What Is the Right Way to File for A Divorce in Alabama?

Filing for a divorce here in Alabama? Here are the steps that you need to know before you file for it.

Alabama is a state that allows filing for both fault-based and un-fault-based cases. If there is nothing that you both are having a fight about and are agreeing to everything then you might have to share the marital settlement agreement that will help you speed up the process. Most importantly you need to be staying in Alabama for a minimum of 6 months before you file your case here.

A good Birmingham contested divorce attorney can be found at The Harris Firm. They are experienced to help you get to a conclusion if there are any disagreements going on between the spouses. You can call their local office and can get a quick consultation regarding your case.

Here are the steps to file a divorce here in Alabama

1. The first step is to initiate the process by filing a complaint about divorce in the Clerk’s office of the district court. This should include every detail like the assets and debts, child custody, and alimony. If both partners do not have anything to disagree about then you can file for an uncontested divorce.
2. The second step is to send the notification to your spouse regarding the legal action being taken against him/her. This is called the service of process. This needs to be sent along with the supporting documents. This can be shared in person, through the mail, or by publication. The defendant needs to respond to this complaint within a period of 30 days.
3. If the defendant fails to respond within the time period, then the court will assume that the respondent doesn’t want to be heard by the court. In such cases, they will grant the plaintiff whatever they have asked for.
4. If your spouse responds to the complaint with an answer then the judge would ask both of you to arrive for the trial and you may need to submit the marital settlement agreement in this case. This is called the uncontested case. This is cheaper and you may get the divorce within a few days or a month.
5. If your spouse opposes the complaint then both of you need to attend the trial with all the relevant evidence and information that you have. This is called a contested case. This is an expensive procedure that will longer time trials to get the results
6. Once you have come to a conclusion on the type of case you want to file, you need to fill up the forms with the related documents.

All done, you need to just attend the hearing and get the results as soon as possible.