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The papers you received, or
Submitted by DakotaLegal on
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The papers you received, or
Submitted by DakotaLegal on
The papers you received, or ordered, from an ad in a newspaper need to be checked for accuracy and completeness. Unfortunately, there are some less than scrupulous people advertising for “easy” divorces for a certain price. The court clerk in Moulton ( Lawrence County Court) will tell you (a) that they will not give you any legal advice, but, regardless of that, (b) the county court clerks are usually very helpful in seeing the forms are correct and complete: http://www.alabama.gov/portal/secondary.jsp?id=countiesMountain&countyID=lawrence
Some Divorces Are Easy…
Although Alabama is unusual from most other states that have an expedited divorce procedure, Alabama judges still recognize some divorces are simpler, because they are uncontested, involving an agreement between the couple, and (if there are children) seem to protect the interests of the children. If you can reach an agreement with your spouse regarding all your assets, this can mean the court will not have to work to divide your community assets. This will speed a divorce. Even if you can each an agreement regarding any children, this can complicate the process.
After you file, there is a minimum waiting period of 30 calendar days before a divorce can be granted in Alabama, so mark it on your calendar once you know the forms have been properly filed and accepted by the court clerk.
…And some Divorces Are Complicated…
The single biggest complication in a divorce is if there are children or large amounts of property or cash. The possibility of fighting over money or kids is why the average costs of a divorce in Alabama can get more expensive (one study put average legal costs at a low of $3,500, up to $20,000).
If there are children, keep in mind there are things you can do to make the matter simpler. For example, even if you have reached an agreement, be prepared to show that one person is going to be the primary residence. You may be able to get low-cost help to do a home assessment, by asking a legal aid office. Huntsville is fairly close to you: http://eforms.alacourt.gov/Do%20It%20Yourself%20Forms/Divorce%20Complaint.pdf. You may also be able to get some help to do a home visit by asking the School of Social Work department at U of A, Huntsville. http://socialwork.ua.edu/faculty-staff/.
Where To Get Low Cost Help
Based on your income, you may be eligible for low-cost (or even free) legal help. http://www.alabamaatj.org/legal_aid.html. If you need help reviewing your documents, you may also contact the University of Alabama law clinic. The clinic provides help from talented law students, at no cost, and under clinic faculty supervision. http://www.law.ua.edu/academics/law-clinics/civil-law-clinic/.
Looking For Online Help
Part of my advice here is based on your getting “forms” from the newspaper. Be cautious about where you get information: online, for example, will also have many sites, trying to sell you forms. There are legitimate, free places to get useful forms and information. Here, for example, is a place to get an official, simplified (no kids, no assets to divide) divorce form Complaint for Alabama courts. I'd suggest you match it up with what you ordered:
http://eforms.alacourt.gov/Do%20It%20Yourself%20Forms/Divorce%20Complaint.pdf.
Even if you are eligible to get the low-cost legal help we talked about, you can help your case along by getting organized, and learning more about the process. Here is a checklist for what you need to do, based on either the simpler or complicated divorce, along with costs: http://13jc.alacourt.gov/clerkDomesticFilingChecklist.html. If you cannot afford the filing fees, ask about whether you can file for a waiver of some or all the costs.
The papers you received, or ordered, from an ad in a newspaper need to be checked for accuracy and completeness. Unfortunately, there are some less than scrupulous people advertising for “easy” divorces for a certain price. The court clerk in Moulton ( Lawrence County Court) will tell you (a) that they will not give you any legal advice, but, regardless of that, (b) the county court clerks are usually very helpful in seeing the forms are correct and complete: http://www.alabama.gov/portal/secondary.jsp?id=countiesMountain&countyID=lawrence
Some Divorces Are Easy…
Although Alabama is unusual from most other states that have an expedited divorce procedure, Alabama judges still recognize some divorces are simpler, because they are uncontested, involving an agreement between the couple, and (if there are children) seem to protect the interests of the children. If you can reach an agreement with your spouse regarding all your assets, this can mean the court will not have to work to divide your community assets. This will speed a divorce. Even if you can each an agreement regarding any children, this can complicate the process.
After you file, there is a minimum waiting period of 30 calendar days before a divorce can be granted in Alabama, so mark it on your calendar once you know the forms have been properly filed and accepted by the court clerk.
…And some Divorces Are Complicated…
The single biggest complication in a divorce is if there are children or large amounts of property or cash. The possibility of fighting over money or kids is why the average costs of a divorce in Alabama can get more expensive (one study put average legal costs at a low of $3,500, up to $20,000).
If there are children, keep in mind there are things you can do to make the matter simpler. For example, even if you have reached an agreement, be prepared to show that one person is going to be the primary residence. You may be able to get low-cost help to do a home assessment, by asking a legal aid office. Huntsville is fairly close to you: http://eforms.alacourt.gov/Do%20It%20Yourself%20Forms/Divorce%20Complaint.pdf. You may also be able to get some help to do a home visit by asking the School of Social Work department at U of A, Huntsville. http://socialwork.ua.edu/faculty-staff/.
Where To Get Low Cost Help
Based on your income, you may be eligible for low-cost (or even free) legal help. http://www.alabamaatj.org/legal_aid.html. If you need help reviewing your documents, you may also contact the University of Alabama law clinic. The clinic provides help from talented law students, at no cost, and under clinic faculty supervision. http://www.law.ua.edu/academics/law-clinics/civil-law-clinic/.
Looking For Online Help
Part of my advice here is based on your getting “forms” from the newspaper. Be cautious about where you get information: online, for example, will also have many sites, trying to sell you forms. There are legitimate, free places to get useful forms and information. Here, for example, is a place to get an official, simplified (no kids, no assets to divide) divorce form Complaint for Alabama courts. I'd suggest you match it up with what you ordered:
http://eforms.alacourt.gov/Do%20It%20Yourself%20Forms/Divorce%20Complaint.pdf.
Even if you are eligible to get the low-cost legal help we talked about, you can help your case along by getting organized, and learning more about the process. Here is a checklist for what you need to do, based on either the simpler or complicated divorce, along with costs: http://13jc.alacourt.gov/clerkDomesticFilingChecklist.html. If you cannot afford the filing fees, ask about whether you can file for a waiver of some or all the costs.