do it yourself, without an attorney involved.
Before submitting the paperwork to the court in Oklahoma, you’d need to complete a petition. It is a written document that officially states your desire to get a divorce. If you have any minor children, they must also be mentioned in the petition. Don’t forget to state your children’s home address for the last 5 years too. After this document is signed, you’ll become a petitioner and your spouse a respondent.
After signing the petition, you’ll have to write a written declaration called an “affidavit.” This document ensures that everything that you stated in your petition is valid. The final document that should be submitted to the court is a Notice of Summons. This paper will be served to the respondent to know when they should come to the court.
Preparing Divorce Documents Online: How-To
Nowadays, people who want to get divorced have a new option – online divorce. It is an online process for divorce paperwork preparation. However, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to have a complete divorce over the internet. Only a judge can finalize a divorce. Internet divorce is an affordable way to take care of your legal documents for the process.
There are now plenty of online divorce companies that offer their services to couples who want a DIY divorce. The service can select and fill out the exact documents needed for your divorce based on your situation and state of residence. To start the process, you’ll be asked to fill out a questionnaire to provide information about your marriage and divorce. The system will use your answers to fill out the required forms for you. The waiting period for this service doesn’t usually take longer than 2 business days. After that, you’ll be able to print out the copies and submit them to the court after paying some filing fees.
Here are some of the most significant benefits of web divorce:
- It is relatively inexpensive. With this service, you’ll be able to significantly cut the cost of divorce in comparison to hiring a lawyer. Usually, the price for such services doesn’t go higher than a couple of hundred dollars.
- It might help you avoid going to court. The decision to complete divorce online, together with waiving your right to appeal, may allow you to avoid the necessity of appearing in court, especially if you chose no-fault grounds for divorce and submit the application for divorce online.
- You’ll have more control over the process. If you decide to fill out the paperwork online, you’ll know exactly how long it will take to get your forms and receive detailed instructions on how to apply for divorce in court.
Final Thoughts
Divorce can surely bring headaches, but if you agree on such terms as spousal support and child custody and pick no-fault grounds, there’s a good chance that it will be over quickly. Getting a divorce online is one of the best ways to meet the legal court requirements and get your forms 100% approved. It is also a faster way to prepare your documents and serve them with your spouse.
