Arizona Spousal Maintenance Guidelines: Part Two

In part one, we went over the largest factors in determining an award of spousal maintenance income in the state of Arizona. They aren’t the only ones though. The court may consider additional factors, as follows. Actual Income Actual income refers to all income received, from any source, before any deductions or withholdings. This can […]

Arizona Spousal Maintenance Guidelines: Part One

As of July 10th, 2023, the guidelines governing spousal maintenance during and after a divorce in the State of Arizona have changed. If you are currently undergoing divorce proceedings, it’s vital that you understand these changes and what they may mean for your fundamental rights and legal obligations under state law. These changes do not […]

Child Abandonment or Neglect Can Result in the Termination of Parental Rights

Child abandonment is a serious offense in the state of Arizona and can lead to a variety of legal consequences. These can include, but aren’t limited to; fines, imprisonment, and the termination of the absent parents’ parental rights by the state. This means that barring very few defenses, it is possible to lose your legal […]

Paternity Testing Do’s and Don’ts

In the state of Arizona, there are strict rules around the establishment of a child’s presumptive paternity. In most cases, paternity can only be rescinded within 60 days of the presumptive father’s written legal acknowledgment of paternity. This must be filed with the Department of Economic Security, the Department of Health Services, or a clerk […]

How the Court Considers a Child’s Wishes – Part 2

In Arizona family law procedure, the court may consider the wishes of the child in terms of a custody dispute if they meet the criteria for “sufficient age and maturity” under Arizona state law. The determination of what the child’s wishes are, and how to consider them, is made through the consideration of several factors: […]

How the Court Considers a Child’s Wishes – Part 1

It is a very common, and persistent myth that there exists an age at which a minor child can make their own decision as to which parent they would like to live with. This has never been the case. So long as a person remains under the age of eighteen, their wishes may serve to […]

Rule 49 Disclosure Rules

In the state of Arizona, there are strict rules governing disclosure in the context of family law. Generally, these rules can be found under Rule 49 of the Arizona Revised Statutes Annotated Rules of Family Law Procedure. These rules are intended to ensure that all parties to a family law case are informed of relevant […]

Love Your Children More Than You Dislike Your Ex

Divorce can be a touchy subject, even many years after the fact. When children are involved, things can get even more complex. The very fact that now the child needs to share two distinct households can lead to tensions – especially as it relates to the holidays. It’s only natural that a parent would want […]

Who Gets Medical Decision-Making in an Arizona Custody Battle?

If you’re at the beginning or about to launch a child custody case, you probably are feeling overwhelmed with questions and unknowns. An important question on many parents’ minds at this stage is who will have medical decision-making power over the children. While ultimately only the court can answer this question, we can provide some […]

How Rising Child Care Costs Are Impacting Divorced Arizona Parents

If you feel like the cost of child care has risen in recent years, you’re not imagining things. The cost of child care has been steadily rising even before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has made a bad situation worse. Here is everything you need to know about rising child care costs, the impact on divorced parents, and […]