Arizona Family Law Laws

Modifying Arizona Child Support Orders | Scottsdale Family Law

Greg Davis

 

Modifying Child Support in Scottsdale

Yes, you can modify an existing order of child support. Someone who wants to modify an order of child support must show a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. Many situations could constitute a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, but a couple of examples would be the loss of the paying parent’s job, or a child’s special needs, or even a change in parenting time. If you want to know more, call me, Greg Davis, at (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

Modifying Child Support in Scottsdale

Yes, you can modify an existing order of child support. Someone who wants to modify an order of child support must show a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. Many situations could constitute a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, but a couple of examples would be the loss of the paying parent’s job, or a child’s special needs, or even a change in parenting time. If you want to know more, call me, Greg Davis, at (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

Does the Court Consider Separate Property When Determining Alimony | Phoenix Divorce Laws

Erik Bergstrom

 

4 Factors to Determine Alimony Eligibility

In Arizona, alimony is called spousal maintenance. There are four specific criteria that the court must evaluate in determining whether a spouse is entitled to spousal maintenance, and the central theme is whether the requesting spouse can provide for his or her reasonable needs.

Separate & Community Property

In determining whether a spouse can meet his or her needs, the court can consider that spouse’s sole and separate property, along with any community property that is awarded to that spouse as part of the divorce. If the court determines that one spouse is entitled to spousal maintenance, the court then considers all other relevant factors, including thirteen specific statutory factors to determine the amount and duration of the award.

Determining Amount & Duration

The factors that potentially relate to separate property include the following: the ability of the paying spouse to meet his or her own needs and still pay something to the other spouse; the comparative financial resources of each spouse; and the ability of the parties to contribute to the future educational costs of their common children. So, separate property can be considered both when determining if a spouse is entitled to spousal maintenance and if so, the amount and duration of the award. If you would like more information, please contact me.

By: Attorney Erik Bergstrom

4 Factors to Determine Alimony Eligibility

In Arizona, alimony is called spousal maintenance. There are four specific criteria that the court must evaluate in determining whether a spouse is entitled to spousal maintenance, and the central theme is whether the requesting spouse can provide for his or her reasonable needs.

Separate & Community Property

In determining whether a spouse can meet his or her needs, the court can consider that spouse’s sole and separate property, along with any community property that is awarded to that spouse as part of the divorce. If the court determines that one spouse is entitled to spousal maintenance, the court then considers all other relevant factors, including thirteen specific statutory factors to determine the amount and duration of the award.

Determining Amount & Duration

The factors that potentially relate to separate property include the following: the ability of the paying spouse to meet his or her own needs and still pay something to the other spouse; the comparative financial resources of each spouse; and the ability of the parties to contribute to the future educational costs of their common children. So, separate property can be considered both when determining if a spouse is entitled to spousal maintenance and if so, the amount and duration of the award. If you would like more information, please contact me.

By: Attorney Erik Bergstrom

Attorney Kevin Park | Scottsdale Family Law

Kevin Park

 

Scottsdale Attorney Kevin Park

I’m very experienced. Been practicing for 25 years and doing family law for over 20 here in Arizona. For me, satisfaction in doing family law really comes from assisting people who are having a difficult time. Attorneys are also known as counselors, because most of the time when people come to you in a family law case they’re fearful, because they don’t understand what’s going to go on. They don’t understand what they can expect, so I try to get rid of those fears early on, giving them a plan, and then going forward with that.

Satisfaction, for me, comes at the end when we’ve been able to achieve all those things, and they’re happy that they had somebody who could help them along the way. I think the best-fit cases are ones that have interesting and complex financial cases. Particularly ones that involve stocks, investments, stock options, sometimes dealing with complex property issues and things like that, along with spousal maintenance.

I was a financial advisor, where I sat down with people and helped them build a financial plan for their future. My approach is such that I’m practical and pragmatic. I’m not aggressive just for the sake of being an aggressive lawyer. If it makes sense to push back, we’ll push back. But normally, I’m looking for pragmatic and reasonable approaches to getting solutions for the client.

By: Kevin Park

Scottsdale Attorney Kevin Park

I’m very experienced. Been practicing for 25 years and doing family law for over 20 here in Arizona. For me, satisfaction in doing family law really comes from assisting people who are having a difficult time. Attorneys are also known as counselors, because most of the time when people come to you in a family law case they’re fearful, because they don’t understand what’s going to go on. They don’t understand what they can expect, so I try to get rid of those fears early on, giving them a plan, and then going forward with that.

Satisfaction, for me, comes at the end when we’ve been able to achieve all those things, and they’re happy that they had somebody who could help them along the way. I think the best-fit cases are ones that have interesting and complex financial cases. Particularly ones that involve stocks, investments, stock options, sometimes dealing with complex property issues and things like that, along with spousal maintenance.

I was a financial advisor, where I sat down with people and helped them build a financial plan for their future. My approach is such that I’m practical and pragmatic. I’m not aggressive just for the sake of being an aggressive lawyer. If it makes sense to push back, we’ll push back. But normally, I’m looking for pragmatic and reasonable approaches to getting solutions for the client.

By: Kevin Park

What Courts Consider When Determining Child Custody | Phoenix Family Law

Erik Bergstrom

 

Determining Child Custody in Phoenix, Arizona

In Arizona, child custody is now called legal decision-making. The law establishes a preference for joint legal decision-making, and a parent seeking sole legal decision-making will have the burden to prove to the court why such an order is in the best interest of the minor children. Some acceptable reasons might include drug or alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse or mental illness.

11 Statutory Factors

In making it’s order, the court is required to consider all information that is relevant to the children’s best interest and in particular, the eleven statutory factors. I won’t describe all of those factors here, but they include the past, present and potential future relationship between the parent and the children; the children’s relationship with family members and their adjustment to home, school and community; the mental and physical health of the parents and the children; and if the children are of suitable age and maturity, the wishes of the children.

Age of Children Effects Child Custody

On this last point, there is no specific age at which a child gets to choose where to live. As the child gets closer to age 18, his or her wishes will carry more weight with the court. Typically, courts start giving significant weight to the child’s wishes around age 12 or 13. If you have more questions concerning legal decision-making or parenting time, please contact me.

By: Attorney Erik Bergstrom

Determining Child Custody in Phoenix, Arizona

In Arizona, child custody is now called legal decision-making. The law establishes a preference for joint legal decision-making, and a parent seeking sole legal decision-making will have the burden to prove to the court why such an order is in the best interest of the minor children. Some acceptable reasons might include drug or alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse or mental illness.

11 Statutory Factors

In making it’s order, the court is required to consider all information that is relevant to the children’s best interest and in particular, the eleven statutory factors. I won’t describe all of those factors here, but they include the past, present and potential future relationship between the parent and the children; the children’s relationship with family members and their adjustment to home, school and community; the mental and physical health of the parents and the children; and if the children are of suitable age and maturity, the wishes of the children.

Age of Children Effects Child Custody

On this last point, there is no specific age at which a child gets to choose where to live. As the child gets closer to age 18, his or her wishes will carry more weight with the court. Typically, courts start giving significant weight to the child’s wishes around age 12 or 13. If you have more questions concerning legal decision-making or parenting time, please contact me.

By: Attorney Erik Bergstrom

What is a Resolution Management Conference | Phoenix Divorce Attorney

Jason Castle

 

Introduction

My name is Jason Castle. I’m an attorney at Jaburg Wilk, and my practice areas are family law and criminal defense.

Resolution Management Conference

A resolution management conference – often called an RMC – is one of the first times the parties will end up going to court. Most of my clients when they come in are scared of court and don’t want to go. So the RMC ends up being their first opportunity to be a party in a lawsuit, and to go to court.ย  The RMC sounds scary as well. It is not. It is primarily just a scheduling conference.

However, it is an important step in the process towards litigation. It typically is scheduled somewhere between 45 and 60 days after the Respondent files his or her response, and the order setting the RMC will require the parties to have a settlement meeting prior to the RMC.

Settlement Meeting

During the settlement meeting, depending on where the parties are in the litigation process, some people come in already having an idea of what they want to do in order to resolve their divorce. Others do not. That’s a good time to set what are called temporary orders.

Temporary Orders

Temporary orders are the rules or the orders that will apply between that point in time and the final decree. ย During the RMC, you will then go to be in the court. They’ll tell the court, These are our issues. This is how long we need for trial. The court will look at its calendar, talk to the parties to find out when it’s good for them, and schedule the trial.

By: Jason Castle

Introduction

My name is Jason Castle. I’m an attorney at Jaburg Wilk, and my practice areas are family law and criminal defense.

Resolution Management Conference

A resolution management conference – often called an RMC – is one of the first times the parties will end up going to court. Most of my clients when they come in are scared of court and don’t want to go. So the RMC ends up being their first opportunity to be a party in a lawsuit, and to go to court.ย  The RMC sounds scary as well. It is not. It is primarily just a scheduling conference.

However, it is an important step in the process towards litigation. It typically is scheduled somewhere between 45 and 60 days after the Respondent files his or her response, and the order setting the RMC will require the parties to have a settlement meeting prior to the RMC.

Settlement Meeting

During the settlement meeting, depending on where the parties are in the litigation process, some people come in already having an idea of what they want to do in order to resolve their divorce. Others do not. That’s a good time to set what are called temporary orders.

Temporary Orders

Temporary orders are the rules or the orders that will apply between that point in time and the final decree. ย During the RMC, you will then go to be in the court. They’ll tell the court, These are our issues. This is how long we need for trial. The court will look at its calendar, talk to the parties to find out when it’s good for them, and schedule the trial.

By: Jason Castle

What are the Different Forms of Child Custody | Scottsdale Child Custody

Chris Hildebrand

 

Types of Child Custody

I want to speak to you today about the different forms of legal custody of a child in the state of Arizona. When we talk about custody, we are really talking about two different aspects of custody as it relates to children.

Physical Custody

The first of which is, how much time the child or children spend in the each parentโ€™s home. We refer to that as physical custody.

Legal Decision Making

But, the other aspect of custody has to do with who gets to make the major decisions affecting the child. For example, the decisions regarding education, such as where the child goes to school, medical decisions, the childrenโ€™s participation in extracurricular activities and even the childโ€™s religious upbringing.

If a parent has sole legal custody, that parent gets to make all those decisions irrespective of the wishes of the other parent. If the parents share joint legal custody however, both parents must agree regarding those decisions for the child. If you have any other questions regarding custody or parenting time in the state of Arizona, please feel free to contact me.

By: Chris Hildebrand

Types of Child Custody

I want to speak to you today about the different forms of legal custody of a child in the state of Arizona. When we talk about custody, we are really talking about two different aspects of custody as it relates to children.

Physical Custody

The first of which is, how much time the child or children spend in the each parentโ€™s home. We refer to that as physical custody.

Legal Decision Making

But, the other aspect of custody has to do with who gets to make the major decisions affecting the child. For example, the decisions regarding education, such as where the child goes to school, medical decisions, the childrenโ€™s participation in extracurricular activities and even the childโ€™s religious upbringing.

If a parent has sole legal custody, that parent gets to make all those decisions irrespective of the wishes of the other parent. If the parents share joint legal custody however, both parents must agree regarding those decisions for the child. If you have any other questions regarding custody or parenting time in the state of Arizona, please feel free to contact me.

By: Chris Hildebrand

What is Child Support | Phoenix Family Law

Erik Bergstrom

 

Phoenix Child Support

Child support is simply money paid by one parent to the other parent to assist in covering costs associated with minor children. In most cases, the parent who cares for the children most of the time will receive child support from the other parent. Child support has priority over all other financial obligations and is not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

In Arizona, child support is calculated according to a formula. The amount produced by the formula is the presumptive amount of support, although in appropriate cases, the court can deviate upward or downward from the guideline amount. Extracurricular activity expenses for the children are addressed separately, because the children’s activities typically change over time. A child support order will also assign responsibility for sharing in any medical costs for the children that are not covered by insurance, and will allocate the right to claim each child as a dependent on the parents’ income tax returns. If you would like me to prepare a sample child support worksheet for you, please contact me.

By: Attorney Erik Bergstrom

Phoenix Child Support

Child support is simply money paid by one parent to the other parent to assist in covering costs associated with minor children. In most cases, the parent who cares for the children most of the time will receive child support from the other parent. Child support has priority over all other financial obligations and is not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

In Arizona, child support is calculated according to a formula. The amount produced by the formula is the presumptive amount of support, although in appropriate cases, the court can deviate upward or downward from the guideline amount. Extracurricular activity expenses for the children are addressed separately, because the children’s activities typically change over time. A child support order will also assign responsibility for sharing in any medical costs for the children that are not covered by insurance, and will allocate the right to claim each child as a dependent on the parents’ income tax returns. If you would like me to prepare a sample child support worksheet for you, please contact me.

By: Attorney Erik Bergstrom

How The Courts Determine Spousal Maintenance | Phoenix Family Law

Joel Hoffman

 

Spousal Maintenance in Arizona

Alimony, which is called spousal maintenance in Arizona, is determined by the factors outlined in Arizona revised statute title 25, section 319, subsection A and subsection B. The court first looks at the threshold criteria in subsection A.

Eligibility

The court will determine if a spouse is eligible for spousal maintenance after considering the following factors;

  • The property each spouse receives in the divorce
  • If a spouse is a stay at home parent with young children
  • if a spouse contributed to the educational opportunities of the other spouse
  • the reasonable monthly expenses of the spouse
  • the length of the marriage, and the health condition and employability of the spouse

If the court determines the spouse is eligible to receive spousal maintenance, under subsection A, then the court will consider the amount and duration under the thirteen statutory factors in subsection B.

If you call me at Warner Angle, (602) 264-7101, I’ll be glad to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your ability to receive spousal maintenance. I look forward to meeting with you soon.

By: Attorney Joel Hoffman

Spousal Maintenance in Arizona

Alimony, which is called spousal maintenance in Arizona, is determined by the factors outlined in Arizona revised statute title 25, section 319, subsection A and subsection B. The court first looks at the threshold criteria in subsection A.

Eligibility

The court will determine if a spouse is eligible for spousal maintenance after considering the following factors;

  • The property each spouse receives in the divorce
  • If a spouse is a stay at home parent with young children
  • if a spouse contributed to the educational opportunities of the other spouse
  • the reasonable monthly expenses of the spouse
  • the length of the marriage, and the health condition and employability of the spouse

If the court determines the spouse is eligible to receive spousal maintenance, under subsection A, then the court will consider the amount and duration under the thirteen statutory factors in subsection B.

If you call me at Warner Angle, (602) 264-7101, I’ll be glad to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your ability to receive spousal maintenance. I look forward to meeting with you soon.

By: Attorney Joel Hoffman

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