What We Do
Oklahoma City Family Law Services
Peterson Law Center focuses on the full range of Oklahoma family law. Below you will find an overview of each area we handle and how we can help your family.
Family Law
Child Custody
Child custody disputes are among the most emotionally charged legal matters a parent can face. In Oklahoma, courts determine custody arrangements based on the best interests of the child, considering factors such as each parent's relationship with the child, the stability of each home environment, and the child's own preferences when the child is of sufficient age and maturity. Custody can be structured as joint or sole, and it encompasses both legal custody — the right to make major decisions about the child's life — and physical custody, which determines where the child primarily lives.
Attorney Peterson works closely with clients to understand their family's unique circumstances and advocates for custody and visitation arrangements that genuinely serve the child's wellbeing while protecting the parent's legal rights. Whether you are establishing an initial custody order, modifying an existing arrangement due to changed circumstances, or enforcing a custody order that has been violated, Peterson Law Center is prepared to represent you.
Protecting your relationship with your children is a priority our firm takes seriously. We approach every custody matter with careful preparation and clear-eyed advocacy, always keeping the focus on what is truly best for the family.
Schedule a consultationFamily Law
Child Support
Oklahoma calculates child support using guidelines that take into account each parent's income, the amount of time each parent spends with the child, health insurance costs, and certain childcare expenses. The goal of these guidelines is to ensure that children receive consistent financial support from both parents, regardless of the nature of the parents' relationship with each other.
Peterson Law Center assists clients in obtaining initial child support orders, seeking modifications when circumstances have changed significantly — such as a change in income or custody arrangement — and enforcing orders when the obligated parent fails to pay. Attorney Peterson understands that child support issues can have a profound impact on a child's day-to-day life, and he approaches these matters with the seriousness and thoroughness they deserve.
Whether you are the parent seeking support for your child or a parent working to ensure an existing order is fair and accurately calculated, Peterson Law Center can guide you through the process and advocate on your behalf.
Schedule a consultationFamily Law
DHS / Deprived-Child Defense
When the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) opens an investigation into your family or files a deprived-child petition, the stakes could not be higher. A deprived-child case is a legal proceeding in which the state alleges that a child is in a situation that threatens their health, safety, or welfare, and the court may issue orders affecting where the child lives, what services the family must complete, and ultimately, the future of the parent-child relationship.
Parents facing DHS involvement have legal rights, and those rights matter at every stage of the proceeding — from the initial investigation and any emergency removal through the adjudication hearing and beyond. Having an experienced attorney in your corner from the earliest possible moment can make a significant difference in how your case unfolds.
Attorney Peterson understands how frightening and disorienting a DHS case can feel for a parent. He works to help clients understand the process, respond appropriately to DHS requirements, and assert their parental rights effectively throughout the proceedings. The goal is always to keep families together and to support parents in achieving the conditions necessary for safe reunification.
Read more about DHS defenseFamily Law
Divorce
Divorce involves far more than ending a marriage — it requires resolving questions about property division, debt allocation, spousal support, and, if children are involved, custody and support arrangements. Oklahoma is an equitable distribution state, meaning marital property is divided in a manner the court considers fair, which is not always an equal 50/50 split. Understanding how Oklahoma courts approach these issues is essential to protecting your interests.
Peterson Law Center represents clients in both contested and uncontested divorces. In an uncontested divorce, both parties agree on all major issues and the process can often be completed more efficiently. In a contested divorce, there are disputes that require negotiation, mediation, or court intervention, and having a capable advocate becomes even more important.
Attorney Peterson takes the time to understand each client's priorities and works to reach outcomes that set them up for a stable future. Whether your situation calls for aggressive litigation or collaborative resolution, Peterson Law Center will stand with you through every step of the process.
Schedule a consultationFamily Law
Guardianship
Guardianship is a legal relationship in which a court grants an individual — the guardian — the authority to make decisions for another person who is unable to make or communicate adequate decisions for themselves. In Oklahoma, guardianship proceedings may be necessary for a minor child whose parents are unable to provide care, or for an adult who has become incapacitated due to illness, injury, or disability.
Establishing guardianship requires a court proceeding, and the process involves demonstrating to the judge that the proposed arrangement is in the best interest of the person who needs protection. The court will consider the relationship between the proposed guardian and the individual, the guardian's ability to serve, and the wishes of the individual (when possible) and their family members.
Attorney Peterson guides clients through the guardianship process with patience and care, explaining each step along the way and working to ensure that the process moves as smoothly as possible. Whether you are a grandparent seeking to care for a grandchild, a sibling stepping in for an incapacitated family member, or any other concerned individual, Peterson Law Center is here to help.
Schedule a consultationEstate Administration
Probate
Probate is the legal process by which a deceased person's estate is administered, debts are paid, and assets are distributed to heirs or beneficiaries. In Oklahoma, whether probate is required — and the complexity of the process — depends on the nature and value of the assets the decedent owned at the time of death, as well as whether a valid will exists.
For families who have just lost a loved one, the probate process can feel overwhelming on top of grief. Peterson Law Center works to take the legal burden off your shoulders, guiding the estate through the court process efficiently and keeping you informed at each stage. This includes filing the appropriate petitions, notifying creditors, inventorying and valuing estate assets, and ultimately distributing the estate according to the decedent's wishes or Oklahoma law.
When disputes arise among heirs or questions emerge about the validity of a will, Attorney Peterson is also prepared to advocate for his clients in contested probate proceedings. The firm's goal is to help families bring a loved one's affairs to a close with as little additional stress as possible.
Schedule a consultationEstate Planning
Trusts & Estate Planning
Estate planning is the process of making arrangements during your lifetime so that your assets are protected, your wishes are honored, and your loved ones are provided for after you are gone. Effective estate planning typically involves a combination of documents, which may include a last will and testament, a revocable or irrevocable trust, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare proxy or advance directive, and beneficiary designations on financial accounts and insurance policies.
Trusts can serve a variety of purposes: they can help your estate avoid probate, allow for more precise control over how and when assets are distributed, provide for minor children or loved ones with special needs, and in some cases offer asset protection benefits. Attorney Peterson works with clients to understand their goals and design an estate plan tailored to their family's specific situation.
Estate planning is not only for the wealthy or the elderly — it is for anyone who wants to protect their family and make sure their wishes are clearly documented. Peterson Law Center makes the process straightforward and understandable, so you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your affairs are in order.
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Contact Peterson Law Center to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help your family.