Alabama is not a community property state in which all assets are split 50/50 and divided between the couple. Alabama is an equitable distribution state, which means that assets gained during the marriage or used for the benefit of the marriage should be split in a fair and equitable way.
How much is a divorce lawyer in Alabama?
How Much Do Divorce Lawyers Cost? A flat fee for a divorce can range from $1,500.00 to $5,000.00 and beyond for extremely complex cases. The benefit for a client is knowing that you won’t be charged any additional legal fees other than the flat fee.
What is the average cost of a divorce in Alabama?
Court Costs The fees vary by county, but across Alabama, filing and completing a divorce will cost around $200-$300.
What is the fastest way to get a divorce in Alabama?
To get a fast divorce in Alabama, you and your spouse are in complete agreement on all marital issues. An uncontested divorce is usually the fastest way to get a divorce in Alabama. It is where both of you sign a settlement agreement concerning the marital issues and submit it to the Court.
What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in Alabama?
You have several options to dissolve the marriage legally. One of those options is an uncontested divorce. In Alabama, an uncontested divorce is the easiest, least expensive and least stressful of your divorce options.
Does the wife get half in a divorce in Alabama?
Alabama Marital Property Laws When you consider a divorce, you may think you will get 50 percent of everything or worry that your spouse will take half of everything. However, Alabama is not a community property state, which typically splits property 50/50 between divorcing spouses.
How long does divorce in Alabama take?
How long does it take to get a divorce? An uncontested divorce usually takes about 6-10 weeks after everything has been signed by both spouses and filed with the court. A contested divorce can take anywhere from 30 days to months or years, depending on if there is a trial or not.
How long do you need to be separated before divorce in Alabama?
Legal Separation Code 30-2-40. State law does not mandate couples undergo a period of separation before they get divorced.
Does it matter who files for divorce first in Alabama?
The spouse who files first in the divorce is the plaintiff. The other spouse is the defendant. Being the plaintiff has certain advantages. This spouse gets to start on the offense and set the initial tone of the divorce.
Who gets what in a divorce in Alabama?
Alabama is an equitable distribution state. This means that in a divorce, courts will divide property in a fair and equitable manner. But equitable does not mean a 50-50 split. Courts will use a number of factors to determine what is fair and equitable.
Can you get a divorce without going to court?
It is possible to get divorced without going to court, as long as your partner agrees to the divorce and the reasons why. However, it is still possible that you will need to go to court to decide what happens to money, property and children.
Who gets the house in a divorce in Alabama?
Alabama courts always prefer that the spouses decide amongst themselves who gets the house and all marital assets. Courts will only step in and make a decision if the couple is not able to arrive at one themselves or with the help of their lawyers.
Can you get a divorce without the other person signing in Alabama?
You can, in most cases, still get a divorce even if the other spouse is not ready. A divorce that is filed without an agreement is called a contested divorce in Alabama. The first thing you need in filing for any type of divorce is grounds. In Alabama, you can file for divorce without fault attributed to either spouse.
Do I need an attorney to file for divorce in Alabama?
Many couples find that they can navigate the uncontested divorce process without hiring lawyers. Also, with an uncontested divorce, you may be able to use a service to file for divorce online.
How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Alabama?
As of 2019, it costs a plaintiff $290 in filing fees for an uncontested divorce in Alabama. If there is a minor children in the marriage, that amount rises to $390. Each Alabama county also has a separate filing fee.
Does Alabama require alimony?
In Alabama, the judge will award rehabilitative alimony to one of the spouses only if all of the following are true: that spouse doesn’t have the means to be self-supporting at the same economic level as during the marriage. the other spouse can pay support “without undue hardship,” and.
Is alimony mandatory in Alabama?
An Alabama court will consider alimony only after equitable property division has been decided. The court will then determine whether an alimony award is necessary or whether instead, the division of assets will provide sufficient means of support for the lower-earning party without the need for alimony.
How long do you have to be married in Alabama to get alimony?
Although the new rules in Alabama limit alimony to 5 years, one exception is when a couple has been married for more than 20 years. In those cases, if a party can convince the court of a need for support, the court can grant permanent alimony as stated above.
Is it better to file for divorce or be served?
The clearest advantage to filing for divorce first is that at trial the Petitioner gets to present his/her evidence first. Thus, the Petitioner has the advantage of being able to decide which witnesses to call first at trial and the order in which they will be called.
What is considered legally separated in Alabama?
A married couple may choose legal separation instead of divorce for several reasons, such as religion, medical insurance, or complications with asset and property division between the spouses. In a separation, the spouses remain married, but sever most of their other marital connections.
How often is alimony awarded in Alabama?
The duration of payments is determined by a judge in Alabama family court. Alimony length is usually based on length of marriage – one commonly used standard for alimony duration is that 1 year of alimony is paid every three years of marriage (however, this is not always the case in every state or with every judge).
Is it illegal to date while separated in Alabama?
In Alabama, it is not illegal to date while you are legally separated. However, just because you are legally able to do it doesn’t always mean that you should. It is important to consider the possible effects of dating or committing adultery on any pending or future divorce case, even if you are legally separated.
Is there a homewrecker law in Alabama?
The ‘Homewrecker’ law, which is also called the alienation of affection lawsuit, is a law that enables someone to sue a third party for damages incurred due to the break up of their marriage. At the time of writing this, however, legislation has been passed to abolish alienation of affection laws in Alabama.
How is debt divided in a divorce in Alabama?
In Alabama, debt and assets are divided in an equitable fashion. That means that, rather than being divided 50/50, debt is split up in a way that is fair to both parties.
What can you not do during a divorce?
- Don’t use your children to get at the other person.
- Don’t make threats to, or cause harassment to the other person.
- Don’t think you are going to take the other person “to the cleaners”.
- Don’t try to hide money or assets.
- Don’t be unrealistic about cost.