Few things matter more than your time with your children. Stephanie Brice-Roberts helps Oklahoma parents pursue custody arrangements that protect that bond and put the children first.
Custody disputes are some of the most emotional cases in family law, and the outcome shapes your daily life for years. We help parents across Oklahoma build a strong, child-centered case, whether you are establishing custody for the first time or modifying an order that no longer works.
Oklahoma separates custody into two parts. Legal custody is the right to make major decisions about a child's upbringing, things like education, health care, and religion. Physical custody is about where the child actually lives and the day-to-day care. Each can be joint (shared between both parents) or sole (held by one parent). Many Oklahoma families end up with joint legal custody and a defined physical custody and parenting time schedule, but the right arrangement depends on your facts. Stephanie helps you understand the practical difference between these options before you commit to a plan.
Oklahoma's guiding standard is the best interests of the child (Okla. Stat. tit. 43). There is no automatic preference for either parent. Instead, the court weighs factors such as each parent's relationship with the child, each parent's ability to provide a stable home and meet the child's needs, the child's ties to school and community, each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent, and any history of family violence or substance abuse. No single factor decides the case; the judge looks at the full picture and builds an arrangement around the child's well-being.
Not on their own. In Oklahoma, a child who is 12 or older may be allowed to express a preference about which parent to live with, and the court can consider that preference. But the judge still makes the final decision based on the child's best interests. A child's wishes are one factor among many, not the last word, and how that preference is presented to the court matters. We can advise you on what role, if any, your child's voice should play in your case.
Life changes, and sometimes a custody order needs to change with it. To modify custody in Oklahoma, you generally must show a material, permanent, and substantial change in circumstances since the last order, and that a different arrangement now serves the child's best interests. A new job, a relocation, a change in a parent's situation, or concerns about the child's safety can all be relevant. We can review your order and tell you honestly whether a modification is worth pursuing.
Oklahoma law does not favor mothers over fathers or fathers over mothers. Both parents start on equal footing, and the court focuses on what is best for the child. Whether you are a father fighting for real parenting time or a mother protecting a stable home, you deserve an advocate who knows the details of your case. When you hire Brice | Roberts, you work directly with Stephanie, not a rotating cast of associates. She is a seasoned trial attorney and a mother, and she brings both courtroom skill and genuine understanding to your case. You will always know where things stand and what comes next.
Parenting plans and custody arrangements designed around your children's best interests and your relationship with them.
Oklahoma law favors neither parent. We help you make a strong, evidence-based case no matter which side you are on.
Practical knowledge of how the metro's district courts handle custody, so your strategy fits reality.
Oklahoma courts decide custody based on the best interests of the child. Judges weigh factors such as each parent's relationship with and ability to care for the child, the child's needs and stability, the home environment, each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent, and any history of family violence or substance abuse. No single factor controls; the court looks at the whole picture.
Not entirely. In Oklahoma, a child who is 12 or older may be allowed to express a preference about which parent to live with, and the court may consider it. The judge still makes the final decision based on the best interests of the child, so a child's preference is one factor rather than the deciding one.
To modify an existing custody order in Oklahoma, you generally must show a material, permanent, and substantial change in circumstances since the last order, and that the change makes a different custody arrangement in the child's best interests. We can review your situation and advise whether a modification is likely to succeed.
Tell us a little about your situation and Stephanie will personally review it. By phone or virtual meeting, anywhere in Oklahoma.