You may have seen the news story last month claiming that Alabama is the worst state when it comes to getting a divorce. ABC 33/40 picked up the report from an online divorce preparation service that conducted the study.
The service analyzed whether people ended their marriages amicably or acrimoniously to come up with their rankings, placing Alabama dead last. So, is Alabama really the worst state for divorce?
Not really.
It’s all relative. (In 2011, Bloomberg ranked Alabama 20th for ease of divorce.)
All the recent study has found is that many couples in Alabama, presumably the online divorce service’s clients, are in disagreement with each other. It isn’t clear at what point during the divorce process the service surveyed its clients, but divorcing couples usually disagree with each other about something.
Often, spouses are bitter toward one another at the beginning of a divorce, but they end up resolving the dispute amicably. Of course, the opposite can be true as well.
There is no universal best or worst state for divorce. Alabama’s divorce statutes will affect you in your case, but this could be advantageous or disadvantageous to you depending on your circumstances, priorities and the quality of your legal counsel.
For example, your alimony order could differ whether you live in Alabama or Florida. When it comes to the division of assets, some states require a 50/50 split down the middle, while Alabama law dictates an equitable, fair division. This is rarely a 50/50 split.
In any case, ending a marriage is never easy here in Alabama or in any other state. However, by taking the time to think about not only your immediate interests but also your long-term goals, and working with a local and skilled attorney, you have the best chance of finalizing your divorce without incurring unnecessary financial and emotional expenses.
To learn about how Alabama’s divorce statutes will apply to your divorce case, contact Daniel H. Chambers, Attorney at Law, P.C., in Birmingham. Mr. Chambers offers free initial legal consultations.
