John Dunn
Tulsa -
918.526.8000

Mannford - 918.865.8030

 

Some have described me as “unwavering” when it comes to principles. Others say that I exhibit the trait of "loyalty to a fault" or that I am "utterly relentless” when pursuing an objective. As your attorney, I promise to be a loyal advocate and to be unwavering in the pursuit of your goals. I am a zealous advocate that does not shy away from conflict and litigation. I believe that the strongest weapon that an attorney can have is knowledge of his case. I will aggressively prepare your case for litigation while attempting to resolve the issues on favorable terms - a kind of "peace through strength" approach to the practice of law.

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TULSA FAMILY ATTORNEY

 Many people think that one of the ugliest words in the English language is "Divorce".  It is an understandably traumatic time.  The most traumatic experience most people will endure in their lives is a lawsuit.  When the lawsuit is filed by someone that once shared your life and things more valuable than money or "stuff" is at stake, the difficulty and potential for unnecessary conflict has increased dramatically.  However, before reacting out of anger and hatred alone, it is important to understand that most of the things to be decided in a divorce have already been legislated and are law.  The plain truth is, most of the time, the single largest factor contributing to the expense of a divorce is the actions of the parties themselves.  Consider the following:

  • Oklahoma is a "no fault state" which means that a divorce is available for the asking.   There is no need to allege or prove adultery, abuse, or other harm in order to be assured of success.

  • All of the property that belonged to a party before the marriage will generally remain the property of that party and are not subject to division.

  • Any property acquired by a party after separation is generally considered property of that party and not subjected to being divided.

  • Any gifts or inheritance that was given to only one party will generally remain the property of that party and will not be subject to being divided.

  • Alimony is decided based on a basis of "need" and "ability to pay".  

  • Child support is generally determined by using the child support guidelines - which accounts for various factors, including the incomes of each party and the expenses associated with the rearing of a child.

  • Normally, property ends up being divided by the agreement of the parties.  This will either happen before or after one or both of the parties have paid large amounts of money in attorney fees.

How the case is approached is up to the parties.  A hotly contested divorce case can lead to disappointment if the one of the parties believe they will achieve a result that is too far removed from the facts laid out above.  Often, this kind of combat results in enlarged attorney fees, financial hardship and frustration with the system. 

With that said, it is important to understand that it is never incumbent on one party to "play dead" for the other.  Each party is entitled to what the law allows.  If someone is unreasonable, you need a divorce attorney that knows how to fight, and knows how to compromise on favorable terms - all the while looking out for your financial interests and your objectives.  I am that divorce attorney.

I begin a case by listening to the objectives and concerns of the client.  After listening intently to the facts of the case, I discuss the client's goals and possible courses of action.  I will then have a frank conversation with the client, during which we prioritize goals and discuss the potential outcomes.  Then I will aggressively pursue a course of action that is calculated maximize the potential for realizing the clients goals in a cost effective manner.

Agreed / Uncontested Divorce

By far the most inexpensive type of divorce (and thus the one that preserves the marital estate for the parties to divide) is an agreed or uncontested divorce.  These kinds of divorce are also the fastest.  If no children are involved, a party can be divorced about ten days from from the date of filing.  If children are involved, it will take up ninety days due to a statutory requirement.  In this kind of divorce, the parties "equitably divide" their property, arrange the child custody, and schedule visitation.  The child support is then set by the child support guidelines.  In these kinds of divorce proceedings, there is no discovery, no battling attorneys, no motions or hearings that cause large legal fees.  Many times, only one of the parties will hire an attorney, although it is generally better for each party to have an attorney to look out for their interests.

Contested Divorces

A contested divorce is the stereotypical divorce in which the parties litigate the issues that they cannot agree on and a judge, after hearing the evidence will determine the outcome.  If the issue at stake is anything that does not relate to a child, the court attempts to divide the property based on what is an "equitable division" of the marital estate.  At the end of this, the court will have divided the debts and the assets among the parties.  If the issue involves the child, the court uses the "best interests of the child" as the guiding principle for resolving the dispute.  These cases are very similar to civil litigation in that they can involve expert witnesses, depositions,. discovery, motion hearings, and long trials.  (The principle difference is there is never a jury involved in a divorce proceeding.) 

 

 

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.

 

 

 

Mr. Dunn is a Tulsa Family Attorney who is equipped to handle almost any aspect family law.  Mr. Dunn handles divorces of all levels of conflict and complication, child custody and child support issues and represents his clients in both state and administrative court.  Mr. Dunn handles child support enforcement actions, adoption, paternity suits to establish child support and visitation, child custody cases.  Mr. Dunn practices in the area of guardianships and adoption. 

If you need an experienced  Tulsa Family Lawyer, please contact John Dunn.  His knowledge as a family attorney is vast and invaluable.

 

 

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