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Can parents become better parents post divorce?

It may feel like it in the beginning for some, particularly if there are children involved, but going through a divorce is not the end of the world. In fact, many can become better parents post divorce.

The Tulsa divorce lawyers at Fry & Elder want you to know that the adversity that comes with divorce can actually help lead you into becoming a better parent and role model for your children.

Better parents post divorce

By Sharing Custody, You Make It A Point For Every Second to Counts

Little things that may have been a distraction  to you in the past like your cell phone or making sure all your errands are done probably seem a little more trivial now. Instead, you are trying to pack in as much quality time with your child as possible because you just don’t have as much time before because of shared custody.

You Are Able To Teach Your Kids The Lifelong Lesson Of Resiliency

Let’s face it life isn’t always fair. It deals plenty of bumps and bruises along the way. How you bounce back from your divorce will go a long way in showing your child or children how to deal and fight through tough setbacks.

You Now Have The Ability To Start Up New Traditions

This might mean going on an annual trip during the summer or treating them to a special dinner on a more frequent basis. Heck it might mean, your children and you collaborate on dinners when they are with you, and you make them together in the kitchen. You now have the green light to test and try out things that you might not been able to before.

You Will Be Able to Keep a More Peaceful House

Those arguments that may have been nightly occurrences in the past, are just that – in the past. Not only will this provide more stability and balance for you it also will for your children. In turn, this will make all parties involved happier and more pleasant to be around.

Experience the Fry & Elder difference

Though there still will be some ups and downs that are associated with going through a divorce, the Tulsa divorce lawyers of Fry & Elder want you to understand and realize that there is reason to be optimistic when embarking on this new chapter of your life. In essence, many do in fact become better parents post divorce.

Should you have any additional family law questions, contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with one of our experienced and accomplished attorneys.

The name Fry & Elder has been synonymous with Oklahoma family law for over 40 years. The Oklahoma law firm was named to the prestigious Best Law Firms for 2015 list by U.S. News News & World Report. Additionally, attorneys Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr., M. Shane Henry, Luke Barteaux and Aaron D. Bundy all have each garnered prestigious SuperLawyers® accolades.

Oklahoma personal injury lawyers provide insight to questions

Oklahoma Divorce Lawyers

Oklahoma Family Lawyers, sitting from left to right, James R. Elder, Aaron D. Bundy, M. Shane Henry, Luke Barteaux and Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr.

Filing a personal injury claim in Oklahoma can be a stressful thing. Obviously, your number one concern needs to be your health. But there are additional items that will make it onto your checklist, beginning with contacting your insurance company. There could be instances though when scheduling an appointment with an Oklahoma personal injury lawyer is necessary to ensure that you are adequately protected and will receive what you are entitled too. The Oklahoma law firm of Fry & Elder realizes this might be a stressful time for you, but our experienced and acclaimed Tulsa personal injury lawyers will do everything in their power to alleviate as much stress as possible and guarantee that you receive the most professional legal representation. With that in mind, here are the answers to a few of the more commonly asked questions to Oklahoma personal injury lawyers.

What should I expect this to cost me?

As proven and established Oklahoma personal injury lawyers, we are confident in our ability to try and settle personal injury case. That is why we offer a free personal consultation to any injured person. We will then evaluate and go over the details of your case before deciding on a contingent fee agreement.

How long will it take to try my case?

It is hard to say because every case is different, especially those dealing with personal injury claims. After consulting with you about your case, the Oklahoma personal injury lawyers of Fry & Elder will have a general idea of how long it will take. If your personal injury case is complex, a settlement might not be made for a year or longer.

What is the value of my case?

Not only is this question one of the most commonly asked in regards to Oklahoma personal injury cases, but it also is one of the toughest to answer. Until all the information has been gathered, and you have recovered from your injury, it is hard to determine the value of a case. The value of it will be based on a number of factors including, but not limited to: the cost of your medical bills, income lost due to the injury and if you suffered any permanent injuries.

The insurance company has offered a settlement and said I do not need an attorney. Should I accept the settlement?

While on the surface this might seem like a good deal, and the least amount of hassle for you, it cannot be stated enough that the goal of any insurance company is to minimize any settlement payment. Quite often, insurance adjusters are given financial incentives to settle claims as quickly and as cheap as possible. That is a big reason why most insurance companies will send an adjuster out to meet with you very soon after your accident. Usually, they will try and tempt you to accept an offer that would be immediately paid out. This just further reiterates their desire to get you to quickly settle, thus keeping you from every realizing the full potential and value of your claim.

Contact a proven and experienced Oklahoma personal injury attorney today

At the Oklahoma law firm of Fry & Elder, our clients are our top priority. We realize that each case and circumstance is different, which is why we design and tailor a legal strategy that best suits your needs. Our Oklahoma law firm is one of the most accomplished  in U.S. We were named to the prestigious U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Law Firms for 2015. Oklahoma personal injury lawyers Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr., M. Shane Henry, Luke Barteaux and Aaron D. Bundy have each garnered prestigious SuperLawyers® accolades. Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a free personal consultation.

Proven Oklahoma divorce and child custody lawyer provides insight

One of the most difficult decisions a person can ever make is quite often whether or not to get a divorce. As a proven and experienced Oklahoma divorce and child custody lawyer, Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. understands this and empathizes with anyone who is facing this difficult decision.

Oklahoma Divorce and Child Custody Lawyer

Though difficult for many to make the decision to end their marriage, it, ultimately, could be the best decision for both parties involved. The Tulsa divorce lawyers of Fry & Elder believe these are a few signs that indicate a divorce might be the best solution your partner and you.

You Realize That Being Alone Is Now The Better Option For You

This can be extremely difficult to come to grips with because of the past history you have had with your partner, which likely included numerous fun and memorable times. But as times passes, it’s natural for some of those memories to fade away. If the times between your partner and you have become less fun and memorable, and you now find yourself in an unhappy marriage, it very well could be time for you to get a divorce.

Your Kids Are The Only Things Keeping The Marriage Together

While divorce is a painful and sometimes a traumatizing thing for children to go through, they are more savvy and smart than you might think. If they sense that their parents are unhappy than that unhappiness will also manifest itself inside of them. Worse yet, children often end up emulating the relationships that they witnessed when they were younger. The last thing you will want to do is chain yourself to a bad marriage for your children to observe.

You Are Thinking About More About How Others Will React To The News

While this could not be further from the truth, there are some out there who perceive that getting a divorce constitutes as a failure and embarrassment – that their friends and family will look down upon them. The fact of the matter is, your friends and your family care about you immensely and want you to be happy. Sometimes, the best way to get back on the road of being happy is to sever the ties of a bad relationship.

Contact a Proven Oklahoma Divorce and Child Custody Lawyer Today

If you are finding yourself in a difficult and unhappy marriage, you are going to want to consult with a proven and experienced Oklahoma divorce and child custody lawyer.

The Oklahoma law firm of Fry & Elder has been synonymous with Oklahoma family law for over 40 years and was named to the U.S. News & World Report’s prestigious list of Best Law Firms for 2015.

Oklahoma family law attorneys attorneys Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr., M. Shane Henry, Luke Barteaux and Aaron D. Bundy have each garnered prestigious SuperLawyers® accolades.

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a proven and accomplished Oklahoma divorce and child custody lawyer.

Tips for financial planning after divorce

Oklahoma Family Law Firm

Tulsa Family Law Firm Fry & Elder

The name of Oklahoma law firm Fry & Elder has been synonymous with Tulsa divorce and child custody for over 40 years. While the Oklahoma law firm has extended its reach to take on criminal law and personal injury cases, Oklahoma family law still remains a focal point for our Tulsa divorce lawyers.

Whether you are getting a divorce in Tulsa or anywhere else in Oklahoma, part of the process that goes along with getting a divorce is starting over. To better help transition into this new chapter of your life, it helps to have a good financial plan for your life after the divorce. Below are a few tips that the Tulsa divorce lawyers of Fry & Elder recommend that people going through a divorce keep in mind.

Go over your finances

It is important when doing this to look at everything – income sources, your tax situation, assets and expenses because maintaining two separate households is more expensive than one. You need to make sure that you know what you were spending before the divorce to give you a better idea of what you are going to spend after a divorce.

A good starting point for this would be to review and go over all bank statements and credit cards statements from the past year. Set up various tables for everyone involved in the divorce – mom, dad and children. This way you will have a better idea of what to budget for after the divorce. It is important that if you have children that you budget for future education and medical expenses.

Factor in health insurance

If you were on your spouse’s health insurance plan, this could become a considerable expense moving forward. While COBRA is an option, it is one that is expensive and is limited to just 36 months. Your best bet is to begin looking and researching policies that are out there.

Prepare for alimony

There are many factors that will go into deciding whether alimony is part of a settlement. These could include the length of the marriage and whether the spouse did not work and for how long, as well as the spouse’s earning potential.

Alimony not only impacts one’s budget, it will impact your tax situation.  While there is nontaxable alimony that can be paid from after-tax dollars and is tax-free to the receiver, most generally it is taxable alimony that is paid, which means it is tax-deductible for the person paying the alimony and taxable to the person receiving alimony. Under Oklahoma law, there is no firm rule on the duration of how long alimony payments need to be made. The trial judge has broad discretion in determining the amount of alimony and the terms of payment.

Think about your career

If you were not working or working part time during the marriage, you are probably going to have to go back into the workforce on a full-time basis. While this may seem a little daunting initially, it will help you financially and also give you greater confidence, a social life and a stronger sense of resilience.

If you have been out of the workforce for a while, you might want to consider taking some educational or certification courses to make yourself more attractive and marketable to potential employers. This also will help enhance your confidence and make you a more viable candidate.

Experience the Fry & Elder difference

If you are in need of a Tulsa divorce lawyer or have any other questions in regards to family law in Oklahoma, we encourage you to contact Fry & Elder today. The firm is home to some of the most highly regarded and experienced family law attorneys not only in the state of Oklahoma, but in the United States. Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. has been named a “Super Lawyer” in Oklahoma and is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Firm attorneys James Elder, M. Shane Henry, Aaron Bundy and Fry all have garnered the prestigious AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindal-Hubbell®, which is the highest recognition in the legal industry. Additionally, the family law firm of Fry & Elder made the U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Law Firms for 2015.

Tulsa Divorce Lawyer Debunks Child Support Myths (Part 1)

When it comes to child support, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there.  The Tulsa family law firm of Fry & Elder hopes to provide you with a better understanding of how child support in Oklahoma typically works by debunking a couple of child support myths associated with child support as told by an accomplished and reputable Tulsa Divorce Lawyer.

Child support myths

Child Support Myth #1: I will not be able to afford child support

First and foremost, child support is not some random number that gets pulled and thrown out. It is based on a number of factors that include monthly income, interest derived from investments, the time you spend with your kids and other additional factors. Since child support is primarily based on income, you will not be required to pay more than you make. Child support payments can also be adjusted should you lose your job or experience other significant changes in your financial situation.

Child Support Myth #2: Child support is for women only, and they do not spend it on kids

By and large, child support payments are generally made to the parent, which has primary custody, for their expenses. Typically, these expenses consist of clothing, health insurance and children’s school and after school activities’ costs. The majority of time, the child support number is based on the child’s expenses.

Child support myths are more common than one may initially think. Should you have any additional questions about child support in Oklahoma or any additional inquiries in regards to family law, the family law offices of Fry & Elder urge you to call today and set up a personal consultation with an experienced and accomplished Tulsa Divorce Lawyer.

Tulsa Divorce Lawyer Offers Insight on Joint Child Custody

Tulsa Divorce Lawyer

Oklahoma Family Lawyers, sitting from left to right, James R. Elder, Aaron D. Bundy, M. Shane Henry, Luke Barteaux and Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr.

As time marches on, more and more parents and experts are recognizing the value of shared parenting between divorced couples. The Tulsa family law firm of Fry & Elder is well aware of the rising trend that is joint child custody, which is why we are here to offer a few tips on how to have a successful joint custody relationship with your ex.  Simply put: joint custody is something that can be very beneficial to all parties involved, but it also takes work, as any great Tulsa Divorce Lawyer will tell you.

Be realistic

While you might have the best intentions in mind, all too often a common problem during custody disputes is for one or both parents to ask for too much custodial time. This usually coincides with the fact that parents want to get as much time as possible with their child out of fear that there is a chance that they might be losing them. The truth of the matter is that  quality always trumps quantity when it comes to spending time with your child. The last thing you want to do is overextend yourself so far that you don’t have the necessary energy that your child deserves.

Watch your tongue

It should go without saying that if you really are going to try and make joint custody work with your ex then you absolutely need to make it a priority not to talk badly about your ex. Be prepared for trouble and potential conflicts down the road should you choose to badmouth your ex in front of your child. Your child loves the other parent just like he or she loves you. With that in mind, it is best to keep any negative thoughts to yourself.

Cut your ex some slack

Even though your former spouse may have cheated on you, been emotionally distant or done something else undesirable, it is important for you to remember that they still have the best intentions for your and their child. While your marriage might not have worked out, there still is a good chance that your parenting arrangement can still succeed.

As with anything, there stands a chance that the joint child custody agreement might not work out. If you think this is the case, we encourage you to call the family law firm of Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with an established and experienced Tulsa Divorce Lawyer and take the necessary first step to get your problems resolved.

 

Divorce is tough; hire a skilled Tulsa Divorce Lawyer

Tulsa Divorce Lawyer

Oklahoma Family Lawyers, sitting from left to right, James R. Elder, Aaron D. Bundy, M. Shane Henry, Luke Barteaux and Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr.

Those entering the ring of divorce would be well served to come in equipped and with an understanding that the courtroom is indeed a battlefield. And, the fact of the matter is, not all courtroom battles are created equal. This makes it all the more important to hire an experienced and reputable Tulsa Divorce Lawyer.

Simply put: Whenever you are about to engage in battle, you want to make sure that you come in with a loaded gun, use up all your ammunition and be ready to throw the weapon at the opposing side if necessary. Here are a few scenarios in which you absolutely must hire a proven family law attorney to not only help you win the battle, but also get out of it with as minimal of injury as possible.

Your spouse has made false allegations against you

If this is something that is happening to you, than you absolutely must hire a proven Tulsa Divorce Lawyer, particularly if these allegations pertain to child abuse, domestic violence or fraud. The fact of the matter is, you cannot risk losing custody or visitation rights because of false allegations.

Your spouse engages in criminal activity

If your spouse takes part in anything unlawful, you would be best served by consulting with an attorney. The repercussions could be serious if you do not talk to a lawyer, particularly if your ex-spouse tries to say that you also were part of the criminal activity.

Your spouse steals money

Sometimes the writing is on the wall before the event happens. All too frequently, your spouse could engage in hiding or moving money. If you think this might be happening, you definitely need to be proactive and call a lawyer to help protect your best interests.

Your spouse alienates your kids

If you have children, you need to make sure that your relationship with them remains intact. As is often the case, a spouse will try and pit the children against the other spouse. Don’t risk losing any visitation rights. Contact a skilled Tulsa Divorce Lawyer if you have any hunch that this is going on.

Your spouse is abusive

If you are the victim of spousal abuse, you need to take the necessary steps to end the vicious cycle. One of those steps is to call an attorney and set up a consultation. Your attorney will help you attain a restraining order if you need one and other practical advice.

While divorce, child custody and other family law issues are not always the most fun experiences to go through, it is important that you arm yourself with a skilled and experienced attorney. Fry & Elder has established itself as not just one of the best family law firms in Oklahoma, but in the United States. Call us today and set up a consultation.

 

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