Short answer, no. Longer answer, still no. I have lost count of the number of times I have been asked this question. Oklahoma abolished Alienation of Affections and similar torts back in 1976. However, some people still believe this is a thing. In this article we will clear this up. So, the next time you hear someone ask this question at a party, you will be in the know! Some States Still Recognize Alienation of Affections Actions There are only a handful of states left that still recognize Alienation of Affection lawsuits. Oklahoma is not one of them: Hawaii, Mississippi, New Mexico, North C ..read more

One tool available to the court in contested or high conflict divorce or paternity cases in Oklahoma is the Guardian Ad Litem. In this article we will discuss the basics of what you should know and provide some tips and suggestions to help you get the most out of your interactions with the Guardian Ad Litem. What is a Guardian Ad Litem? The Guardian Ad Litem is an attorney appointed by the court to represent the best interest of children. They do this by investigating and then writing a report for the Judge. The GAL does not make decisions like a Judge. But, the GAL will investi ..read more

This article will focus on some must know common sense tips that anyone can use. These tips are universally applicable to any Oklahoma child custody, divorce, paternity, child support, and visitation case. Paying attention to the details can make a big difference. If ignored, the small stuff can quickly turn into big problems. Be on Time Show up on time. Allow plenty of extra time. It seems there is always construction and other delays that happen at the worst possible time. On your way to the courthouse is the worst possible time. Plan for delays and always be at the courthouse 30 minutes ear ..read more

One tool used in Oklahoma divorce and paternity cases to help manage conflict is the Good Conduct Order. Think of it as an order courts use in an effort to get people to act right. There are various versions of Good Conduct Orders floating around. While there are some differences, they all pretty much have the same general theme. Below is one example of a Good Conduct Order. Example Order For Good Conduct of Separated or Divorced Parents Choosing One Parent Over the Other.  The divorce is not the children’s fault. It is not because of anything they did.  For the children, it is a co ..read more

I will start by saying that no one likes to answer discovery. I certainly would rather spend my time doing something else. However, it is a legitimate procedure and one that must be properly handled. There is a very specific way that I will need you to provide the documents to me. Please follow these instructions very carefully. If you follow these steps exactly, it will save me a lot of time organizing your responses, saving you money because you won’t be paying me to spend hours organizing the information. Step 1: Gather all of the requested documents. Save all documents in .pdf format.&n ..read more

A quick way to run a case off into the ditch is to let your Oklahoma divorce lawyer learn some damaging information for the first time while standing in court. I know what you are thinking: Who would do that? Believe me when I say it happens. You must tell your lawyer everything. Especially the stuff you wish you did not have to tell anyone. I understand that this is not comfortable for anyone. However, failing to tell your divorce lawyer everything is one of the quickest ways to damage a case. Sometimes, this can damage a case beyond repair. When your lawyer knows about something in adva ..read more

Want to know how you can avoid many legal problems? What if I could tell you how to also avoid many life problems? Even better, and the reason you are reading this blog: How about a strategy with the potential to exponentially increase the odds of persuading a judge to award joint custody? Keep reading… Listen to the Teacher! I like to keep things simple. There are no extra points for over-complicating legal matters. One of my general themes is “don’t make shit harder than it needs to be.” When thinking about legal strategy, it is very easy to get lost digging through thousands of pages of st ..read more

Mediation is without question one of the most powerful tools available to you in a divorce or custody case. Not only can mediation minimize your legal expenses, but it also gives you a say in the outcome of your case. Unfortunately, many people fail to recognize the importance of mediation, leading to a half-ass effort and a failure to prepare appropriately. If you go to trial, the JUDGE makes the decision. In Mediation, YOU get to decide I feel that mediation is so pivotal that I have taken the time to put together these must-know mediation tips. I still learn something every time I mediate a ..read more

We prove our case by presenting evidence. We also use evidence to evaluate the strength and weaknesses of a case. Evidence typically takes the form of witnesses and exhibits. The guide will apply to any Oklahoma family matter, whether a divorce, paternity, visitation, child support, or a custody case. One form of evidence that we will use are witnesses. The best witnesses are those that do not have a stake in the fight, are not biased, and have first-hand personal knowledge of you, your child, and/or the child’s other parent. Your witnesses must have first-hand personal knowledge of the events ..read more

When you are in a relationship you may share many things. However, when the relationship ends, you can’t share an attorney. The first thing that you need to know is that there is no such thing as “our” attorney in a family law case. There is no way to get around this. If an attorney is involved, that attorney is either his attorney, or her attorney. This rule applies whether it is a divorce, paternity, custody, visitation, or child support matter. So, before you and your opposing party decide to meet with an attorney together, you must first understand h ..read more