Divorce in Oklahoma

When you are going through a prolonged period of marital strife it is natural to consider the possibility

of divorce. However, it is a huge decision that has impact on a number of people beyond the couple who are at the center of the matter. If you have children their lives will never be the same, and their grandparents and the rest of the extended family will also be affected.

It is worthwhile to emphasize the fact that there are many fine counseling resources in the Oklahoma City area that have helped countless couples repair their marriages.

Should you decide that you do want to go through with a divorce action you can find all of the laws in Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes. To meet the residency requirement either the petitioner or the respondent must have resided in the state for at least six months. People who have been stationed on a military base in Oklahoma for a minimum of six months are considered to be residents and my file for divorce in Oklahoma as well.

One would file a Petition for Divorce in the District Court in your county of residence, and the District Clerk’s Office handles all the paperwork. In the state of Oklahoma you can file for divorce on either fault or no-fault grounds. The lone no-fault ground for divorce is that of incompatibility. The fault grounds for divorce in Oklahoma include insanity for at least five years; cruelty to the extreme; adultery; gross neglect of duty; incarceration due to the commission of a felony; fraud; impotence; abandonment for a minimum of one year; and chronic alcohol or substance abuse.

The state would greatly prefer that divorcing couples avoid a contested divorce and reach terms that they both agree to voluntarily. But if they can’t, it will indeed be up to the court to make the final decision with regard to any disputed terms.

If you are going through a divorce it would be advisable to retain the services of an experienced Oklahoma City OK divorce attorney.