Category: Law Legal Information

How Does DHR Get Involved in a Childs Family Situation

How does DHR in Alabama get involved in a child’s family situation and can a Birmingham divorce attorney help get them out? DHR stands for the department of human resources. The Alabama department of human resources deals with a number of different issues such as: adoption, adult protective services, baby box initiative, Chafee Education and training voucher program, child care services, child support payment and enforcement, family coaches program, foster care, family assistance, and transitional child care. Generally the department of human resources may become involved in any family matter where there is an issue.  How does DHR get involved

When there is an issue in the home such as child neglect or child abuse, the department of human resources may send a social worker to the house and determine whether the child is in an unsafe environment. If someone from the human resources department determines that a child is in danger they can remove

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Steps to File for Adoption of a Relative in Alabama

What are the steps to file for an adoption of a relative in Alabama? In Alabama you may be able to adopt a relative if both parents of the child agree. Adoptions in Birmingham must be completed in accordance with the Alabama adoption code. Under the code any adult person or husband and wife jointly who are adults may petition the court to adopt a minor.  First Steps in Adopting a Relative

The code also states that an adult may be adopted if they meet any of the following conditions: (a) he or she is an individual with a total and permanent disability; (b) he or she is determined to be a person with an intellectual disability; (c) he or she consents in writing to be adopted and is related in any degree of kinship, as defined by the intestacy laws of Alabama, or is a step child by marriage; or (d) he or she consents

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What is a QDRO & Why Do I Need One in Divorce

What is a QDRO and do I need one to get the 401(k) distribution that was ordered in my uncontested divorce? QRDO stands for qualified domestic relations order. Generally this is an order from the court that lays out the details regarding how the retirement benefit plans should be divided in the event of a contested divorce in BirminghamQDRO in Divorce

A QDRO can be ordered before the divorce, during the divorce or after the divorce. Generally it is best to get a qualified domestic relations order earlier on in the divorce process because it can be more difficult to divide the funds once the divorce has been finalized for a long period of time. If you fail to include a QDRO in your final divorce decree, then you will have to reopen the divorce in order to put the order in place. 

As you can imagine this often ends

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Can I Close on the House Without My Spouse Being Present in AL

If we are going through a divorce in Birmingham, can I close on the sale of a house without my wife being present at closing? A property that is intended to be used as a primary residence in Alabama is known as a homestead. If a property is deemed to be a homestead, then there is a statute that applies. The statute states: “no mortgage, deed or other conveyance of the homestead by a married person shall be valid without the voluntary signature and assent of the husband or wife, which must be shown by his or her examination before an officer authorized by law to take acknowledgements of deeds, and the certificate of such officer upon, or attached to, such mortgage, deed, or other conveyance.” Ala. Code § 6-10-3.  Closing on House in Divorce

Therefore, under this statute you cannot close on the sale of a house without your wife’s signature or assent

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Tips for navigating Christmas alone from a divorce coach

Divorce and break-up coach Claire Macklin joins us to share tips for navigating a family Christmas after separation or divorce.

Christmas can be a challenging time of year for separated families. Expectations and emotions are high, established routines are interrupted, time with your children is divided, and many of my clients end up feeling anxious.

I understand. I remember feeling the same about Christmas the first couple of years after my divorce, especially the first time that our children were spending Christmas with their Dad.

I had to decide whether to let it get me down or to find new ways to enjoy Christmas.

Change is always difficult, but the truth is that whatever your new reality, you always have a choice. You can let it control and define you, or you can choose to take back your power and consciously put yourself back in the driving seat.

These techniques

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