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Barteaux Reappointed As Cherokee Nation District Judge

The Honorable T. Luke Barteaux has been reappointed.

Barteaux, who made Fry & Elder history on May 15, 2017 when he became the firm’s first attorney to be sworn in as judge, was reappointed as a Cherokee Nation District Judge on February 12, 2018 by the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. His new term will continue until February of 2022.

Cherokee Nation District Judge

“I feel deeply honored to be reappointed,” Barteaux said. “This is a position that is very important to me and one which comes with a lot of responsibility. To be able to continue to serve the Cherokee Nation in this capacity really is quite an honor and one that I hold very dearly.”

Cherokee Nation Tribal Council Speaker Joe Byrd stated in a release that the court has full confidence in Barteaux and that he will only continue to flourish in the position.

“I believe Judge Luke Barteaux has represented the Cherokee Nation well since he took an oath last year to serve the tribe’s court system. Over the next four years as he becomes accustomed to his position, I expect he’ll continue to bring a level of sophistication to our courts.”

Barteaux’s wife Sarah held the Bible when he was initially sworn in as judge in 2017. This time around, it was Barteaux’s mother Lisa who held the Bible as Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Chief Justice John Garrett administered the oath to the Cherokee Nation District Judge.

“They’re the two most important women in my life,” Barteaux said. “I feel very fortunate to be able to include them in the oath of office ceremony.”

Oklahoma law firm

With Fry & Elder since 2011, Barteaux has distinguished himself as an elite Oklahoma family law attorney whose practice areas include divorce/dissolution of marriage, family law litigation, child custody and visitation, modifications, child support, alimony, guardianships, adoptions, collaborative divorce, legal separation, juvenile law, and mediation.

He has been named to Super Lawyers® Rising Stars every year since 2015 and served as the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section Chair in 2016.

“Luke has done a phenomenal job throughout his career as a trial lawyer,” Fry & Elder partner M. Shane Henry said. “He is highly regarded and has taken on a number of leadership positions with the Oklahoma Bar Association. It is an honor to work alongside of him.

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with Barteaux.

Oklahoma Alimony Support No Longer a Tax Deduction in 2019

Changes to Oklahoma alimony support are on the horizon.

Oklahoma alimony support

Under the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by President Donald Trump, alimony (also known at spousal support) will no longer be deductible by the payor and count as income by the recipient. The provisions will not affect divorce decrees and separation agreements entered before Dec. 31, 2018, but those signed after would be impacted.

The Oklahoma alimony support lawyers of Fry & Elder are well aware that ending the 76-year old deduction could drastically impact many divorce settlement negotiations and agreements and are taking a proactive approach in preparing for the imminent changes set to come to Oklahoma alimony support.

“The change in tax treatment will have obvious effects on settlement agreements, as the tax deduction is often an important consideration when crafting a settlement agreement that includes support alimony,” local attorney Amy Page said in an email directed to Fry & Elder attorneys. “We are aware of these effects and are and will continue to be prepared to educate our clients about them as well.”

Oklahoma Alimony Support Defined

Alimony in Oklahoma and most other states is financial support paid by one spouse to another after divorce. Oklahoma alimony terms can be agreed upon by the parties involved or a judge can decide. Spousal support payments typically come in monthly installments but also can be paid in one large lump sum.

Unlike child support, there is no set formula to determine spousal support in Oklahoma. There also is no set time frame on how long a spouse can expect to pay or receive alimony. When determining the amount of spousal support to be paid, the following components often apply:

  • The length of the marriage
  • The health and age of each spouse
  • The mode of living to which each spouse has become accustomed during the marriage
  • Evidence of a spouse’s own income-producing capacity and the time necessary to make the transition for self-support
  • Demonstrated need during the post-matrimonial economic readjustment period
  • The parties’ station in life
  • The earning ability and education of each spouse
  • The parties’ physical condition and financial means

The Potential Impact of the Tax Provisions to Oklahoma Alimony Support

As Fry & Elder’s teams of attorneys alluded to, changes to the tax treatment of spousal support could be far reaching, particularly at the negotiation table where the ability to use alimony deduction was often a powerful bargaining chip.

With only one year remaining for alimony to be claimed as a deduction, it has been reported that some family law attorneys are advising couples considering divorce to file this year – before the deduction is eliminated.

Politico quoted former American Bar Association Family Law Section Chair Mary Vidas as saying: “Now’s not the time to wait. If you’re going to get a divorce, get it now.”

The reasoning behind Vidas’ recommendation may stem from the fact that with alimony being wiped out as a deduction, more disputes could emerge between the two parties and what they deem as a fair number for spousal support.

“The deduction substantially reduces the cost of alimony payments – for people in the highest income-tax bracket, it means every dollar they spend to support a former spouse really costs them a little more than 60 cents.”

Added Pittsburgh family law attorney Brian Vertz:

“The repeal reduces the bargaining power of vulnerable spouses, mostly women, in achieving financial stability after a divorce.”

Though alimony was historically awarded to the wife, this is not the case anymore. Gender is now irrelevant when determining Oklahoma alimony support, meaning either the husband or wife can receive alimony.

Why Experience the Fry & Elder Difference?

Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr.’s divorce philosophy to “always seek mediation and resolution first, but when a compromise can’t be made to shoot all the bullets you have and throw the empty gun at them” has long been a hallmark of the firm. That said, Fry & Elder has remained proactive in staying up to date with Oklahoma family law practices, including spousal support.

The firm has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List every year since 2014 and Is comprised of an experienced team of family law attorneys which include:

Should you have any additional questions in regards to Oklahoma alimony support or any other family law matter, we encourage you to contact Fry & Elder Tulsa today to set up a personal consultation with a proven family law attorney.

Accomplished Tulsa Divorce Attorney Fry Embraces 50th Year

Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. found himself in an awkward situation last summer in Ireland. Turns out, driving on the opposite side of the road requires a bit of getting used to – not that the acclaimed Tulsa divorce attorney had difficulty adjusting to the other side of the road.

No, Fry did just fine. He successfully navigated his way along the picturesque country’s Eastern coast and through the Ring of Kerry. Successful navigation, though, has been a hallmark of Fry’s legal career since its inception in 1968.

Tulsa divorce attorney Robert G "Hap" Fry Jr.

Accomplished Tulsa Divorce Attorney Fry Still Going Strong at 50

The elite Tulsa divorce and child custody attorney recently celebrated a birthday on Dec. 19 to signify the beginning of his 50th year practicing law.

When it comes to Oklahoma family law, there is not much Fry has not achieved. He is one of only 19 attorneys in the state to be a Fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, is an eight-time Best Lawyers® selection and is an 11-time Super Lawyers honoree.

Fry also was named the Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Oklahoma 2016 and this past summer – shortly before his drive along the Irish coastline – joined the likes of John Wayne, Brad Pitt and David Letterman as a Significant Sig Award winner.

While there might not be much left for him to achieve professionally, Fry embarks on his 50th year still going strong and anticipating another busy and very productive year.

“I feel great,” Fry said. “I understand that I might not have the same energy I had 20 years ago, but I feel very good and I am a whole lot wiser at this stage of my career. I don’t think many people enter their respective profession thinking they will work in it for 50 years, and I didn’t either. I realize I am extremely fortunate to be in this position. Practicing law is something I continue to find very rewarding and challenging each day.

“Our firm has grown so much these past couple of years which has been a lot of fun to be a part of and observe. We’ve really got an incredible staff together that’s just been a joy to work with and has kept me feeling young and energetic. I am very blessed and there is much to look forward to here at Fry & Elder.”

Tulsa divorce attorney Robert G "Hap" Fry Jr. and Badger

Fry & Elder, Fry Jr. Continue to Grow

As the accomplished Tulsa divorce attorney alluded to, Fry & Elder has experienced immense growth in the past two years. The renowned Oklahoma law firm’s accomplished team of attorneys has increased from 5 to its current roster of 12 since 2015. The firm also offers immigration law, criminal defense and personal injury law services to compliment its highly-regarded family law services.

Fry & Elder has been named to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List every year since 2014, and the firm’s lineup of trial lawyers includes the following:

Though the firm has grown exponentially the past few years, Fry & Elder’s trial lawyers continue to seek out Fry for wisdom and perspective.

“He’s a legend,” said Fry & Elder partner M. Shane Henry, who joined Fry in Best Lawyers this year. “To have the longevity that he has had is remarkable, but even more remarkable is the fact that he has operated at such a high level throughout his career. It really is incredible. Our attorneys and myself have learned and continue to learn so much from him.”

Premier Tulsa Divorce Lawyer Reflects on Changes in Family Law

As a high-level practicing Tulsa divorce lawyer for 50 years, there is not much Fry has not seen or encountered in the realm of family law. He was proactive in embracing and advancing the changes in child support guidelines in the 1980s, presenting CLE seminars on the changes to the Tulsa County Bar Association.

“The guidelines were needed,” Fry said. “Child support comes before car payments, mortgages and other expenses.”

Fry also championed the efforts of fathers being granted child custody when the “norm” was for the mother to typically gain custody of the child.

Through it all, Fry has been a trailblazer of sorts in Oklahoma family law, but he has always been guided by two constants which he learned while clerking for Judge Robert D. Simms in 1966 and 1967 and he conveyed in a 2016 article by the Tulsa Business & Legal News. The first is to “always be prepared.”

The second:

“I deal with other lawyers every day and tell them what I am going to do,” Fry said. “I deal in trust and letters follow on the more complicated cases. Your word is your bond.”

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with Fry or one of the firm’s many other accomplished Tulsa divorce attorneys.

Oklahoma Law Firm Enjoys Memorable 2017, Excited For 2018

Happy New Year!

Not that the prestigious Oklahoma law firm Fry & Elder is all that sad to see 2017 go.

By all accounts, 2017 was one for the ages for Fry & Elder and its talented team of attorneys and legal personnel. While the firm’s roots date back to 1932, C. Lawrence Elder, Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr., James R. Elder and M. Shane Henry would be hard-pressed to identify a more memorable or significant year in Fry & Elder’s storied history.

“It was an incredible year for this firm,” Fry said. “We have grown exponentially and the firm’s future could not be brighter. We enjoyed a tremendous 2017 and are looking forward to an even bigger 2018.”

The Headquarters Building Becomes Fry & Elder’s New Tulsa Home

Of all the memorable events for Fry & Elder in 2017, none may have been bigger than when the notable Oklahoma law firm moved into its new state-of-the-art Tulsa office – The Headquarters Building – this past October. The 11,200 square-foot facility features 19 offices, four conference rooms, a large training room with full kitchen, a gym and shower facilities.

The Maple Ridge office facility, located at 1616 S. Main Street, is expected to be the firm’s Tulsa home for many years to come.

“It’s a game changer,” Henry said back in October. “We’re proud of it …. We hope it’s our home for many years to come.”

Western Expansion: Fry & Elder Oklahoma City Opens

Fry & Elder Oklahoma City technically opened its offices late in 2016, but the firm waited until early 2017 to publicly announce that is was actively accepting cases and inquires in the realms of Oklahoma City family law, criminal defense, immigration law and personal injury law

Allyson Dow spearheads Fry & Elder Oklahoma City’s team of attorneys, which also includes T. Luke Barteaux, Aaron D. Bundy and Henry.

Dow, who is Henry’s younger sister, became the third Fry & Elder attorney in the past four years to serve as the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section Chair in 2017. She was also named to Super Lawyers® Rising Stars for a third consecutive year.

Fry & Elder Bolsters Staff with Page, Calvillo

Perhaps the biggest indicator as to the growth Fry & Elder experienced in 2017 were the key additions of family law attorney Amy Page and immigration law attorney Ruth Calvillo.

Page joined Fry & Elder in March of 2017 after a successful 17-year tenure with the Department of Human Services (DHS). Much of Page’s practice focuses on child support and enforcement.

Calvillo, meanwhile, joined Lorena Rivas’ talented immigration law team in April of 2017. She completed the OBA FLS Trial Advocacy Institute and also gave a passionate speech to the University of Tulsa College of Law’s incoming class of law students this past August.

Continuing Legal Education and Professional Development Emphasized

Fry & Elder attorneys’ commitment to CLE went above and beyond in 2017. Nowhere might that commitment be better signified than when Bundy and Henry received the illustrious Earl Sneed Award for their significant and outstanding continuing legal education contributions during the 2017 OBA Annual Meeting.

“Continuing legal education is something Shane and I strongly believe in, as well as the rest of the trial lawyer here at Fry & Elder,” Bundy said. “We’ve been fortunate to have been able to present and attend some really outstanding and thought-provoking seminars, which, we truly believe, has only made us better advocates for our clients.”

Fry & Elder attorney Melissa Fell traveled across the Atlantic Ocean – to London – for a professional development opportunity, while Rivas visited our nation’s capital to take part in the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s National Day of Action. Other firm attorneys traveled to the following locales for CLE seminars and conferences.

Barteaux Makes Fry & Elder History with Appointment

While Fry & Elder has had many notable achievements during its impressive tenure, the firm had never had an attorney appointed to judge until Barteaux was confirmed as Cherokee Nation District Court Judge on May 15, 2017.

Shortly after being appointed, Barteaux stated:

“I feel deeply honored to be appointed as District Judge, by Bill John Baker, Chief of the Cherokee Nation. My Native American heritage is very significant and sacred to me. To be able to assist and serve the Cherokee Nation in this type of capacity is quite an honor and a big responsibility.”

Media Continues to Cast Spotlight on Elite Oklahoma Law Firm

Barteaux’s confirmation as a Cherokee District Court Judge was just one of many feats by the firm the Oklahoma media chose to spotlight.

All total, Fry & Elder and its attorneys were the subject of a staggering 11 different articles and feature stories in 2017 by some of the largest and most prestigious outlets in the state.

Oklahoma Law Firm Continues to Receive Honors, Accolades and Awards

For the fifth consecutive year, Fry & Elder was named to the elite U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List. The honor was one of many highlights during an autumn week in which the firm moved to its new Tulsa office location and Bundy and Henry received the Earl Sneed Award.

Best Lawyers® also named Fry Jr. and Henry to its 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. It was Fry Jr.’s eighth consecutive year to be selected and Henry’s first year to be honored.

Other notable accolades Fry & Elder and its attorneys garnered in 2017 include:

Yes, by all accounts 2017 was a banner year for Fry & Elder and its attorneys. With that said, the firm is happy to usher in 2018 and is excited for what the prospects of the new year hold for the Oklahoma law firm.

“No doubt about it, we had a great year in 2017,” Henry said, “But we’re expecting even bigger things to happen in 2018. The firm is growing and our future is bright. We only want to do bigger and better things here at Fry & Elder. We’re a team.”

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with a distinguished Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Elite Immigration Law Attorney Rivas Collaborates With Edstrom

Lorena Rivas has already developed a reputation as an elite Oklahoma immigration law attorney.

She is now establishing herself as a sought-after speaker on the important and controversial legal issue. Earlier this year, Rivas presented at a Tulsa County Bar Association CLE event and also gave her compelling personal account of what inspired her to become an Oklahoma immigration law attorney at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Elite Oklahoma immigration law attorney

Rivas most recently collaborated with fellow immigration law attorney Michelle Edstrom for a Family Immigration 101 CLE presentation during the Immigration & Nationality Law & Your Practice Seminar. Co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association Immigration Section, the presentation was one of seven featured sessions during the day-long event which took place in Oklahoma City.

The other presentations were:

  • Overview of U.S. Immigration Law
  • Nonimmigrant Visas – Alphabet Soup of the U.S. Visa System
  • Employment Immigration 101
  • Removal Proceedings
  • Refugees, Asylum Seekers & Other Vulnerable Immigrant Populations
  • Executive Orders and Immigration Policy (Ethics)

Rivas and Edstrom’s Family Immigration 101 CLE presentation focused on the “growing intersection of immigration law with Oklahoma family law and adoption law.” It also provided a compelling “overview of how U.S. companies may sponsor certain family members to immigrate to the U.S.”

Elite Oklahoma immigration law attorney

“It truly was a pleasure to be able to work and present with Michelle,” Rivas said. “She’s extremely knowledgeable and is very highly-respected, as were all the other attorneys and presenters. It was a great CLE event that offered a variety of important sessions on immigration law.”

Rivas’ further enhanced her reputation as an elite Oklahoma immigration law attorney when she visited our nation’s capital this past April and met with Oklahoma lawmakers to discuss and advocate for necessary reforms to America’s immigration system and to prevent policies that would hurt Oklahoma like mass deportations during the annual American Immigration Lawyers Association’s National Day of Action.

Rivas is one of several Fry & Elder attorneys who have developed a reputation and following as being an informative and engaging presenter on an array of legal issues. Fry & Elder partners Aaron D. Bundy and M. Shane Henry received the 2017 Earl Sneed Award for their significant and outstanding CLE contributions at the OBA Annual Meeting in Tulsa this past November.

The Hallmarks of an Elite Oklahoma Immigration Law Attorney

Rivas and her Fry & Elder immigration law team, which also includes firm attorney Ruth Calvillo, have the resources and experience in place to help provide you with the necessary legal assistance to help you navigate through a variety of immigration law issues. The team offers the following services:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with Rivas or another accomplished Oklahoma immigration law attorney.

Fry & Elder Moves Into New Digs At The Headquarters Building

Growth and expansion forced Fry & Elder to move out of its long-time 906 S. Cheyenne downtown Tulsa office in 2015 and into the Robert G. Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies.

Less than two years later, growth and expansion has again forced the acclaimed Oklahoma law firm into a new office location. The firm moved out of the Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies and into its new bustling Maple Ridge office location at 1616 S. Main Street today.

The Headquarters Building

Aptly named The Headquarters Building, the state-of-the-art 11,200 square-foot facility features 19 offices, four conference rooms, a large training room with full kitchen, a gym and shower facilities. To put it mildly, Fry & Elder has come a long way since its days at 906 S. Cheyenne where the firm resided for 30 years.

“This is our home now, and we hope it’s our home for many years to come” Fry & Elder partner M. Shane Henry said. “It’s a building that offers a lot of space and great amenities, which is something we needed with our growing staff and for our clients. Everybody with the firm feels that The Headquarters Building is a game changer. We’re proud of it.”

As Henry alluded to, Fry & Elder has experienced unprecedented growth since Henry joined the firm in 2010. In the past two years alone, Fry & Elder’s staff has grown from five lawyers to its current roster of 13 attorneys, which are among the most decorated in the state. They include:

Oklahoma immigration law attorney

Further Growth and Expansion, Accolades on the Horizon

Fry & Elder also opened offices in Oklahoma City late last year and is continuing to look to expand and grow its name, which has been synonymous with Oklahoma family law for close to 50 years. The firm has designs on growing into Texas and in Arkansas. Henry, a 2018 Best Lawyers® selection, is also licensed to practice in Texas, while immigration law attorney Lorena Rivas regularly tries her cases in Texas.

It is only fitting that the vaunted firm chose to usher in a new era at this time. This week is a big one for Fry & Elder and many other firms and attorneys throughout Oklahoma. The U.S. News & World Report will unveil its 2018 Best Law Firms List on Nov. 1 and Fry & Elder is vying to make the esteemed list for a fifth consecutive year.

The Oklahoma Bar Association will also be holding its Annual Meetings from Nov. 1-3 in Tulsa and Fry & Elder’s presence will be strong. Aaron D. Bundy and Henry will receive the Earl Sneed Award for their contributions in Continuing Legal Education, while Fry & Elder’s Amy Page will be announced as the 2018 Tulsa County Bar Association Family Law Section Chair and as the OBA FLS CLE Chair.

Though the firm was only at the Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies for two years, the office served as a necessary spring board for future growth, which helped pave the way for the firm to move into the The Headquarters Building.

“We felt like we would be at that location a while longer, but we have continued to grow and get bigger,” Henry said. “We definitely didn’t want to impede growth. We’re excited about this new office and what the future holds for Fry & Elder.”

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with an elite Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Five Fry & Elder Trial Lawyers Honored as Oklahoma Super Lawyers

The accolades continue to roll in for Fry & Elder trial lawyers. Less than two months after firm attorneys Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. and M. Shane Henry were named to the prestigious Best Lawyers® 2018 listings another leading legal publication, Super Lawyers®, rolled out its list of this year’s honorees. As expected, several Fry & Elder trial lawyers were spotlighted as Oklahoma Super Lawyers, highlighted by Fry Jr. being again selected as a Super Lawyer for his prowess in family law.

Oklahoma Super Lawyers

The decorated attorney, considered by many to be the best Tulsa divorce attorney, has been tabbed a Super Lawyer every year by the publication since it began spotlighting attorneys in 2007.

“It’s an incredible honor,” Fry Jr. said. “Super Lawyers is a very respected publication in the legal industry. These awards and honors mean a lot and are never taken for granted.”

All total, Fry & Elder had five attorneys recognized as Oklahoma Super Lawyers for 2017.

Also joining Fry Jr. were Super Lawyers Rising Stars selections Henry (2015-2017), Aaron D. Bundy (2013-2017), T. Luke Barteaux (2014-2017) and Fry & Elder Oklahoma City lead attorney Allyson Dow (2015-2017).

For Barteaux, the Oklahoma Super Lawyers’ accolade provides further validation that 2017 has indeed been a banner year for the trial attorney. In May, Barteaux became the first Fry & Elder attorney to be sworn in as a judge when he was appointed and confirmed as Cherokee Nation District Judge.

“It’s been a busy, but great year,” Barteaux said. “It’s special to be able to share this honor with so many other great attorneys we have here at Fry & Elder. We promote a team-like atmosphere here at this firm, and though these are individual honors, I believe they reinforce that team-like atmosphere and how we all feed off one another to become better attorneys and advocates for our clients.”

 

One of the things that distinguishes Super Lawyers from other legal publications is its revered selection process. Only the best 5 percent of attorneys in a specific practice area are selected as Super Lawyers, while 2.5 percent of lawyers in a given practice area are chosen as Rising Stars.

The Super Lawyers website says the selection process is as follows:

“Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.

“Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in selecting a lawyer, we limit the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public, i.e., lawyers in private practice and Legal Aid attorneys.”

The awards and accolades don’t figure to stop for the prestigious Oklahoma law firm. The U.S. News & World Report is set to reveal its highly-anticipated Best Law Firms List for 2018 on Nov. 1 and Fry & Elder is vying to be on it for a fifth consecutive year.

The Oklahoma Bar Association also will be holding its Annual Meeting for 2017 on Nov. 1-3 and Fry & Elder again figures to be well represented.

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa today to set up a consultation with one of our Oklahoma Super Lawyers.

Dividing Retirement Plans Requires Skilled Divorce Attorney

It’s easy to think of “property” in terms of real estate, cars, furniture, and even bank accounts. But what about retirement plans? If you are going through or potentially will be going through a divorce, it is important to know that during divorce proceedings, all property accumulated during the marriage gets divided by the end of the process, either by agreement of the parties or after a trial.

Dividing retirement plans

Simply put: Dividing retirement plans can get complicated and tricky, and not all attorneys have the experience or desire to prepare a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), or other orders to divide retirement accounts. At Fry & Elder, our attorneys are happy to review your final decree and prepare your QDRO. Accomplished child support and family law attorney Amy Page recently completed an advanced family law seminar through the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has provided some additional information you will want to know about dividing retirement plans.

The process and importance of dividing retirement plans

If your spouse or you worked during your marriage and contributed to a retirement or pension plan, your attorney will need to know some facts about those plans. Some questions to expect would be:

  • When and for how long did you or your spouse work for that employer?
  • Are you or your spouse still employed there?
  • What are the provisions of the plan regarding time periods for vesting?
  • Are there any outstanding loans against the plan?

Retirement plans can be valuable bargaining chips when negotiating a property settlement. There are certain tax advantages and ramifications based on how those assets are divided. Any property settlement that includes retirement benefits should fully explore the tax ramifications for the person paying or receiving retirement benefits as part of the agreement. It’s often advantageous for a party to give up other, more easily transferable assets and keep his or her retirement account intact. This is definitely a discussion to have with an experienced divorce attorney. If your case goes to trial, the tax treatment of divided retirement benefits can support your attorney’s theory of why the benefits should be awarded in a specific way.

Dividing retirement plans

Why the division of retirement benefits should include a QDRO

The final decree for a divorce including division of retirement benefits should include specific provisions about that retirement plan. It should provide for the time period of retirement benefits that accumulated during the marriage, as well as provide for how any gains or losses on the benefits will be handled in the time period between the final decree and the time the account is actually divided by the Plan Administrator. Finally, the decree should provide for the preparation and entry of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or QDRO, which is an order that tells the Plan Administrator to divide the account according to the decree. The QDRO provision in the decree should include a plan for who is going to prepare the QDRO and who will pay the expenses involved with the Plan Administrator’s review of the QDRO.

Dividing retirement plans can be especially complicated in cases where the retirement plan is provided by a state agency or the federal government or military. Special documents and language are required that meet the agency’s requirements. For military retirement benefits, a Military Retired Pay Division Order must be completed, filed in the trial court, and forwarded to the appropriate authorities. Similarly, to divide a federal employee retirement account (FERS), a Court Order Acceptable for Processing is required.

Experience the Fry & Elder Difference

For nearly 50 years, Fry & Elder has been a name synonymous with Oklahoma family law. The firm has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s exclusive Best Law Firms list from 2014-2017 Our team of attorneys are some of the most decorated in the state and include:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to discuss dividing retirement plans with Amy Page or another accomplished Oklahoma family law attorney.

Oklahoma Child Support Lawyer Page Attends AAML Program

Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. gained additional company when fellow Fry & Elder partner M. Shane Henry joined him as a 2018 Best Lawyers® Selection earlier this month. The acclaimed Tulsa divorce lawyer may one day soon gain another Fry & Elder attorney in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers™, as Oklahoma Child support lawyer Amy Page took a necessary step toward acquiring membership in the elite organization after completing the AAML 2017 Institute for Family Law Associates in Chicago this past June.

Oklahoma child support lawyer

The prestigious legal organization’s mission is “promoting membership excellent in the practice of family law.” Fry is one of only 19 members of the AAML in the state of Oklahoma.

“It was an honor to attend this program,” Page said. “It certainly was not a beginner program. It covered advance family law issues, especially financial and property issues. Some of the program’s courses included preparing a QDRO and other instruments to divide retirement assets, deciphering tax returns, business valuation methods and principles and same sex issues in custody cases.”

The AAML program and its courses were designed to train associates to begin handling complex family law litigation in conjunction with the AAML fellow in their firm.

Oklahoma Child Support Lawyer Amy Page has Extensive State Agency Experience

While Page is less than six months into her tenure at Fry & Elder, she is a highly-regarded and experienced Oklahoma child support lawyer and has enhanced the firm’s appellate-litigation and child-support enforcement practices.

Before arriving at Fry & Elder in March of 2017, Page spent 17 years with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). She stated in a May, 2017 Tulsa Business & Legal News article, which spotlighted her Fry & Elder arrival, that her reasoning to join a private practice was because of the following:

“I liked the sense of teamwork and the desire to continue learning about the law. I also felt that I would have someone to go to if I needed advice. I bring a wealth of knowledge of child support law and how to work with state agencies to the firm. Most of all, I like being part of a family that will take care of you.”

In addition to completing the esteemed AAML Institute for Law Associates, Page was named the 2009 Outstanding Family Law Attorney by the OBA Family Law Section and also received the 2014 and 2016 Chair Award by the OBA Family Law Section.

She falls in line with a long list of Fry & Elder attorneys who actively seek out CLE and professional development opportunities. Fry & Elder trial lawyers have traveled to London, Atlanta, New Orleans, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Fort Lauderdale and Miami for CLE and professional developments conferences and seminars this year.

Oklahoma child support lawyer

Why Experience the Fry & Elder Difference?

Page is one of many elite family law attorneys at Fry & Elder – an arena of law which the firm has excelled in for nearly 50 years. The firm has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firm’s list from 2014-2017. The firm’s vaunted lineup of attorneys includes:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a consultation with Page or another accomplished Oklahoma family law attorney.

Oklahoma Media Continues to Recognize Fry & Elder’s Accomplishments

When Robert G “Hap” Jr. appeared on the CBS nationally televised The Early Show (now called CBS This Morning) for a series on divorce in 2006 titled “What about the Kids?”, the accomplished attorney likely had little idea the media exposure his prestigious Oklahoma law firm of Fry & Elder and its accomplished trial lawyers commanded would only continue to grow.

Oklahoma law firm

Over 10 years later, the vaunted Oklahoma law firm has reached a pinnacle, so to speak, in terms of media exposure. All total, Fry & Elder and its attorneys have been profiled and featured on 25 separate occasions by many of the state’s largest and most prestigious outlets since 2014.

The stories have been compelling and impactful, as Fry & Elder and its lawyers continue to embrace cutting edge philosophies, professional development opportunities and calculated marketing efforts that are incorporated into the day-to-day operations at both the Fry & Elder Tulsa and Fry & Elder Oklahoma City offices.

While family law issues, including high-conflict divorce and child custody cases, will always be a hallmark of the Oklahoma law firm, Fry & Elder has expanded its depth of services to include immigration law and criminal law which has been noticed by the media. The Oklahoma media also has been quick to notice the accomplishments and uncanny achievements made by the firm’s attorneys since 2014. Additionally, Fry & Elder attorneys have given back to the Tulsa community and have been active advocates for Oklahoma and its people.

The firm’s commitment to legal excellence is perhaps the biggest reason why the firm has grown from five attorneys to its current roster of 12 since 2015 and now has offices in Oklahoma City.

Below is a comprehensive list of Fry & Elder stories published by the media since 2014.

Why Experience the Fry & Elder Difference?

Fry & Elder has been nationally-recognized as an elite family law firm for a number of years. The U.S. News & World Report has named the firm to its prestigious Best Law Firm’s list from 2014-2017:

The firm’s talented and accomplished lineup of trial lawyers include:

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a personal consultation with an experienced trial law attorney from an elite Oklahoma law firm.

Request a Consult

Call 918.585.1107 to contact an attorney and schedule a consultation today.

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