Chelsea Divorce Lawyers

Divorce can be much more straightforward when you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement regarding property division, child support, visitation, and all other issues arising from the marriage. If you are able to agree on these things across the board, our Chelsea divorce lawyer will likely be able to get you a cheap and quick divorce.

Otherwise, our team of family law attorneys can still help you along the path of a contested divorce should these issues not be resolved. Since contested divorces tend to be much more expensive and extensive, we typically encourage couples to opt for an uncontested divorce when they can, but if no agreement can be reached, a contested divorce will be the only way to get what you need from the judge. Filing for an uncontested divorce is the most straightforward way to get a cheap divorce in Shelby County.

Our Chelsea divorce lawyers charge flat fees for online uncontested divorces in  Shelby County, Jefferson County, and throughout Central Alabama.

The uncontested divorce may require additional fees if there are substantial property or tax considerations involved, business interests, paternity issues, retirement issues, or any other complex issues that would require more time from the attorney. There is also a filing fee that the county charges when a divorce is filed. This filing fee varies from county to county. Give our Chelsea divorce lawyer a call today for more information about the filing fee in your county.

Should you and your partner be ready to start the process, begin by filling out and sending us our initial questionnaire online. Whether you need a divorce attorney in Pell City, Sylacauga, or Shelby County, if you have any questions about filing for a divorce, our Chelsea divorce attorneys can help.

It’s essential to consult with an experienced Chelsea divorce lawyer to help you through the process of filing for divorce correctly. Contact our office to speak to experienced contested divorce attorneys in Shelby County and go over the process and the fees over the phone. For those interested in a cheap and easy divorce in Chelsea, Alabama, we can help you through the process of an uncontested divorce.

An uncontested divorce consists mainly of filing paperwork properly, as long as the two of you have agreed on all marital issues. You’ll need to fill out the questionnaire explaining what you’ve agreed to (along with any additional information needed to prepare all of the required forms and documents) and return it to us so our Chelsea divorce lawyer can begin the process.

Filing for an uncontested divorce is relatively simple. For any questions you may have, our Chelsea divorce attorneys are here to explain the answers over the phone – an in-office consultation is typically not necessary.  Again, both you and your spouse must be in total agreement on all marital issues to proceed with an uncontested divorce filing.

If an agreement cannot be reached and you wish to get divorced, then you will likely have to file a contested divorce.  This is where one party files for divorce and serves the other party with the divorce paperwork.  The other spouse, once served, has a limited amount of time to respond, and if they do not, then the filing party may be able to receive their divorce by default.  If the other party does respond, then there will usually be hearings set, and a contested divorce will begin.  A contested divorce continues until both parties either reach an agreement as to all contested issues or have a trial and let the judge in their case decide these issues for them.

We can help you get a contested divorce, but the fees are much higher. We will require a retainer up front of thousands of dollars, but exactly how much depends on your circumstances. Our Chelsea divorce attorney then bills out of that retainer at an hourly rate until he or she has worked enough so that the retainer is empty. At that point you have to refill the retainer in order for the attorney to keep working on the case. Call us today and speak with our Chelsea divorce lawyer for a quick phone consultation, and let us quote you a retainer fee for your particular case.

It is always cheaper and simpler to reach an agreement beforehand and file an uncontested divorce, but if that is not possible, then call our Chelsea divorce lawyers to discuss the contested divorce process in Shelby County, Alabama.

Another type of divorce we handle is a contested divorce. Contested divorce is filed when a mutual agreement is not reached beforehand, and you have your spouse served with the Complaint. Typically, following the serving, the spouse finds an attorney to represent them and files a response. Hearings are then set, and your disagreements are ultimately decided by a judge.

At The Harris Firm, our lawyers will help you file a contested divorce properly. Unlike the uncontested route, the contested divorce attorney fees are significantly higher. As is industry standard, we do require a retainer for contested divorce services. We bill hourly, and the amount, of course, depends on the amount of work performed.

When there are minor children involved, retainers are generally more than without children; there are other factors that affect your retainer quote in the end. Feel free to reach out to our office today. We can go over your case and inform you of the retainer required up front to begin working on your case.

If you are residing in Alabaster, Calera, Vincent, Columbiana, Pelham, Westover, Chelsea, Hoover, Helena, or Montevallo, then you will likely be filing in the Shelby County Courts.  The Shelby County Courthouse is located in Columbiana, Alabama.  If you call our Chelsea divorce attorneys today, then we can answer any questions you may have, including helping to determine which courthouse to file your divorce in.

If you have a family law or probate matter in Chelsea, Alabama, then our local office is here to help. Filing a family law matter in Shelby County means that the hearings will be at the Shelby County Courthouse in Columbiana, Alabama. Our family law attorneys will fight for you in your child custody, child support, divorce modification, paternity case, or other family law matter in Shelby County, Alabama.

Have a family law matter in Chelsea and need someone to fight for you? If so, then our family law and probate lawyers in Chelsea are here to help. The first step is to set up a phone or in-person consultation to discuss your legal matter with us. Then, we can quote you a fee or retainer. For most family law matters, we charge something called a retainer up front. That is a payment that our family law lawyers bill against and work by the hour. In contrast to that, our probate and estate planning lawyers usually charge a flat fee to handle such matters for you and your family.

Family law matters are usually handled in the Shelby County Circuit Court or the Shelby County Juvenile Court in Columbiana, Alabama. All probate and estate matters are handled in the Shelby County Probate Court in Columbiana, Alabama. Need a paternity petition filed in Shelby County? Need a family law attorney to fight for you in your custody case? Our Chelsea family law lawyers can help. Need to probate an estate for a loved one? How about getting a last will and testament prepared for your family? Our local probate lawyers in Shelby County, Alabama, can be your guide. Call our Chelsea office today for a consultation!

1. Where do I file for divorce if I live in Chelsea, Alabama?

Divorces for residents of Chelsea are typically filed in the Shelby County Circuit Court, which has jurisdiction over divorce and other domestic relations matters. Shelby County’s Circuit Court is located in Columbiana, Alabama, and cases are handled by judges assigned to domestic relations matters. Filing in the correct county is important to avoid delays or dismissal.

2. Is there a waiting period for divorce in Shelby County, Alabama?

Yes. Alabama law requires a mandatory 30-day waiting period from the date a divorce is filed before a judge can finalize the case, even in uncontested divorces. In Shelby County, uncontested divorces are often finalized shortly after this waiting period expires if all paperwork is properly submitted and no issues remain unresolved.

3. Does Shelby County require mediation in divorce cases?

In many contested divorce cases, Shelby County judges may order mediation if there are disputes over issues such as child custody, visitation, or property division. Mediation is intended to help parties reach an agreement without the time and expense of a trial. If mediation is unsuccessful, the case proceeds through the court process.

4. Can I file for divorce in Shelby County if my spouse lives in another county or state?

Yes, in certain situations. A divorce may be properly filed in Shelby County if you reside in Shelby County and meet Alabama’s residency requirements, even if your spouse lives elsewhere. Jurisdiction and venue depend on factors such as residency length, where the parties currently reside, where the prior case was resolved (if applicable), and where the minor children reside.

1801 Highway 39
Chelsea, AL 35043
Tel: (205) 677-5490