Is Alabama a No-Fault Divorce State?
Yes, Alabama is a no-fault divorce state. In a no-fault divorce, the party seeking a divorce does not have to prove that their spouse was at fault for the breakdown of the marriage. What Is No-Fault Divorce? Marriage is a legal contract. Accordingly, an Alabama court can only grant a…
High Income Child Support: How It Works
If you and your spouse (or partner) make more than $30,000 a month, the Rule 32 guidelines that govern child support calculation in Alabama don’t apply. The calculation only goes up to $30,000 as of June 2023, revised from a cap of $20,000.00. If you are contemplating child support and…
Finding The Secret Gift in Your Divorce
It took me seven years to find it. I was bitter and angry when my ex-husband walked out the door of our apartment the day before Valentines. It felt like the carpet was ripped out from under me. That day I not only lost my husband of fifteen years but also…
What Qualifies Me for an Annulment in Alabama?
As a domestic relations attorney, every so often I meet with a person who wants to know if he or she can annul their marriage. It’s a term that entered pop culture and developed misconceptions of it’s requirements as well as it’s utility. I’m sure that you have heard a…
How Does Domestic Violence Affect Custody
A conviction for domestic violence in the state of Alabama, comes with a presumption that the offender should not be awarded custody. Don’t count on this as a blanket statement. Each case will need to be evaluated for the facts because some harassment cases can be labeled as domestic violence…
Why Most Cases Settle in Mediation
You may have heard the term mediation in the context of litigation. It’s a common way in Madison County and the surrounding areas, that cases are resolved. In mediation, the parties hash out their differences with a neutral mediator. Most of the time they are represented but sometimes the parties…
Things To Consider Before Filing For Divorce
If you are reading this article, you probably have a long list of reasons to divorce. They are all perfectly valid reasons; but, this article is suggesting that you press pause to thoughtfully consider the following questions: Am I ready to end my marriage? What does life look like if…
Communicating Effectively – Making Co-parenting Work for the Benefit of Children
I was speaking to a parent who has joint custody and asking him what are the most important things when it comes to co-parenting. His top three suggestions are: Communicating effectively. What causes it to be effective? In writing, concise, neutral, and non blaming. Don’t always respond immediately if you…
Don’t Do This! Children As a Weapon in Child Custody Cases
The most important you have as is raising your children to be happy, healthy individuals. When you are divorced this can become a greater challenge as you navigate your thoughts and feelings about your ex spouse. How you treat them and how you interact with them in front of and…
How To Win a Court Case for Child Custody
Disputes about child custody are often the most stressful part of a divorce. It is better for all involved if a divorcing couple can come to a child custody agreement without court intervention, but that is not always possible. If the terms of your children’s upbringing are to be decided…
