Fry & Elder Tulsa Law Firm

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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.

Collaborative Law Provides Family and Civil Dispute Options

Not every family or civil dispute needs to find its way into the litigation stage. Fry & Elder attorney Melissa Fell is setting out to prove this to be the case. The experienced Tulsa family law attorney recently attended the mandatory 2-day Collaborative Law training for the International Academy of Collaborative Lawyers in Chicago Illinois.  This training, along with her previous certification in Family and Divorce Mediation, now qualifies her to start practicing in this growing field of conflict resolution.

Collaborative Law

“I am very excited to bring this new family law practice area to Fry & Elder,” Fell said. “We now have the ability to offer our family law and other clients additional options when it comes to representing them in family and civil disputes.  One of my greatest strengths is the ability to negotiate difficult disputes, often helping our clients find creative or “out of the box” solutions that they may not have thought of before. This utilizes the skill sets I have attained from my training as a Certified Mediator as well as those I have developed as a Certified Life Coach.”

Collaborative Law Defined

Collaborative Law allows the clients to resolve conflicts without having to go into the courtroom.  It is designed to create an atmosphere of cooperation and teamwork.  Each party is represented by a trained collaborative law attorney, and issues are addressed in meetings between the parties and lawyers along with a collaboratively trained therapist, child specialist (if there are children involved) and financial expert.  The coaches act as neutrals on an as needed basis to guide and assist the parties in assembling and assimilating information to use throughout the problem-solving process.

“I found in my training, as I have in my litigation practice, that involving experts in their specific fields to create a team approach provides the best opportunity for an outcome that works for the parties, and the whole family unit,” Fell said.

Having mental health and financial coaches as a part of the process from the start neutralizes often strong emotions in ways that traditional litigation just cannot do.  The coach is there to redirect the parties during meetings to focus on their needs and interests so that they may come to a resolution that they can agree to.

Collaborative law

The Benefits of Collaborative Law

Collaborative Law is an ideal method for all types of cases, including those where the parties do not want their personal lives published in court documents online.  More and more people are finding that their personal information is used for fishing, or by people snooping into their private life.  With collaborative law, only the necessary documents are filed, and disputes between the parties and confidential information can be kept far more private than in traditional litigation.  The parties own the process and are able to make agreements that work for them and their families at their own pace.

“It gives ownership of the whole process and the outcome to the parties,” Fell said. “I have spent a great deal of time getting to know some of the collaborative professionals in our area, and I am convinced that the professionals in this group are all as invested as I am to revolutionize the practice of law.”

Another important benefit is the potential for cost savings to the parties.  By directly involving the coaches in the process from the beginning, issues are processed by the team members and the parties on a more timely basis than waiting for the court process and experts to be appointed, as well as the parties being able to share in the cost of the services that the experts provide.

The most important aspect of collaborative law is the impact that it has on the parties and their families and loved ones.  By focusing the process on mutual cooperation to find agreements, participants are far less likely to involve their children or to feel the stress of the process when drawn out through combative litigation.

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to set up a consultation with Melissa Fell and find out more about how Collaborative Law can be the right choice for you at Fry & Elder.

Multilingual Legal Staff Showcases Fry & Elder’s Diversity

Fry & Elder intern Danya Mahjoub did not enter the University of Tulsa with aspirations of becoming an attorney. Instead, she wanted to become a doctor and received a B.S. from TU in biology. Somewhere along the way, however, Mahjoub had a change of heart and decided law school was in her future and is now a final-year TU Law student.

Multilingual legal staff

“I wanted to be a doctor, but my brother went to law school at TU and that interested me,” said Mahjoub a Jenks High School graduate. “I knew I wanted to help people, and Asylum Law and Procedure appealed to me.”

Fast forward a few years later and Mahjoub now finds herself working on Fry & Elder trial lawyer Lorena Rivas’ highly-regarded immigration law team where she is putting her fluent German and Arabic speaking skills to good use. She recently began assisting the firm on a new Syrian refugee case.

“Our client came to us through Mr. (Robert G) Fry and is part of a minority group in Syria,” Mahjoub said. “The case is more religious than political, which some might find a bit surprising. Asylum cases from Syria really began to interest me when I began law school. My mom is German and my dad is Syrian. We grew up speaking both languages at home and then learned English in school.”

Though possessed with a unique-skill set, Mahjoub is far from the only member of the Fry & Elder staff to be multilingual.

Fry & Elder attorneys Ruth Calvillo and Rivas, along with personnel Rosie Renteria, Esther Icu, Stephanie Garay and Amy Figueroa each speak Spanish. Fellow Fry & Elder intern Elissa Stiles speaks Portuguese, while Mahjoub possesses the unique double of being able to speak German and Arabic.

“The ability to communicate effectively with clients and in court has always been a vital skill attorneys and legal personnel need to possess,” Rivas said. “As our world becomes more interconnected and immigration law services become in greater demand, having a well-rounded, multilingual legal staff is becoming more and more paramount. Fry & Elder is a firm that has always sought to grow and diversify its ability to help clients. The number of people who are multilingual here is a direct sign of the firm embracing that culture and movement forward.”

Oklahoma immigration law attorney

Whether it be family law, immigration law or criminal law issues, Fry & Elder has advocated and helped clients throughout the United States and the world – much of that is due to the firm’s diversity and its staff’s ability to speak multiple languages.

The acclaimed Oklahoma law firm has experienced significant growth in the past two years, as evidenced by the firm opening offices in Oklahoma City and growing its roster of trial lawyers from five to 13. Though primarily known for its highly-regarded family law services, the firm also offers immigration law, criminal law and personal injury legal services throughout Oklahoma.

Fry & Elder has made the U.S. News & World Report’s exclusive Best Law Firms list from 2014-2017 and features some of the most decorated attorneys in the state. They include:

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

 

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.

Fry, Henry Selected to Elite Best Lawyers List by Esteemed Publication

Best Lawyers® unveiled its highly-anticipated 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© on Aug. 15, 2017, and for the first time in firm history the acclaimed Oklahoma law firm of Fry & Elder had two of its trial lawyers listed. Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. was selected for his prowess in family law for an eighth consecutive year, while fellow firm partner M. Shane Henry was selected for the first time for his excellence in family law and family mediation.

2018 Best Lawyers M. Shane Henry and Robert G "Hap" Fry Jr.

The listings are significant for numerous reasons: First and foremost because Best Lawyers® is considered to be the “oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession.” Those attorneys selected by Best Lawyers® go through an intense peer review process in which fellow attorneys confidentially evaluate their colleagues.

As Best Lawyers® states on its website, “if the votes for an attorney are positive enough for recognition in Best Lawyers, that attorney must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain in each edition. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be recognized by Best Lawyers®.”

“I am very honored to be selected by Best Lawyers,” Henry said. “This award is recognition of the achievements, accomplishments and talent of our entire team here at Fry & Elder.  Each day, I get to work with true professionals that constantly strive to improve as trial lawyers and advocates for our clients. We are a team here at Fry & Elder.”

Best Lawyers M. Shane Henry

That philosophy has served Henry and Fry & Elder well over the years. The iconic Oklahoma law firm has experienced unprecedented growth and expansion since he joined Fry & Elder in 2010, growing from three attorneys in 2010 to its current lineup of 14 full-time practicing trial lawyers.

Henry also is largely responsible for Fry & Elder opening Oklahoma City offices earlier this year and expanding its legal practice areas into immigration law, criminal law and personal injury law.

That said Fry & Elder’s calling card remains family law, including divorce and child custody, and Henry has reinforced this notion over the years. He was named the 2016 Family Law Attorney of the Year by the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section and is one of three Fry & Elder trial lawyers to serve as the Chair of the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section in the past four years.

Additionally, Henry is an AV-rated trial lawyer and has been named to Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list the past four years.

“Best Lawyers is a very big deal,” fellow Fry & Elder partner Aaron D. Bundy said. “This is big for Shane and the firm. It’s certainly well deserved. He works as hard as any attorney out there.”

Best Lawyers Robert G "Hap" Fry Jr.

While Henry embodies Fry & Elder’s continued excellence in family law, Fry Jr. defines it. He is considered by many to be the Best Tulsa Divorce lawyer, and he has the credentials to back that claim up.

Fry was named the Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Tulsa 2016 and is one of only 19 attorneys in the state to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. His eighth consecutive Best Lawyers’ listing also concludes what can only be described as a memorable and remarkable summer for the long-time trial lawyer.

Fry joined the likes of John Wayne Brad Pitt, David Letterman and a host of other well-known celebrities, professionals and athletes when he was given the Significant Sig Award by the Sigma Chi Fraternity this past June.

“It’s been a very enjoyable and memorable year,” said Fry, who is nearing his 50th year of practicing law, but still going strong. “Honors like these are greatly appreciated and are never taken for granted. A Best Lawyers listing is significant because it is how your professional peers view you as an attorney. It is a tremendous compliment, and it is very satisfying to have Shane make Best Lawyers. I anticipate that there will be other Fry & Elder attorneys on the list in the very near future. Our firm is in great, great shape.”

With Fry and Henry leading the way, Fry & Elder has made the U.S. News & World Report’s elite Best Law Firms list from 2014-2017 and is in prime position to make the list for a fifth consecutive year. The list will be unveiled on Nov. 1.

Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City to set up a personal consultation with Fry, Henry or another experienced Oklahoma trial lawyer.

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.

High-Net Worth Individuals Need Experienced Tulsa Family Law Attorney

Experienced Tulsa family law attorney

Not all Oklahoma divorce and child custody issues are created equally. The dynamics of divorce and child custody legal matters often are more complex and conflicting for high-income, high-net worth individuals.

If you are an individual with a high-income and a large number assets, it is extremely important that you contact an experienced Tulsa family law attorney as soon as possible to better help ensure that you have a strategic and effective game-plan moving forward tailor made for your specific Oklahoma family law issue.

For nearly 50 years, the iconic Tulsa family law firm of Fry & Elder has symbolized Oklahoma family law excellence. Fry & Elder’s team of attorneys from its Tulsa and Oklahoma City offices are among the most decorated in the state and its lineup includes:

Fry & Elder’s team of experienced Tulsa family law attorneys offer the following tips and advice for high-net worth individuals who find themselves going through a divorce and child custody battle.

What do high-net worth individuals need to consider from a child custody perspective?

Oklahoma child custody cases and most everywhere else usually go in one of three directions.

  1. They involve litigation that leaves the decision to a judge.
  2. They are difficult and challenging in the beginning, but eventually reach a resolution.
  3. They go smooth in that both parents come up and agree to a parenting plan.

Experienced Tulsa family law attorney

Whether you are a high-income individual or not, almost everyone would prefer option 3. While the third option is definitely possible – usually through planning with an experienced Tulsa family law attorney – quite often other contributing factors limit option 3 from being realistic or practical. These include parental alienation, false allegations of abuse, parental gatekeeping and just conflicting ideologies. An experienced Tulsa family law attorney often will be your biggest ally if you are faced with a high-conflict, high-resolution divorce and child custody battle.

What do high-net worth individuals need to consider from a child support and alimony perspective?

While there is a child support program in place in Oklahoma to help you calculate the amount of child support you might owe, those individuals who have a high-net worth typically often have other circumstances and factors that need to be addressed and analyzed with an experienced Tulsa child support attorney. Child support issues and enforcement typically require the skills of a creative child support attorney.

Alimony also has undergone significant changes over the years and gender is now irrelevant, meaning that either a husband or wife can receive alimony. That said, there are still several components a judge will factor into consideration when assessing and awarding alimony. These include:

  • Demonstrated need during the post-matrimonial economic readjustment period
  • The parties’ station in life
  • The length of the marriage
  • The health and age of each spouse
  • The earning ability and education of each spouse
  • The parties’ physical condition and financial means
  • 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

Why the need to consult with an experienced Tulsa family law attorney?

Simply put: There is just too much on the line and at stake if you are a high-net worth individual going through a divorce and child custody battle. Fry & Elder has been nationally-recognized as an elite family law firm. The U.S. News & World Report has named the firm to its prestigious Best Law Firm’s list from 2014-2017. Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa today to set up a personal consultation with an experienced Oklahoma family law attorney.

Fry Jr., other Firm Attorneys Display Characteristics of a “Lawyer’s Lawyer”

The ultimate compliment in any industry is to have your services sought after by your peers. For nearly 50 years, Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr.’s services as a prolific and experienced Tulsa divorce lawyer have been sought out from other Tulsa divorce attorneys and lawyers in general. Simply put: he is regarded by many to be a “lawyer’s lawyer,” along with many other trial lawyers at Fry & Elder.

Lawyer's lawyer

“Going through a divorce and child custody battle is not easy for any party involved,” Fry said. “But it is incredibly rewarding and satisfying to know that fellow attorneys have confidence in you to handle complex legal issues like divorce and child custody affairs. About as big a compliment as an attorney can have is to be considered a lawyer’s lawyer. I feel very honored that fellow attorneys have turned to me for insight and consultation on such personal and life-changing matters.”

The criteria for being a lawyer’s lawyer is not entirely extensive, but the benchmarks are important.

A Lawyer’s Lawyer has a No-Nonsense Approach

A lawyer’s lawyer has a straightforward approach when dealing with clients. They get to the point and assess what the options are – from best to worst – for each divorce and child custody scenario. From there, a good attorney will research and develop the best strategy moving forward for each client.

A Lawyer’s Lawyer has Good Judgement

The hallmark of any good attorney is to incorporate exceptional judgement in-trial and during pre-trial preparation. An established and acclaimed divorce attorney will be the first to say that good judgement is formed through experience and exposure to different legal situations and scenarios. A lawyer’s lawyer is always soaking up information and learning, which will allow the attorney to incorporate the best judgement possible in a timely matter for each client.

Lawyer's lawyer

A Lawyer’s Lawyer has a Stellar Reputation

A good reputation is a by-product of doing exceptional work.

Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr.’s track record as an acclaimed and experienced Tulsa divorce lawyer is rivaled by very few. The Leading legal publication Best Lawyers® named Fry its Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Tulsa for 2016. He also is one of only 19 attorneys in the state to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Fry additionally is AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, a seven-time Best Lawyers® selection and recognized by Super Lawyers® since 2007. Fry also has been the subject of numerous feature articles by Oklahoma media outlets.

Fry not the only Lawyer’s Lawyer at Fry & Elder

While Fry is the most experienced attorney at Fry & Elder, he is far from the only acclaimed attorney at the prestigious Oklahoma law firm, which has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firm’s list from 2014-2017. Partners James R. Elder, M. Shane Henry and Aaron D. Bundy are also AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®. Henry was named the 2016 Oklahoma Family Law Attorney of the Year by the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section.

Fellow Fry & Elder trial lawyer T. Luke Barteaux became the firm’s first attorney to be sworn in and appointed as a judge. Fry & Elder Oklahoma City lead attorney Allyson Dow is the current Chair of the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section, joining Henry (2014) and Barteaux (2016) as the third Fry & Elder attorney to hold that esteemed title in the past four years. Fry, Henry, Bundy, Barteaux and Dow have all garnered Super Lawyers® accolades.

Additionally, Fry & Elder immigration law attorney Lorena Rivas has emerged as a leading Oklahoma immigration law practitioner. Recent Fry & Elder addition Amy Page focuses much of her practice on child support and worked 17 years for the Department of Human Services before formally joining Fry & Elder in March. Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to speak to an accomplished lawyer’s lawyer.

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