Hiring a Divorce or Family Lawyer in Oklahoma

How divorce lawyers in Oklahoma charge, the state's filing rules, how to check a lawyer's license, and free or low-cost family law help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.

What a lawyer costs in Oklahoma: fee rules

If a lawyer takes your money	The Oklahoma Bar Association's Clients' Security Fund may reimburse money or property taken through theft, embezzlement or wrongful conversion by an Oklahoma attorney acting as a lawyer or fiduciary, including fees paid for services never or only minimally performed. It does not cover malpractice or negligence, losses of the attorney's relatives, partners or employees, losses covered by bond or insurance, or interest and consequential expenses. The attorney must have died, been adjudged mentally ill, been disciplined, or resigned or let the license lapse after discipline, and you should first try other sources of recovery. Payment is a matter of grace, not right; the Board appropriates $100,000 per year in total, and payments are reduced proportionally if approved claims exceed that. File within five years of the loss using the Clients' Security Fund Claim Form; help: 405-416-7000 or 800-522-8065. Source: Oklahoma Bar Association, Clients' Security Fund

If a lawyer takes your money

The Oklahoma Bar Association's Clients' Security Fund may reimburse money or property taken through theft, embezzlement or wrongful conversion by an Oklahoma attorney acting as a lawyer or fiduciary, including fees paid for services never or only minimally performed. It does not cover malpractice or negligence, losses of the attorney's relatives, partners or employees, losses covered by bond or insurance, or interest and consequential expenses. The attorney must have died, been adjudged mentally ill, been disciplined, or resigned or let the license lapse after discipline, and you should first try other sources of recovery. Payment is a matter of grace, not right; the Board appropriates $100,000 per year in total, and payments are reduced proportionally if approved claims exceed that. File within five years of the loss using the Clients' Security Fund Claim Form; help: 405-416-7000 or 800-522-8065.

Source: Oklahoma Bar Association, Clients' Security Fund

Oklahoma rules to know first

Residency requirement	Either the petitioner or the respondent must have been a good-faith resident of Oklahoma (or of a U.S. Army post or military reservation in Oklahoma) for six months immediately before the petition is filed. The case may be filed in the county where the petitioner has lived for the past 30 days or in the county where the respondent lives. Official Oklahoma Legislature compilation of Title 43 (PDF). OSCN, the courts' statute site, was bot-blocked when checked. Source: 43 O.S. 102; 43 O.S. 103

Residency requirement

Either the petitioner or the respondent must have been a good-faith resident of Oklahoma (or of a U.S. Army post or military reservation in Oklahoma) for six months immediately before the petition is filed. The case may be filed in the county where the petitioner has lived for the past 30 days or in the county where the respondent lives.

Official Oklahoma Legislature compilation of Title 43 (PDF). OSCN, the courts' statute site, was bot-blocked when checked.

Source: 43 O.S. 102; 43 O.S. 103

Full Oklahoma guide

Find and check a lawyer

Lawyer referral service	The Oklahoma Bar Association's "Find a Lawyer" directory is a voluntary, opt-in listing of Oklahoma attorneys that the public can search by practice area, location, language and name. Not every licensed attorney is listed, and the OBA does not endorse or certify listed attorneys. OBA phone: (405) 416-7000 or toll-free (800) 522-8065. Source: Oklahoma Bar Association, Find a Lawyer
Check that the lawyer is licensed	The Oklahoma Bar Association's Member Verification search lets anyone look up attorneys by name, Bar ID or city. Each listing shows the lawyer's name, city and state, Bar ID, membership type (such as Active, Retired or Senior), status (such as Good Standing) and admission date. If you can't find an attorney, call 405-416-7000. Source: Oklahoma Bar Association, Member Verification
Check discipline history or file a complaint	Complaints about Oklahoma lawyers go to the Oklahoma Bar Association's Office of the General Counsel, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036, (405) 416-7007. By law a complaint must be in writing and signed; a form is not required but can be downloaded or requested. Give specific details (dates, what you hired the lawyer to do, and what the lawyer did or failed to do) and send copies, not originals, of supporting papers. The office reviews the complaint, dismisses it if no violation is alleged, or investigates (which may include the lawyer's response); if evidence supports violations, the matter may go to the Professional Responsibility Tribunal, which makes recommendations to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Complaints are confidential unless public discipline is imposed. The OBA cannot give legal advice or intervene in your case. Source: Oklahoma Bar Association, How to File a Complaint Against an Attorney

Free legal help

Free legal aid	Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma (LASO) helps low-income Oklahomans with civil, non-criminal legal issues. Apply online or call 1-888-534-5243; LASO asks about income, household size and the legal issue before deciding whether to take the case. LSC lists Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Legal Services as its Oklahoma grantees. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees Source: Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Apply; Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees

Free legal aid

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma (LASO) helps low-income Oklahomans with civil, non-criminal legal issues. Apply online or call 1-888-534-5243; LASO asks about income, household size and the legal issue before deciding whether to take the case. LSC lists Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Legal Services as its Oklahoma grantees.

LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees

Source: Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Apply; Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees

All legal help in Oklahoma · Do I need a lawyer?

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.