Our experienced lawyers handle divorce for men and women, divorces that involve few or significant assets, and divorces that do and do not include children. Alabama recognizes both fault and no-fault divorce.

The no-fault grounds for divorce in Alabama are:

• Incompatibility
• Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage
• Voluntary abandonment

The fault grounds for divorce in Alabama are:

• Incapacitation from entering into the marriage state
• Adultery
• Imprisonment
• Habitual drunkenness or use of drugs
• Incurable insanity
• Pregnancy of the wife by another man at the time of marriage
• Domestic violence or abuse
• Living separate and apart from the other spouse for two years

Choosing to divorce can be one of the most life-changing legal decisions a person can make in his or her lifetime. Our divorce attorney will work with you to determine whether you should expect a contested or uncontested divorce. Whether your divorce is amicable and uncontested or highly complex and emotional, count on Dothan Law Group to be there for you throughout the entire process, giving you the time and attention you need and providing the level of representation necessary to achieve a successful resolution of your divorce.

Residency Requirement & Waiting Period

Alabama law requires that one spouse be a resident and reside in the state at least 6 months prior to filing for divorce. The Alabama legislature has written this statute specifically so that people that live in another state cannot quickly move to Alabama to try and take advantage of their divorce laws.

The waiting period for a divorce in the state is 30 days from the filing of a summons and complaint. This means that the soonest a person can get divorced in Alabama, once a divorce has been filed, is 30-days. Alabama also imposes on divorcing couples a mandatory waiting period until they can remarry as well. Section 30-2-10 of the Code of Alabama states that divorcing parties are not allowed to get remarried until after 60-days has passed since entry of the judgment of divorce.

Grounds for Divorce

In order to file for a divorce, you must declare the grounds upon which you desire a divorce by completing the Complaint for Divorce. Common grounds for divorce in Alabama include:

• Adultery
• Desertion
• Cruel treatment or violence
• Addiction to drugs
• Habitual intoxication
• Incurable mental illness
• Convicted of a crime of moral turpitude
• Pregnant by another man at the time of marriage
• Mental incapacity
• Impotence at the time of marriage
• Intermarriage between persons prohibited by law (incest)
• Pressured, forced or tricked into marriage
• An irretrievable breakdown of the marriage (no-fault divorce)

Common Issues with Divorce

For the vast majority of couples who choose to dissolve their marriages in Alabama, the process is not as simple as merely parting ways; instead, there are various issues in a divorce that must be resolved before the divorce will be complete. Divorces frequently require information about all aspects of your life and can turn into legal situations. A divorce can give rise to a variety of additional issues that must be settled before the divorce can be finalized. Some of these include the following:

• Business Valuation
• Child Support
• Parenting Time
• Spousal Support or Maintenance
• Property Division
• Custody Disputes

Uncontested Divorce

An uncontested divorce is often the best case for parties who wish to dissolve their ties as quickly and amicably as possible. In a non-contested divorce, our office prepares all the necessary documents, fully explains the terms of the divorce, and submits the papers to the court for issuance of the divorce decree and requisite court orders.

Contested Divorce

A contested divorce is a divorce where all parties involved do not agree on the issues and must look to the courts to solve their problems. Contested divorces are commonplace in light of the several issues that must be resolved during the divorce process. The most common issues that ultimately result in a contested divorce include:

• Child custody
• Child support
• Child visitation
• Property division
• Alimony / spousal support

Sometimes contested divorces go to trial, and often they can be settled out of court through negotiation. We are strong advocates who use our litigation skills and experience to fight for our clients as necessary. At Dothan Law Group, we will help you weigh your options and make ending your marriage as stress-free as possible.

High Asset Divorce Lawyer

In the majority of divorces involving high net worth, the primary consideration tends to be who receives which assets. High asset divorces are those that deal with many assets of high value, such as multiple properties, businesses, or investment accounts. We are prepared to work hard to protect your assets through all phases of your high net worth divorce, including:

• Closely-held business interests
• Life insurance
• Stock options
• Stock voting rights
• Deferred compensation
• Assets held in a trust
• Real estate partnerships
• Tax benefits such as a capital loss carry-forward

Whether in the form of investments, a family-owned business, real estate or other valuable entities, it is important to ensure that property and assets are divided in a way that protects you and your financial stability. To help protect yourself as well as your property, it is imperative to secure experienced, skilled and pragmatic representation. We work to not only safeguard your interests, but also to reduce your tax liability and ensure that all of your assets and properties remain under your control. At Dothan Law Group, we are devoted to providing our clients with the best outcome possible in their high asset divorce.

Military Divorce Lawyer

Divorce is different for the men and women who serve our nation in the armed forces. Military divorces can be even more complex as they rely on several laws addressing divorce and divide their property. Whether or not you are able to get divorced in Alabama is dependent upon the Alabama Law, but whether military benefits can be distributed is dependent upon Federal Law. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act states how the court can divide military retirement benefits and pensions in a divorce.

At Dothan Law Group, we understand the complexities you are facing as a service member or a military spouse. Our experienced divorce lawyers understand how military regulations affect divorces in Alabama, and we can help with proceedings even if one spouse is overseas. Your case is highly unique and it needs the experienced, personalized legal counsel that Dothan Law Group can offer.

Contact Dothan Law Group

At Dothan Law Group, we offer its clients years of experience with divorce and family law. Dothan Law Group will safeguard your best interests by providing sound legal advice and excellent representation you can trust. Our attorneys offer caring, sensitive, professional legal representation and have experience handling all aspects of divorce and divorce-related legal issues. During a divorce, you can benefit from the experience of a family law attorney who will protect your rights while remaining sensitive to what you are going through. Our goal is to help you dissolve your legal matter in the most efficient and practical manner.