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Oklahoma Divorce Attorneys

Providing strong, decisive advocacy and steady support when life gets complicated. 

Oklahoma Divorce Attorneys

Divorce affects every part of life— your family, your finances, and your future. At Ball Morse Lowe, our divorce attorneys in Oklahoma City and throughout central Oklahoma help clients navigate this transition with compassion, clarity, and confidence. 

The dissolution of a marriage is an emotionally challenging and complex journey, often marked by unforeseen complications and a lengthy legal process. Our family law team provides supportive, strategic representation for all types of divorce, including contested and uncontested divorce, same-sex divorce, arbitration, and collaborative divorce. We take time to understand your unique situation and explain your options in plain language, helping you make informed choices that protect you and your family.

Grounded in our philosophy of Thoughtful Law, we combine empathy with decisive action to pursue fair, lasting resolutions. Whether your case involves child custody, property division, or complex financial issues, our attorneys bring focus and determination to every step of the process. 

At Ball Morse Lowe, we’re here to guide you through every stage of divorce — from first decisions to final agreements — with honesty, integrity, and peace of mind. 

Types of Divorce Cases We Handle

Every divorce is unique, and so is the path to resolution. Whether your case requires a formal divorce filing in court, a trial, or a more collaborative approach, the divorce attorneys at Ball Morse Lowe in Oklahoma are here to help you find the right way forward. 

Uncontested Divorce 

When spouses agree on property, custody, and support, an uncontested divorce offers a faster, smoother resolution. 

Contested Divorce 

If major issues aren’t resolved, a contested divorce may require court involvement to reach decisions. 

Military Divorce 

Military divorces differ from civilian matters, involving unique issues like retirement, deployment, and benefits.

Same-Sex Divorce 

We provide supportive legal guidance for same-sex couples resolving property, custody, and family rights.

Mediation

In mediation, spouses work with a neutral mediator to reach agreements and reduce time, stress, and cost. 

Collaborative Divorce 

In a collaborative divorce, both spouses and their attorneys resolve issues respectfully outside of court. 

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Talk to a Central Oklahoma Divorce Lawyer

A consult with our team can give you clarity for the road ahead. Get started by providing us with a few details. Our team is standing by and will respond within the next business day.  

What You Should Expect During an Oklahoma Divorce

Meet Residency Requirements

To file for divorce in Oklahoma, either you or your spouse must have lived in the state for at least six months. You may file in the District Court of the county where either spouse has resided for at least 30 days. 

Connect, Consult, Retain

Reach out to our team to schedule your free consultation. Once you’ve determined if we’re a fit and you’ve retained Ball Morse Lowe as your divorce attorney, you’ll immediately be referred to your new legal team to get started.

Prepare and File Initial Pleadings

The process begins with drafting and filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and, if needed, an Application for Temporary Orders. These documents are submitted to the court clerk in the appropriate county. A filing fee is required, though you may request a waiver if you qualify. 

Serve Your Spouse

After filing, and unless your spouse agrees to accept service, the documents must be formally served on your spouse. This is typically done by a private process server for a small fee. At this stage, the court also issues an automatic temporary injunction that prevents either party from making major financial changes, changes with your minor children, or property changes during the divorce. 

File a Response

Your spouse has 20 days from the date of service to file a written response, called an “answer,” with the court. If no response is filed, you may move forward by requesting a default judgment. 

Divorce Proceedings

Once the case is underway, several steps may follow. If you filed for temporary orders, the court will schedule a hearing to address issues such as custody, support, or possession of property while the case is pending. If children are involved, you may also be required to attend a parenting course.

After the case has been filed and an answer given, the parties are required to exchange preliminary information such as tax returns, bank statements, credit card statements, and retirement documents. Once this period ends, the discovery period can begin.

During discovery, both parties exchange requested information that may be relevant to your case. In many cases, mediation is required to encourage settlement. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the court will hold a pre-trial conference and, if necessary, a trial where a judge decides any unresolved matters. 

Finalize the Divorce

The divorce is completed when the judge signs and files a final divorce decree. Oklahoma law requires a waiting period before the decree can be entered: 90 days if minor children are involved, and 10 days if there are none. Once the decree is signed and filed, the divorce is legally final. 

Oklahoma’s Commonly Asked Divorce Questions

How do I get a divorce in Oklahoma?  A divorce in Oklahoma is granted based on many terms, including adultery, fraud, cruelty, abandonment, living apart, imprisonment, or conviction of a felony. Most divorces are granted on a “no-fault” basis, meaning there is no hope of reconciliation within the marriage. 
Where does Ball Morse Lowe provide Divorce services? Our Family Law team serves 32 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. Although our office locations are primarily in central Oklahoma – Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, and Stillwater – we can and frequently do work with clients across the state.  
  
We can accept Divorce cases filed in the following counties:  
Beckham County, Blaine County, Bryan County, Caddo County, Canadian County, Carter County, Cleveland County, Comanche County, Custer County, Garfield County, Garvin County, Grady County, Kay County, Kingfisher County, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Logan County, Love County, Marshall County, McClain County, Murray County, Noble County, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma County, Pawnee County, Payne County, Pontotoc County, Pottawatomie County, Roger Mills County, Seminole County, Stephens County, Washita County 
How much does a divorce cost? Divorce cases in Oklahoma can range significantly in terms of overall cost. The costs will inevitably vary depending on certain circumstances (minor children, custody, property disputes) involved in each specific matter. 
How long does a divorce take? Oklahoma imposes a 10-day waiting period before a divorce may be granted in cases without minor children. Likewise, cases with minor children have a 90-day waiting period imposed. However, the length of your case will depend on a combination of different case scenarios.   
What forms do I need to file a divorce in Oklahoma? Depending on the situation, a party must file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, a cover sheet, and in some instances a summons. 
Where do I file a divorce complaint filed? A petition for divorce may be filed in the county where either party has resided for at least 30 days prior to the date of filing. 
When do I need an attorney in a divorce? In most cases, it is in your best interest to hire an attorney. If your case involves minor children, an attorney is essential to ensure that custody and visitation rights are properly established and maintained. Even if your divorce is amicable, that can change during divorce proceedings and ensuring you have division of assets correctly handled saves you time, money, and energy in the long run. 
Can I request a male or female attorney to handle my divorce case? Yes! With our large and experienced family law team at Ball Morse Lowe, you have the option to choose whether you’d prefer a male or female attorney to represent you. We’re committed to matching you with the attorney who best fits your needs and makes you feel comfortable throughout the process. 
How do I get a divorce granted? A divorce is granted upon conclusion of your case by agreement or trial. Most divorces require at least one visit to the court.  
Do I have to go to court? There will be mandatory proceedings that require attendance. However, in most cases, the trial will not proceed. 
Can I get maintenance? Will I have to provide alimony to my spouse?

Maintenance in Oklahoma is based on two factors: 1) the party seeking payments must prove they have a demonstrated need for maintenance, and 2) the party providing maintenance must have the ability to pay. 

Can I get an annulment in Oklahoma? Yes - under very limited and certain circumstances, you may be granted an annulment in Oklahoma. 
When can I change my name during a divorce? You may restore your maiden name upon entry of the divorce decree. 
Following a divorce, when can I remarry, or start dating?

In Oklahoma, you are restricted from remarrying for six-months after a divorce decree. There are no restrictions on when a person can resume dating, however. 

What if my spouse does not want the divorce? Oklahoma courts are able to grant a divorce upon a single party petitioning the court, regardless of whether or not the opposing party chooses to participate. 
Attempts to serve my spouse haven’t worked; what’s my next step? If you are unable to serve your spouse, there are various other approaches you can seek from the court, including service by publication. 
Do the other divorce issues- child support, child custody, alimony, and property – have to be decided before the divorce is final?

In most instances, yes. All issues are prepared and resolved prior to a final resolution. 

How long do I have to be living in Oklahoma to get a divorce?

You must live within Oklahoma for six months prior to the filing of the divorce petition.  The party must also reside with the county for at least 30-days prior to the filing. 

Can I move out of Oklahoma after a divorce?

If your case involves minor children, you may be restricted to living within Oklahoma unless the parties or the court determine otherwise. If your case does not involve minor children, you will be free to move. However, you would still be subject to Oklahoma’s jurisdiction for divorce proceedings. 

How do I prove fault for divorce?

In Oklahoma, fault is proved through evidence establishing the opposing party has engaged and/or committed adultery, abandonment, fraud, cruelty, imprisonment, has convicted a felony, is living separate, or other scenarios you may discuss with one of our attorneys. 

When can a parent change a child’s name without the other parent’s permission?

Never – a parent cannot change a minor child’s last name without the express permission of the other parent or the leave of the court. 

Can a couple become legally married by living together under Oklahoma laws (common law marriage)?

Some scenarios may evidence the existence of a common law marriage in Oklahoma. The State has certain requirements that must be met in order for a court to determine that a common law marriage exists between the parties. Importantly, in order to terminate a common law marriage, spouses in Oklahoma must go through the formal divorce process.