The Harris Firm Blog

Posted by Steven A. Harris | Divorce

Divorces in Auburn are handled by the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama. Each county has several different courts, sometimes in the same courthouse. In Lee County there is a District Court, which is used mainly for traffic offenses and misdemeanors. There is also a Circuit Court, and that is the highest court in the …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Divorce

Divorces in Gadsden or Rainbow City are handled in the Circuit Court of Etowah County, Alabama. In Etowah County, there are several different Courts including the Probate Court, Circuit Court, and District Court. The Circuit Court is the highest court in the county and is where all Etowah County divorces are filed. Circuit Courts are …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Divorce

If you decide on an uncontested divorce, it usually takes about six to ten weeks after everything has been signed by both spouses and filed with the court. If both parties agree to the terms of the divorce on the big questions of how you will divide your assets and debts, child custody (if applicable), …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Divorce

The first step to getting a divorce is talking with an experienced divorce attorney. While you may not technically need to hire an attorney to file a divorce for you, having an experienced lawyer working with you can make the process easier, quicker, and in many cases cheaper for you. They will bring their knowledge …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Divorce

If you and your spouse are heading for divorce, we sometimes get asked if it is better to be the spouse that files for divorce first. If you are the party that files for divorce, that makes you the plaintiff. While it is natural for many people to feel hesitant about being the one to …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Divorce

Child support usually ends when the child reaches the age of majority. In Alabama, nineteen (19) is the age of majority. Parents typically will be on the hook for child support until the child reaches 19 in most circumstances, but it can be modified. It is more likely that you would be able to get …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Divorce

If you want to go back and rescind, or alter, the terms of your divorce, what your options are largely depend on where you are in the process and what you have signed thus far. When you decided to divorce, you initially signed a Complaint for divorce. Once you sign the Complaint, there is a …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Divorce

When you pay a family law attorney a retainer, you are paying them money up front to begin working on your case. The attorney sets the retainer amount based on the projected costs of work on the case. While the retainer fee can go toward several things related to the attorney’s work and expenses incurred …

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Posted by Steven A. Harris | Divorce

Yes, you can still work and receive alimony in Alabama. However, how much you can get depends on a variety of factors. In 2018, alimony laws changed in Alabama. Under the previous law, courts could award “periodic” alimony, which basically allowed payments to continue indefinitely. The current law changed the terminology from “periodic” alimony to …

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