Birmingham Divorce Lawyer
Serving Clients in Shelby, Jefferson & St. Clair Counties
If you are contemplating divorce or have begun the process, you likely have a lot on your mind, including questions about how the process works and how it will affect you and your family. Divorce can be highly emotional and problematic, especially considering how it impacts your parental rights and financial future.
Many decisions will need to be made about the issues and details of your divorce, and relying on the advice and guidance of a proven legal professional can make all the difference in how you approach and resolve these issues.
Ruth Robinson Law is here to help you understand the divorce process, options, and legal requirements. Attorney Robinson has two decades of experience representing clients in all aspects and variations of divorce, from simple, uncontested, to highly complex cases involving contentious custody and support disputes, complicated marital estates, and LGBT couples.
Call us at (205) 984-1915 or contact us online to set up a consultation with our Birmingham divorce attorney.
Divorce in Alabama
In every Alabama divorce, the issues relevant to the case must be determined before the court can make a final decree. These issues include marital property and debt division, child custody and support, and alimony.
Despite each case's specific details, two main divorce types exist in Alabama. The type you choose will depend on your situation and goals.
These main categories include:
- Uncontested Divorce. This type of divorce has no disagreements between spouses on all issues relevant to their case. This is generally the least expensive and fastest way to get a divorce.
- Contested Divorce. This type of case has disagreements between spouses that must be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or court hearings. These disputes concern details about one or more issues, such as property and debt division, child support and custody, or alimony. Contested cases take longer, can be more costly due to potential litigation, and may be emotionally highly charged and volatile.
No matter which type of divorce you choose, you will still need to wait at least 30 days for your divorce to be finalized.
Alabama Residency Requirements
You can file for divorce anytime if you and your spouse live in the state. However, if your spouse lives in another state, you must have resided in Alabama for six months before filing.
Grounds for Divorce
“Grounds” for divorce are why you seek to dissolve the marriage. Alabama recognizes "no-fault" divorces, which means the marriage can be ended due to an "irretrievable breakdown" in the relationship with no chance for reconciliation. This allows for a divorce that does not require either party to prove the other’s marital misconduct in court.
No-fault divorces can be much faster and less expensive than fault-based divorces because they can proceed without courtroom intervention. However, for this to occur, you and your spouse must agree on the terms of your divorce, including financial and child-related issues. If any issues are contested, these issues may take time to reach a consensus through negotiation, mediation, or a trial.
Alabama’s fault-based grounds for divorce include:
- Physical and incurable incapacitation at the time of the marriage.
- Adultery.
- Habitual drunkenness or drug addiction.
- Emotional or physical abuse.
- Abandonment for at least one year.
- Imprisonment of a spouse for a certain prolonged period.
Such grounds must be proven in court, which require preparation and presentation of your case before a judge.
The exact length of your divorce will depend on your situation. We can help you figure out how long your divorce will take. Factors that may affect the length of your divorce can include how contentious your divorce is, the number and complexity of the assets you and your spouse have, how many children you have, how much income you and your spouse make, and how flexible you and your spouse are in reaching settlement terms.
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"Great lawyer and dedicated to justice for her clients."
Mrs Robinson is dedicated to Justice and fairness. She is knowledgeable. And honest. She is the best investigative lawyer I've ever known. She don't stop until Justice is served. Mrs Robinson is honest and reasonable and will tell you the truth. Her courtroom knowledge is second to none. She is family oriented. Has a great attitude and is all around a special person. I would recommend her to any one.
- James -
"She communicated with me throughout the process."
She got pretrial diversion for me in my case. She communicated with me throughout the process. She also did not have to return to court with me for the final step but she did!- LeAnn -
"GETS RESULTS!!!! PHENOMENAL ATTORNEY!"
I have personally watched Ms. Robinson in open court, and she is exactly what you want! She is THE quintessential attorney! Don't hesitate to contact her, she will immediately start working and your case, and she won't disappoint!- David -
"She went above and beyond"
Due to a misunderstanding, a warrant was issued in Alabama, even though we live in Virginia and hadn't been to Alabama for many years. We were apprehensive about the possibility of traveling to Alabama during these uncertain times. Luckily, Ms. Robinson was able to quickly and professionally interact with local law enforcement and the district attorney's office to get the case dismissed without us having to be there. Throughout her handling of the case, she went above and beyond to make sure we were aware she was doing everything in her power to assist us. We are deeply appreciative of her and her efforts and would HIGHLY recommend her to anyone needing representation.- Lynn -
"Amazing and highly recommended."
I contacted Ruth Robinson on a Saturday regarding a warrant that was issued for failure to appear. On Monday, she filed a notice of appearance as my attorney and filed a motion to have the warrant recalled. The court told her they’d recall the warrant and set a new court date. Ruth was very professional, diligent, and went above and beyond for me. She listened to everything I told her, requested me to send her several screenshots and filed the necessary paperwork to get the warrant recalled and a new court date. Amazing and highly recommended if you want or need someone who is passionate about practicing law and treating you like you’re a priority.- Terry -
"I trust her completely and she has always worked hard for me."
Ruth Robinson is a thorough and passionate criminal defense attorney. When I found myself facing criminal charges for something that was completely bogus in a corrupt governmental atmosphere, she has worked with me diligently and continues to do so. I trust her completely and she has always worked hard for me. Better than any attorney I could ask for through and through.- Anonymous
