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Divorce Law

Divorce Basics

Divorce is never easy for you or your family. At the end of the day you are divorcing your spouse; not your home, kids, or bank accounts. Here is a little foundation on what is needed to begin the steps of divorce in Alabama.

 Starting the process

Once you and your spouse have decided to file for divorce, where do you go from there? The Birmingham attorney’s at Parkman & White are experienced Alabama divorce lawyers and will help you through this life event.

The Requirements

In order to get a legal divorce in the State of Alabama at least one of the spouses must have been a legal resident of Alabama for a minimum of 6 months prior to filing for the divorce.

 Legal ground for divorce

Alabama requires that the filing party list a reason for the termination of the marriage or divorce. In Alabama spouses can file a “no fault divorce” where the marriage was bound to end on its own terms. Or a party can list that the divorce is due to the other party’s fault, this requires the filing party to present evidence of the fault.

  • Adultery
  • Crimes against nature
  • Spouse has been out of the home for at least 1 year
  • Spouse has been in jail for over two years
  • Physical abuse
  • Confinement to a mental hospital for over 5 years
  • Wife was pregnant at the time of marriage without the husbands knowledge
  • Drug or alcohol addiction

 How long does the process take?

Divorce can be a long and painful process. Thankfully the Birmingham divorce attorneys at Parkman & White have lots of successful divorce law experience and can help you navigate through the process. No-fault divorces are generally a shorter process than contested divorces. Marriages with children and considerable assets also extend the process period. Each divorce is unique if the divorce is a faulted one; there are a number of children, and a high amount of assets the divorce period can extend several months.