Arizona Alimony & Spousal Maintenance Laws

What Should I Expect During the First Meeting With My Divorce Attorney | Arizona

Mitchell Reichman

 

Hi, I’m Mitch Reichman. I’m a board certified family law specialist and I practice at Jaburg and Wilk.

How can I make the most of my first meeting?

The way a client can make the most of their first meeting with me is to be organized and to bring me basic general information. So I want a simple statement of their assets and their liabilities. I’d like to see the most recent three years of tax returns. And I recommend the client bring notes. At least bullet points of the topics the client would like to cover in that first meeting.

Should I bring all of my records to the first meeting?

I don’t ask them to bring a lot of documents to the first meeting. We’re going to follow up and gather a lot of documents during the process. Certainly I would not want the to bring a box of records to the meeting. It would be very inefficient, very expensive for the client for me to be thumbing through a box of records in that first meeting.

What information are you looking for initially?

We’re looking for broad strokes of information. We want to identify in that first meeting what the assets are and what the liabilities are. To find out about their children. To know about income and expenses. To see if someone is going to be needing spousal maintenance for example. So just broadly identify the topics we’re going to need to address. We’re going to gather a lot of details along the way, but that wouldn’t be a useful way to spend our time the first meeting.

By: Mitchell Reichman

Hi, I’m Mitch Reichman. I’m a board certified family law specialist and I practice at Jaburg and Wilk.

How can I make the most of my first meeting?

The way a client can make the most of their first meeting with me is to be organized and to bring me basic general information. So I want a simple statement of their assets and their liabilities. I’d like to see the most recent three years of tax returns. And I recommend the client bring notes. At least bullet points of the topics the client would like to cover in that first meeting.

Should I bring all of my records to the first meeting?

I don’t ask them to bring a lot of documents to the first meeting. We’re going to follow up and gather a lot of documents during the process. Certainly I would not want the to bring a box of records to the meeting. It would be very inefficient, very expensive for the client for me to be thumbing through a box of records in that first meeting.

What information are you looking for initially?

We’re looking for broad strokes of information. We want to identify in that first meeting what the assets are and what the liabilities are. To find out about their children. To know about income and expenses. To see if someone is going to be needing spousal maintenance for example. So just broadly identify the topics we’re going to need to address. We’re going to gather a lot of details along the way, but that wouldn’t be a useful way to spend our time the first meeting.

By: Mitchell Reichman

Opting Out of Famility Dispute Through Arbitration | Arizona

Mitchell Reichman

 

What is Opting Out?

Hi. My name is Mitchell Reichman. I’m a board certified specialist in family law and chair of the family law department at Jaburg & Wilk. Opting out is choosing to resolve a family law dispute outside the traditional judicial system. One of the ways parties can choose to opt out is by choosing to arbitrate.

What is Arbitration?

Arbitration is a voluntary process. It’s beyond the jurisdiction of a judge to order parties to arbitrate. However, once parties do decide to arbitrate, a court order will be entered that appoints the arbitrator and governs the process. Generally in Arizona, arbitrations are governed by a set of statutes known as Arizona’s Arbitration Act. One of the advantages of arbitration is that the parties can choose the neutral that serves as the arbitrator based on the parties’ circumstances, particularly where the issues are specialized such as with the valuation of a business or professional practice. The parties can chose an arbitrator who has a greater amount of education, training, and experience than the judge randomly assigned to their case. This gives the parties the opportunity to obtain a more predictable outcome because the arbitrator is familiar with the issues that will be presented in a valuation analysis, and the judge might not be. An important difference between choosing to arbitrate a dispute as compared to a trial concerns the right to appeal.

Can You Appeal an Arbitration Decision?

Under Arizona’s Arbitration Act, people who choose to arbitrate have very limited rights to appeal the decision of the arbitrator. This is very dissimilar from their rights to appeal should a judge make the decision after a trial on the merits. Overall, however, in many cases we find that by choosing to opt out through a process of arbitration, we’re able to reach our goal of helping our clients obtain a more favorable result in their family law proceeding.

By: Mitchell Reichman

What is Opting Out?

Hi. My name is Mitchell Reichman. I’m a board certified specialist in family law and chair of the family law department at Jaburg & Wilk. Opting out is choosing to resolve a family law dispute outside the traditional judicial system. One of the ways parties can choose to opt out is by choosing to arbitrate.

What is Arbitration?

Arbitration is a voluntary process. It’s beyond the jurisdiction of a judge to order parties to arbitrate. However, once parties do decide to arbitrate, a court order will be entered that appoints the arbitrator and governs the process. Generally in Arizona, arbitrations are governed by a set of statutes known as Arizona’s Arbitration Act. One of the advantages of arbitration is that the parties can choose the neutral that serves as the arbitrator based on the parties’ circumstances, particularly where the issues are specialized such as with the valuation of a business or professional practice. The parties can chose an arbitrator who has a greater amount of education, training, and experience than the judge randomly assigned to their case. This gives the parties the opportunity to obtain a more predictable outcome because the arbitrator is familiar with the issues that will be presented in a valuation analysis, and the judge might not be. An important difference between choosing to arbitrate a dispute as compared to a trial concerns the right to appeal.

Can You Appeal an Arbitration Decision?

Under Arizona’s Arbitration Act, people who choose to arbitrate have very limited rights to appeal the decision of the arbitrator. This is very dissimilar from their rights to appeal should a judge make the decision after a trial on the merits. Overall, however, in many cases we find that by choosing to opt out through a process of arbitration, we’re able to reach our goal of helping our clients obtain a more favorable result in their family law proceeding.

By: Mitchell Reichman

How is Alimony Determined in Arizona | Scottsdale Alimony Laws

C.D. Owens

 

Determining Alimony

That is perhaps the most difficult question that lawyers and judges have to make in these cases. There are so many variables that have to be considered that I could actually discuss them for the rest of the afternoon. There’s the age of the parties, how long they have been married, there’s how much money does each one of them make.

Alimony Example

For example, if a lady with a 20-year marriage is making $150,000 a year, no judge is going to award her spousal maintenance. His or her attitude will be that she can support herself, as she obviously can. But then after a decision is made whether a party qualifies to receive spousal maintenance, there’s a wide range of other things like standard of living that has been achieved during the marriage, health of the parties. You not only have to consider how much the wife may be earning, but you have to consider how much the payer is earning and whether he could pay spousal maintenance. All of those things have to be considered and we encourage people to give us a ring and talk to us about it.

By: CD Owens

Determining Alimony

That is perhaps the most difficult question that lawyers and judges have to make in these cases. There are so many variables that have to be considered that I could actually discuss them for the rest of the afternoon. There’s the age of the parties, how long they have been married, there’s how much money does each one of them make.

Alimony Example

For example, if a lady with a 20-year marriage is making $150,000 a year, no judge is going to award her spousal maintenance. His or her attitude will be that she can support herself, as she obviously can. But then after a decision is made whether a party qualifies to receive spousal maintenance, there’s a wide range of other things like standard of living that has been achieved during the marriage, health of the parties. You not only have to consider how much the wife may be earning, but you have to consider how much the payer is earning and whether he could pay spousal maintenance. All of those things have to be considered and we encourage people to give us a ring and talk to us about it.

By: CD Owens

Is Alimony Taxable in Arizona?

Kip Micuda

 

Alimony is referred to in Arizona as spousal support or spousal maintenance. The parent that receives alimony must report those payments as taxable income on his or her federal and state tax returns. A spouse that pays alimony must report those payments as a deduction on their federal and state tax returns. However, the parties can agree to treat alimony differently, as far as it’s taxability. They can agree to treat it is part of a property settlement or as part of an equalization. In that instance, there is no reporting of alimony on either party’s tax returns at all. If you have any questions about alimony and the taxability of it, please contact me at Hildebrand Law. The phone number is (480) 305-8300. Thank you.

By: Attorney Kip Micuda

Alimony is referred to in Arizona as spousal support or spousal maintenance. The parent that receives alimony must report those payments as taxable income on his or her federal and state tax returns. A spouse that pays alimony must report those payments as a deduction on their federal and state tax returns. However, the parties can agree to treat alimony differently, as far as it’s taxability. They can agree to treat it is part of a property settlement or as part of an equalization. In that instance, there is no reporting of alimony on either party’s tax returns at all. If you have any questions about alimony and the taxability of it, please contact me at Hildebrand Law. The phone number is (480) 305-8300. Thank you.

By: Attorney Kip Micuda

Can I Modify Spousal Maintenance | Arizona

Michael Clancy

 

Spousal maintenance can be modified by showing a substantial and continuing change of financial circumstances. Well what does that mean? It can mean any number of things. It can mean that you changed jobs. It can mean you have moved. It can mean you have less parenting time. It can mean that you suffered a catastrophic injury and you’re not able to work anymore. Each case is unique and it requires a specific inspection by the attorney who you hire. Also to consider, if your decree says that spousal maintenance is non-modifiable, unfortunately at that point, the court doesn’t have the power to modify, so the answer to the question then would be no. But again, I would love to talk to you more about your case and if you’d like to talk to me, you can email me.

To modify spousal maintenance in Arizona, contact a Scottsdale divorce attorney.

By: Attorney Michael Clancy

Spousal maintenance can be modified by showing a substantial and continuing change of financial circumstances. Well what does that mean? It can mean any number of things. It can mean that you changed jobs. It can mean you have moved. It can mean you have less parenting time. It can mean that you suffered a catastrophic injury and you’re not able to work anymore. Each case is unique and it requires a specific inspection by the attorney who you hire. Also to consider, if your decree says that spousal maintenance is non-modifiable, unfortunately at that point, the court doesn’t have the power to modify, so the answer to the question then would be no. But again, I would love to talk to you more about your case and if you’d like to talk to me, you can email me.

To modify spousal maintenance in Arizona, contact a Scottsdale divorce attorney.

By: Attorney Michael Clancy

Minimum Marriage Length Requirement for Alimony to be Awarded | Scottsdale Alimony Laws

Greg Davis

 

Marriage Length Requirements

In Arizona, we refer to alimony as spousal maintenance and there isn’t a particular number of years people must be married in order for spousal maintenance to be ordered. There are many factors a court will consider. For more details, contact me, Greg Davis at Davis Limited, (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

Marriage Length Requirements

In Arizona, we refer to alimony as spousal maintenance and there isn’t a particular number of years people must be married in order for spousal maintenance to be ordered. There are many factors a court will consider. For more details, contact me, Greg Davis at Davis Limited, (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

Am I Eligible to Receive Alimony | Scottsdale Family Law

Chris Hildebrand

 

Receiving Alimony in Scottsdale

Hello, I want to speak to you today about whether you may be eligible for spousal maintenance in Arizona. The court is going to look at a variety of factors to determine whether you are eligible for spousal maintenance, as well as the amount and duration of that spousal maintenance award.

Although there are many factors the court will look at, as a general overview, usually the more important factors include, the differences in the parties income, the amount of assets that each spouse will take from the marriage and the length of the marriage. Now there is certainly many more factors under the statute that the court will also consider, but in most cases those are the most important factors for the court to consider. If you any other questions regarding whether you are eligible for spousal maintenance in the state of Arizona, please feel free to contact me.

If you still have questions regarding whether or not you are eligible to receive alimony in Arizona, please contact a Scottsdale alimony lawyer.

By: Chris Hildebrand

Receiving Alimony in Scottsdale

Hello, I want to speak to you today about whether you may be eligible for spousal maintenance in Arizona. The court is going to look at a variety of factors to determine whether you are eligible for spousal maintenance, as well as the amount and duration of that spousal maintenance award.

Although there are many factors the court will look at, as a general overview, usually the more important factors include, the differences in the parties income, the amount of assets that each spouse will take from the marriage and the length of the marriage. Now there is certainly many more factors under the statute that the court will also consider, but in most cases those are the most important factors for the court to consider. If you any other questions regarding whether you are eligible for spousal maintenance in the state of Arizona, please feel free to contact me.

If you still have questions regarding whether or not you are eligible to receive alimony in Arizona, please contact a Scottsdale alimony lawyer.

By: Chris Hildebrand

How Much Spousal Maintenance Will I Receive | Arizona

Laurence B. Hirsch

 

Arizona Dissolution of Marriage Law Implications

Hi. My name is Larry Hirsch, and I practice exclusively in the domestic relations group at Jaburg & Wilk. Talking about spousal maintenance, the great grey area in Arizona Dissolution of Marriage Law.

Spousal maintenance has no guidelines. It’s one of the keys that anybody has to understand. So, when a client asks me, what am I going to see receiving spousal maintenance, it’s almost impossible to tell them and there’s lots of reasons why but I want to relate a story. I help teach younger attorneys how to put on divorce trials. I remember one time we were doing this we had a panel of judges who came in to sit at our mock trial. We had five judges. We presented the exact same case, of course, to all five judges. All five judges had a different ruling on how much spousal maintenance the spouse was going to get and how long the spousal maintenance term was going to last. I like to tell that story because clients will ask all the time, how much am I going to pay in spousal maintenance? How much am I going to receive in spousal maintenance? The answer is always: “it depends”. That’s why we call it the great grey area.

There are a myriad of factors that play in to not only whether or not one is entitled to spousal maintenance but more specifically how much spousal maintenance one will receive and for how long.

By: Laurence B. Hirsch

Arizona Dissolution of Marriage Law Implications

Hi. My name is Larry Hirsch, and I practice exclusively in the domestic relations group at Jaburg & Wilk. Talking about spousal maintenance, the great grey area in Arizona Dissolution of Marriage Law.

Spousal maintenance has no guidelines. It’s one of the keys that anybody has to understand. So, when a client asks me, what am I going to see receiving spousal maintenance, it’s almost impossible to tell them and there’s lots of reasons why but I want to relate a story. I help teach younger attorneys how to put on divorce trials. I remember one time we were doing this we had a panel of judges who came in to sit at our mock trial. We had five judges. We presented the exact same case, of course, to all five judges. All five judges had a different ruling on how much spousal maintenance the spouse was going to get and how long the spousal maintenance term was going to last. I like to tell that story because clients will ask all the time, how much am I going to pay in spousal maintenance? How much am I going to receive in spousal maintenance? The answer is always: “it depends”. That’s why we call it the great grey area.

There are a myriad of factors that play in to not only whether or not one is entitled to spousal maintenance but more specifically how much spousal maintenance one will receive and for how long.

By: Laurence B. Hirsch

How Much Alimony Will I Receive After My Divorce | Scottsdale Alimony Laws

Greg Davis

 

Awarding Spousal Maintenance in Scottsdale

In Arizona, there’s no specific amount a spouse might receive with respect to spousal maintenance. If you look on the internet, you will find spousal maintenance guidelines, containing a formula. That formula was rejected by the Arizona courts. A.R.S section 25-319(B) governs how much spousal maintenance a court will award. For more details, contact me, Greg Davis at Davis Limited, (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

Awarding Spousal Maintenance in Scottsdale

In Arizona, there’s no specific amount a spouse might receive with respect to spousal maintenance. If you look on the internet, you will find spousal maintenance guidelines, containing a formula. That formula was rejected by the Arizona courts. A.R.S section 25-319(B) governs how much spousal maintenance a court will award. For more details, contact me, Greg Davis at Davis Limited, (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

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