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Polk County Divorce & Cooperative Divorce Attorneys

Our Polk County divorce attorneys understand not everyone has the same divorce experience and have the insight on how to guide you to negotiate effectively.
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Smiling womanAttorney Kevin O'Flaherty

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

Top 3 Qualities to look for in Your Attorney

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We believe your attorney should not speak in legalese

Finding an attorney who is a “real person” can be difficult. Many attorneys surround themselves almost exclusively with other attorneys and are accustomed to speaking in ivory tower legalese.  You should be able to connect with your attorney on a personal level, and he or she should speak to you in plain language that you can understand.  You will be working very closely with this person on issues that are very important to you. It is important that he or she be down-to-earth and someone that you connect with.

We believe your attorney should be accessible

The most common complaint that clients have of their attorneys is that the attorney is unreachable, does not communicate with them regularly, or does not promptly return your calls.  Your attorney should reach out to you about your case regularly and respond within 24 hours to calls and e-mails.  An open line of communication between you and your attorney is essential to building trust.

We believe your attorney should be realistic with you about costs and outcomes

Your attorney’s goal should not be to win at all costs.  Rather, it should be to achieve a favorable outcome for you as efficiently as possible.  It is important that your attorney set realistic expectations at the outset as to the costs you should expect, the concerns that the attorney has about the outcome of your case, and the length of time that you should expect your case to take.

Regardless of the nature of your case, we have an experienced attorney who will focus on your individual needs. Our team of attorneys works closely together, bringing each of their different fields of experience to bear in order to optimize our client care.

See why we are trusted

Kevin's firm handled setting up my will and trust recently. They took something that seemed intimidating and made it easy to understand. I've also referred a couple clients to Kevin - he's trustworthy, approachable and very fairly priced.

Christi M.

"I've used Kevin and his firm's services since 2011. He gave undivided attention to my cases, advised me on different options and..."

Marvin

"Kevin was extremely professional, responsive and knowledgeable when I came to him for help. I would definitely recommend O'Flaherty Law!"

Rachel B.

"...your articles on the changes to the child support law are very well-written and informative.”

Julianne

“It’s good to open the door of creative vision to offer a service that may motivate other attorneys to do the same. Keep up the good work.”

LuQman

"Great set of articles. I was divorced in 2014 with one child and would have certainly considered you had I seen these types of articles then."

DJ

More information about our Polk County Divorce & Cooperative Divorce Attorneys

Our Polk County Divorce lawyers and Cooperative Divorce attorneys will help to ensure your divorce is a cost-effective process that ensures your rights are protected and you receive fair terms.  We help you choose the most expedient and affordable path and ensure your goals are met throughout the process. At O'Flaherty law, we recognize each unique case to find the right kind of divorce solution for you so you can have the best possible outcome in your divorce case. 


Expertise Best Child Support Lawyers in Chicago 201710 Best 2016 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Law AttorneysAvvo Clients' Choice 2016 DivorceRising Stars Kevin P. O'Flaherty SuperLawyers.com10 Best Law Firms 2018 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Legal Counsel Attorneys Estate Planning Law40 under forty

Contact Us

Please contact our friendly lawyers to Schedule a Consultation.

(515) 207-2006
desmoines.ia@oflaherty-law.com

What to Expect From a Legal Consultation

The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.

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Location

Office Address

2716 Grand Ave., Ste. 2

Des Moines, IA 50312

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Hours of Operation

Monday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Attorneys

Meet the Owner

I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team.  Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys.  Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us.  They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates.  We are here to help!

- Attorney Kevin O'Flaherty, Owner

Further Reading from our Polk County Divorce & Cooperative Divorce Attorneys

Iowa Collaborative Divorce Law vs. Cooperative Divorce Laws Explained

In this video, our Polk County divorce attorneys explain the differences between collaborative divorce and cooperative divorce in Iowa. When divorcing parties decide on a collaborative divorce, they each hire their own attorney and meet one-on-one to discuss any disputes and what they hope to accomplish. A signed Participation Agreement is required by both parties and their attorneys. This commits them to the collaborative divorce process where they will attempt to avoid litigation by resolving their issues through cooperation and transparency. The agreement also states that should an agreement not come to terms, both parties must hire new attorneys to represent them in court.

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How Long Does it Take to Get a Divorce in Iowa?

In this video, our Polk County divorce attorneys explain the length of a divorce will always vary from case to case.  Once papers have been filed for a “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage,” there is a mandatory 90 day waiting period after the “petitioner” serves the Petition to the “respondent” before the parties can be legally divorced.  The spouse seeking the divorce is referred to as the “petitioner,” and the spouse receiving the “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage” is referred to as the “respondent.”

If both parties can reach an agreement about the “division of assets” and any other issues that may arise between the spouses, you may not have to appear in Court to receive your final “Decree of Dissolution.”  However, if the parties are in agreement but there are children between the spouses, a brief Court appearance is likely necessary so that a judge can explain the responsibilities of each party and ensure that matters of custody, visitation and support are dictated in the “Decree of Dissolution.”

The state of Iowa also requires spouses with children to take a parenting class entitled “Children in the Middle” before issuing a final Decree.  If there is not an agreement between the spouses, it can take over a year to finalize the divorce, depending on the number and complexity of issues the spouses are arranging.

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Iowa Family Mediation Explained: Divorce and Child Custody Mediation

In this video, our Polk County divorce attorneys explain how mediation allows opposing parties to meet and negotiate in a neutral setting. A trained mediator often sits in to ensure discussions are fair and productive. Mediation is private, confidential, and incredibly effective.  Mediation can be used to resolve issues surrounding a divorce such as child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, and division of assets and liabilities.  

When given the opportunity to negotiate, parties often come to an agreement on conditions and terms, especially in relation to child custody. Even if a final agreement can’t be reached, mediation helps participants express their wishes in a safe space while being encouraged to actively listen to the opposing party, neither of which are likely outside mediation.

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