Child Custody Laws and
Visitation Rights in Tulsa Oklahoma
Tulsa Child Custody Lawyers in Oklahoma
The family law attorneys of Givens & Givens law firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma are devoted
exclusively to the practice of family law. You can rest assured that when you come to Givens & Givens law firm for help, a Tulsa divorce lawyer who is certified as a family law specialist in Oklahoma will handle all aspects of divorce. There are many aspects to family law in Oklahoma and as family law attorney's in Tulsa, we have become familiar with nearly all of them. We help you through the divorce process, by guiding you through divorce mediation and advising you on Oklahoma child custody laws that may include temporary custody, legal custody
and physical custody. Either party may be awarded custody, or the court can
grant joint or split custody, all depending on “the best interests” of
the child. Visitation
is normally awarded the non-custodial parent at times dependent upon the
work and activity schedules of the parties and the child, including weekends,
holidays and summer time. And,supervised
visitation may be awarded in extreme cases where the child’s safety
or well being may be at stake. Contact us to speak with an Oklahoma
child
custody lawyer today.
Physical and Legal Custody in Oklahoma
In most situations, physical custody in Oklahoma is awarded to one parent with whom the child will live most of the time. Often, however, the custodial parent shares "legal custody" of the child with the non-custodial parent. "Legal custody" includes the right to make decisions about the child's education, religion, health care, and other important concerns.
Joint Custody in Oklahoma
Some parents have chosen a joint-custody arrangement in Oklahoma which the child spends an approximately equal amount of time with both parents. Proponents of this arrangement say it lessens the feeling of loss that a child may experience in a divorce. Critics, however, say that it is best for the child to have one home base, with liberal visitation allowed to the "non-custodial" parent. Because joint custody requires a high degree of cooperation between the parents, courts are reluctant to order joint custody unless both parents are in agreement and can demonstrate the ability to make joint decisions and cooperate for the child's sake.
Split Custody in Oklahoma
Another option, although much less favored, is split custody, in which one parent has custody of one or more of the parties' children, and the other parent has custody of the other(s). Courts usually prefer not to separate siblings, however, when issuing custody orders.
Child Support Enforcement in Oklahoma
There are sometimes difficulties in the legal custodian of the children recovering some or all of the monthly support, or other benefits, awarded for the upkeep of minor children. There are several remedies afforded by the courts of Oklahoma, and all other states, designed to collect arrearages, or seek increases, or attorney’s fees incurred in the process. These civil remedies are in addition to DHS payments, and criminal sanctions afforded by the state where the children are located, sometimes irrespective of where the party charged with providing for the children are located.
Paternity in Oklahoma
Sometimes,
with or without marriage, the paternity of a child is disputed. With
the advent of DNA testing, paternity can be proven, almost without
doubt, by the same testing as the state uses in criminal trials. Many
testing labs are available to parties, and a court order in Oklahoma
may be obtained for compulsory testing if consensual testing cannot
be arranged.
Adoption, legal name changing, protective orders, restraining
orders, discovery of assets, and other remedies attendant upon
a full Family Law Practice in Oklahoma are also available through
cases
filed in the District Court of Oklahoma.
