Created by the Family Law Section of the OBA
Jon Ford and Phil Tucker, Co-Senior Editors

The Practice Manual is authored by more than 40 Oklahoma attorneys who specialize in family law and several sitting judges. The Manual is on CD and contains over 2,700 pages of black letter law footnoted with relevant case and statutory authority. There are over 2,500 pages of forms referred to in the chapters. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a novice, you will find this practical, timesaving reference indispensable. The Manual is used by over 250 trial and appellate judges in Oklahoma who deal with family law issues.

Each author was asked to write his or her Chapter in “law review” format, i.e., footnote most of their statements containing references to current case law and statutes. Each Chapter was then thoroughly reviewed and revised by six editors to provide a good faith effort of accuracy, brevity and completeness. We believe that the multi-author format will be valuable to you. We have not attempted to reach an agreement on every topic among the various authors. Indeed, on some subjects, different views are embraced by different authors. That is as it should be, as many times the answers in our cases are not certain. In a guide aimed at practicing lawyers, it can be useful to know that more than one argument is available to you, since the position you will take in a given case is dependent upon many factors. Although each Chapter of the Practice Manual was written with the new practitioner in mind, all of the Chapters will prove challenging to the experienced practitioner.

You will save precious time by having material compiled and organized in one easy-to-use CD that can be downloaded in either Word or WordPerfect format; and by eliminating the need of continuously reinventing the wheel, or digging through files to locate material you have previously created. You may print either an entire chapter or the complete Manual for detailed study in printed form.

You will be able to supplement your own briefs and forms with fresh ideas from active attorneys and judges. All forms in the manual are ready to have variable information unique to your case inserted, then printed for easy insertion into your trial notebook or filed with the Court.

Additionally, the more than 40 Chapters will provide you with direction in the use of the forms. Most of your research is located throughout the chapters and you will find cross-references to the appropriate Oklahoma statutes and case law. Your legal assistant or secretary will find the forms a valuable time saver in preparing pleadings.

Practice Notes are labeled and near the relevant material in each chapter. Practice notes appear at the top of each form to guide the less experienced practitioner in the proper use of each form.

Because the practice of family law is fact-specific, we have included views on both sides of most topics. You will have the opportunity to learn the correct and current law from the most experienced family law practitioners in Oklahoma. Each author is available by either e-mail or phone to purchasers to discuss the facts in your case.

The Section intends to issue periodic supplements to keep the Practice Manual’s contents current. The intent is to not only revise current Chapters, but also to add new sub-Chapters. We encourage you to participate in future publications by providing your feedback regarding errors and omissions you find, the need for further commentary, and suggestions for new Chapters you would like to see included in future revisions. We also encourage you to consider making a contribution of a sub-Chapter. If you use forms that are not included in this Practice Manual, please provide them to us.

The goal of the editors, authors and participating members of the Family Law Section is to improve the overall quality of practice of family law in Oklahoma. We want judges and attorneys to deal with the correct law in each case. The proceeds of the sale of the Manual will be used exclusively to help improve the practice of family law in Oklahoma. None of the editors, authors or other participants in the creation of the Manual have been paid one penny for their services. The OBA Family Law Section is extraordinarily proud of its Practice Manual which represents the product of literally thousands of volunteered hours since 2000 by more than fifty Oklahoma professionals identified in the Biographies section.

Attached is a copy of the Table of Contents of each Chapter and a list of the forms contained in the Manual. A copy of the first page of Chapter 5.1 and one form are also attached.

Only OBA members may purchase the Manual. The cost for the initial purchase of the Manual is $285.00. The current cost of supplements is $85.00. Manuals may be purchased from Mark in the CLE Department of the OBA. In Oklahoma City, the phone number is 416- 7000. The toll free number is 800/522-8065.