Tulsa Family Law
If you need a divorce or a modification of a divorce decree, you and your children’s interestsshould be protected. Tracy A. Cinocca, P.C. represents families in crisis, coping with separation and divorce, child support modification, adoption and custody.
Do not let your children suffer. Protect your rights and your children’s rights to have both a mother and a father, to have financial support and be free from abuse or neglect.
Please contact Ms. Cinocca if you have any questions or call (918) 488-9117.
Divorce: Assets and Debts
It is important that you know the assets and debt you have incurred during your marriage. If you lack personal knowledge and/or the documents in support of them, the fees and costs associated with your divorce can drastically increase. Before you begin your divorce, consider the information requested on the two worksheets here and here. These worksheets have been assembled numerous lawyers in Oklahoma for the benefit of the public. It is helpful to attempt to locate as much of this information as you can and answer these questions before your meeting with your lawyer or shortly thereafter. It will decrease the costs and fees of your litigation. Printing and preparing your answers and supporting documents before your first meeting with Ms. Cinocca will help your case efficiency.
Also, please consider the personal property at issue in your divorce. To the extent these items can be separated by agreement of both parties, usually the better for all involved. When the separation of personal property becomes an issue, we also request both parties to complete a worksheet listing those items and their value.
Initial Custody Determination
It is always preferrable if the parties can agree as to custody and visitation issues. First, you should consider who the primary custodian should be. Then, consider what time split arrangement will work best for the children based on their needs and the parents’ abilities. If this is expected to be a hot issue in your divorce, then begin preparation of your claims. List what you want that is in your children’s best interest as far as custody and time share. Then, list the reasons why this is in their best interests. List the strengths and weaknesses of each parent. Discuss with Ms. Cinocca what documents or other evidence will best prove your claims. There are many options possible.
Modification of Custody Determination
If you would like to modify a prior custody determination, you need to begin your preparation by listing every material change of circumstance that has occurred since the prior custody order in support of your request to change the custody or visitation schedule. A Timeline of events is especially helpful for counsel and your personal preparation for testifying in Court. Discuss with Ms. Cinocca the documents you have or which could be acquired in support of your claims.
Emergency Custody Determination
The preparation for a request for Emergency Custody is usually rushed. It is imperative if you seek emergency custody that you prepare as soo as possible when you learn of the potential for danger to your child or children. Prepare a Timeline of events in support of your fear harm may result to the children if an emergency award ofcustody is not made. Contact Ms. Cinocca immediately and advise her or her staff that this is an emergency rush situation!
How Much Will it Cost?
The cost of your divorce will vary depending on many factors. To start simply, two parties may agree to the terms of their divorce. The preparation and counseling required for the proper prearation of an agreed divorce with related documentation typically costs between $650 and $1500.00 depending on the nature and complexity of your divorce. The more assets and terms required for custody, the more expensive. However, being quoted a flat fee for these documents usually provides an incredible cost savings to you, as well as predictability as to cost.
All other cases are typically billed on a per quarter hour spent basis off a refundable retainer. Usually, during the first ninety days, the parties are on an emotional rollercoaster and need time to adjust to their new situation in life and come to terms with the advice of their counsel or state of law. We find that much expense is incurred during this time in counseling clients, and addressing temporary order needs, if an agreement does not appear then possible.
We have located an excellent attorney fee calculator at http://www.rosen.com/pricing/. This attorney fee calculator tends to be a pretty good estimate of time and fees involved based on several factors that may or may not be present in your case. We have identified other factors that affect the cost of your divorce as well, and hope to prepare a similar calculator at some future time here. By all mean educate yourself with the proper expectation as to divorce cost and speak about it openly with your attorney as there may be ways to mitigate costs so that they are far below what the Rosen law firm calculates. Remember: Parties can agree to terms at any time, thereby cutting off attorney fees and costs except as to the finalization of documentation. Our firm strives to meet the goals and objectives of our clients within their budgetary constraints and needs as often as possible.