Alabama Divorce Lawyers
Legal Advice About Ending a Marriage | Tuscaloosa Attorneys
If you thinking about getting a divorce, it is wise to seek legal advice as early as possible. An experienced divorce lawyer can give you honest advice and clear information about your rights, the divorce process in Alabama, and the likely outcome of any disputes you think might come up during the divorce process. Early advice is especially important if you anticipate a conflict about property or children.
Turner & Webb, P.C., is a Tuscaloosa law firm with an AV Rating* that has an active family law and divorce practice. Our attorneys have 50 years of combined experience, and we provide practical and results-oriented representation in both uncontested and contested divorce cases. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
Basic Information About Divorce in Alabama
Every divorce is different, because every divorce depends on the specifics facts and conflicts between the spouses. That said, every divorce does follow the same basic process.
- The complaint: One spouse will file the complaint for divorce, and the other spouse will respond. In an uncontested divorce situation, the other spouse may choose to not respond. This will result in a default divorce order by the family court.
- Temporary hearing: Four to six weeks later, the spouses will attend a hearing where a judge makes temporary decisions about issues like child custody, child support, alimony and property division. The temporary order will be in effect until the divorce is final.
- Discovery: Next, the spouses trade financial and other information via a process called discovery. We use this information to decide on a negotiating position with regard to child custody, child support, spousal maintenance and property division. If we believe the other spouse is hiding information, we might hire a private investigator or subpoena financial records.
- Negotiation and mediation: Before a divorce trial occurs, we will attempt to negotiate compromises to arrive at an acceptable divorce agreement. If direct divorce negotiation is unsuccessful, the spouses may attend divorce mediation, where a neutral third party tries to help the spouses reach compromises on any outstanding disputes.
- Appointment of a guardian ad litem: If there are children of the marriage, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem. This person is a professional who represents the children's interests in court and who may have significant influence on custody and visitation decisions. We meet with the guardian ad litem both with and without the client, in order to provide the guardian with as much information as possible to help the guardian ad litem make decisions favorable to our client.
- Divorce trial: If negotiation and mediation are unsuccessful, a divorce court judge will make decisions about all financial and child-related issues after a trial.
- Post-divorce modifications: Often, clients come back to our office for help modifying child support and child custody orders after receiving a divorce decree. Child support orders can be modified if financial circumstances change significantly. Child custody and visitation orders may be changed if the current arrangement can be shown to endanger the child's welfare.
Contact Turner & Webb for Help With an Alabama Divorce
Our Alabama divorce attorneys provide cost-effective representation for all types of divorces — from straightforward, uncontested procedures to complex contested divorces with disputes over children and property.
Contact our Tuscaloosa law office to schedule a consultation.
2312 University Boulevard
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Toll Free: (888) 440-0935
Tel: (205) 535-1034 ▪ Fax: (205) 247-5669
E-Mail
* CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.