Division of Debt in Divorce
In a divorce action, debt is divided the same way property is divided… “equitably”. This doesn’t necessarily mean equally, but generally the Court will divide the debt as equally as possible. We often hear clients complain that they were not aware of the amount of the other party’s debt. Regardless of whether or not the
Spousal Maintenance
If you’re going through a divorce or legal separation, one of the issues you’ll undoubtedly face is whether you or your spouse is entitled to spousal maintenance. Spousal maintenance, as it’s referred to in Arizona, is also known as alimony or spousal support in other jurisdictions. Unlike child support, spousal maintenance is not determined by
Getting Ready for Trial
The perception that people get from watching lawyer shows on TV is that one day the client is meeting with the attorney, and the next day they are in Court. Reality is nothing like this. It usually takes months before one gets in front of the Judge and there is a lot of work that
Separation vs. Divorce
Torn between filing for legal separation or divorce? Perhaps it would be helpful to know the similarities and differences between the two, at least in Arizona. The first and most obvious difference between the two is that if you’re legally separated, you’re still technically married. Of course, this means you can’t remarry if you’re only
Requirements for Relocation
For parents looking to relocate out of state, whether for a better job opportunity or to be closer to family, special care needs to be taken to ensure they’re complying with Arizona law if they’re planning to relocate with their minor child(ren). For starters, relocation refers to a permanent move out of state or more
Stay or Fetch? Who gets Fido in a Divorce?
For pet lovers going through a divorce, one of the most heart-wrenching and contentious issues in their case can be determining which party will get the family pet(s). Pets are often times an integral part of the family, a source of companionship and affection that can’t be easily replaced. At the same time, and although
Dissolving A Same-sex Marriage In Arizona
Arizona’s Constitution, Article 30, Section 1 and Arizona Revised Statute, section 25-101(C) prohibit marriages between persons of the same sex. However, other states and countries have adopted laws allowing for same sex marriage. When persons enter into a legal same sex marriage in a jurisdiction that allows them, and subsequently relocate to Arizona and seek
Better Safe Than Sorry
We are often asked if an attorney is really necessary when filing for divorce in Arizona. There is no requirement in Arizona that you retain a lawyer to represent you in your divorce. We believe you could be placing yourself at a real disadvantage by not retaining counsel. For starters, divorce very often can be
Aggressive is Not Always the Best Tactic
We often get asked “How aggressive are you?” The answer is, “As aggressive as you want us to be.” As a client, you should know that the more aggressive your attorney is in litigation, the more it will cost. Most family law attorneys bill by the hour, so the more work that goes into a
The Devil is in the Details
Too often we have clients who need their Divorce Decree amended or supplemented because it was not completed accurately when it was originally done. The most common mistake is failing to define the parenting plan with enough specificity to avoid later fights. Frequently when parties do their divorce themselves, they fail to include pick-up and drop-off