Vestavia Hills, AL Divorce Attorney
Divorce is one of the most difficult things you may ever experience. For many people, even the best possible outcome is still fraught with sadness, anxiety, and fear. So, what makes the difference between a divorce that helps you get what you deserve and look forward, and one that leaves you wondering if you truly did all you could to get a fresh start?
We believe it’s your choice of divorce attorney in Vestavia Hills. What’s right for you may not necessarily be right for the next person looking for a divorce, and you want an attorney who takes the time to understand what you hope to get from your divorce and creates a plan based on that. That is where we come in. Schedule a consultation with Kirk Drennan Law now by calling our team at 205-803-3500.
Nothing is Guaranteed in Divorce—Your Choice of Attorney Matters
When you started looking into divorce, you probably got a lot of advice from well-meaning friends, family members, and colleagues. Unfortunately, that advice is often based on “information” that is years or even decades old. Not much is guaranteed in a divorce, so it’s important not to assume that one issue or another will automatically go your way.
If you’re a mother, you aren’t guaranteed preferential treatment by the court—the court will likely favor an arrangement that gives parenting time to both parents. If you caught your partner cheating, you aren’t automatically getting everything you want when it’s time to divide assets. If your spouse earns much more than you, alimony is definitely not guaranteed.
That’s why you have to make sure you choose the right attorney. No matter what’s important to you, you need a lawyer who is willing to help you fight for it. You want an attorney with lots of experience in the world of family law and one who is willing to take the right approach based on your needs—not what they think you need.
Deciding What Matters to You
A big part of divorce is deciding what is most important to you. Divorce agreements are rarely one-sided. It’s uncommon for one party to get everything they want in a divorce settlement, leaving the other with no assets, tons of debt, and minimal parenting time. Knowing that, it’s obvious that compromise is key in divorce.
Know where you are willing to give up something you want, what issues really don’t matter to you, and which have no room for compromise. For some people, that means maximizing their time with their children. For others, it means getting the lion’s share of the marital assets. For others, it is getting out at whatever cost, as long as they get their peace of mind back.
Knowing the Laws
Divorce laws vary between states, so it’s important to understand how Alabama laws affect your Vestavia Hills divorce. In Alabama, at least one spouse must be a resident of the state and have lived there for the six months prior to the divorce filing. Like many other states, Alabama has a 30-day waiting period for a divorce to be granted.
One way in which Alabama is unique is its grounds for divorce. You can file a no-fault or fault divorce. No-fault divorce is available in every state, and it allows a couple to divorce simply because they have irreconcilable differences and no longer want to be married. However, in Alabama, you can also ask for a fault divorce. This allows one spouse to request a divorce because the other partner was unfaithful, engaged in cruelty or violence, was pregnant without telling their husband, or had issues with substance abuse. However, you will have to prove that your allegations are true to be granted a fault divorce.
Handling Custody Issues
Custody is a key issue for many divorcing couples. As is the case in most other states, Alabama puts the best interests of the child above everything else. In most cases, that means allowing both parents substantial and meaningful parenting time. However, there are situations in which the court will decide that one parent should have primary or sole physical custody. This is often the case if one parent does not want equal parenting time or has a work schedule that does not allow for equal parenting time.
Because this is often a contentious area for divorcing parents, we handle it very carefully. We know that many parents may lash out when threatened with the loss of their children, which makes it even harder to come to a fair agreement. Our goal is to come to an agreement that protects your rights and your children’s best interests without unnecessarily damaging the coparenting relationship.
Asset and Debt Division in Vestavia Hills
Another challenging topic in Alabama divorce cases is the question of debt and asset division. This is particularly tricky for high net worth couples and couples in which there is a significant earning disparity.
Alabama follows the principle of equitable division of assets. This means that parties aren’t presumed to get half of the marital assets. Instead, assets are divided in a way that is considered fair based on a wide range of factors, including:
- How each spouse contributed to the marriage, both financially and non-financially
- How long the marriage lasted
- Each spouse’s earning ability
- Each spouse’s role in the ending of the marriage
- How parenting time will be split after the divorce
For couples with substantial assets, the division of assets can be time-consuming and complex. This is due to the prevalence of large retirement funds, investment funds, business ownership, and rare assets with unclear value. Our firm has extensive experience in this area, and we work with numerous experts in various areas to ensure that assets are properly valuated and divided during divorce.
Kirk Drennan Law is Here for You During This Difficult Time
It’s time to take your divorce into your own hands and make sure that you are protecting your own best interests. Our team of high net worth divorce attorneys in Vestavia Hills is ready to help you navigate every step of this process and provide the support you need. To schedule a consultation, give us a call at 205-803-3500 or contact us online.
