Divorce & Separation
We know divorce is a stressful experience. From the time you decide to dissolve your marriage until your divorce is final, you will have to make some challenging decisions. One of these decisions will be whether to hire a lawyer. And if you do, who? At Rank & Karnes, our goal is to make the decision to hire us an easy one.
When you come in for a free consultation with us, you’ll get to share your story with a dedicated divorce attorney, who will consider your unique situation and help you determine what your divorce will entail. This first meeting will give you a sense of how long your case will take, how much it will cost, and what decisions you will have to make as part of the process. From there, if you choose to work with us, we will do everything we can to make sure that this process is as simple and painless as possible. We want you and your family to be able to move forward, post-divorce, in a better place than where you started.
What is divorce? Do I need a divorce attorney?
Divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage. In Oregon, most divorce cases are considered “no-fault.” This means the marriage is ending as a result of irreconcilable differences and not any specific act of wrongdoing by either spouse. In all cases, the divorce process will include the division of property. This means splitting both assets and debts, between the divorcing spouses. Additionally, depending on your family situation, the process may include the allocation of spousal and child support, as well as determinations of child custody and parenting time.
In short, divorce is a deeply personal issue, and no two cases are alike. Before you begin the divorce process, you need to hire a divorce lawyer you trust. You and your attorney will consider your family’s unique needs, and determine what decisions need to be made as part of the process. This is why we offer a free consultation with a divorce attorney, usually in our Salem OR offices.
What does a divorce process look like?
You and your family are navigating new and difficult territory as you decide how to create a new structure. This process looks different for each couple. Some will only need to think about dividing shared property and spousal support, while others will need to consider child custody and child support. Going into divorce, some couples will agree on how they want to divide their assets and debts, how they will support their family, and how they will co-parent. Others will enter divorce with disagreement on these issues.
First, you’ll call and set up an initial free consultation with a Rank & Karnes divorce attorney. Before your first consultation, we encourage you to think about your story. How long have you been married? What is your family composition? Where are you in your education or your career? What are your goals for the future? These are just a few of the considerations that will inform how your divorce will proceed.
Once we have all the information we need about your background and your goals, we can start to guide you in the right direction. We’ll lay out a plan and talk through your priorities, and give you a firmer idea of timelines and costs. Our goal is always to give you all the information you need to make good decisions for yourself and your family. We pride ourselves on being a no-surprises law firm when it comes to our fees – we communicate costs clearly so you won’t be left guessing.
What if my spouse filed for divorce?
If your spouse has filed for a divorce, we recommend meeting with a lawyer to determine how to proceed. When you come in for a free consultation with us, one of our attorneys will consider the facts of your case and help you determine what options you have in responding to your spouse’s petition. From there, if you choose to work with us, we can guide you through the process. You don’t have to do this alone.
How much will a divorce cost?
The cost of your divorce will depend on the unique details of your case. In all cases, you will need to pay court costs, such as filing fees. If you choose to work with an attorney, you will need to pay their fees and costs as well. At Rank & Karnes, we value our clients’ financial wellbeing, and it is one of our top priorities to keep our fees as low as possible, while still charging a reasonable, competitive rate based on your attorney’s experience and talent. This means we may charge as little as $2,000 for some no-fault, no-contest divorces. But, depending on the details of your case, we may need to charge more.
After your initial consultation, we will be able to provide you with a better estimate for your specific case. And in every case at Rank & Karnes Law, costs are communicated clearly. We also do everything we can to make payment plans fair and reasonable. We want you to know what to expect, and to feel confident when you choose to work with us.
Your Divorce Attorney in Salem OR
If you’re in Salem, or anywhere else in the state of Oregon you don’t have to look any further for a competent, compassionate divorce attorney. We want hiring and working with a lawyer to be the easiest and least stressful part of your divorce. That’s why we consult with you first, give you all the information you need to make decisions and then support you every step of the way.
Get help today.
Request a free consultation
We know that facing divorce is hard, and you don’t have to do it alone. Schedule a consultation with us and we’ll help you create a brighter future.