Practical perspectives for contemporary legal challenges.
In Arizona, a child can decide which parent to live with after their parent’s divorce only when the child reaches his or her 18th birthday. At this age, when the child is no longer a minor, the Court loses jurisdiction over the child for purposes of determining legal decision-making (custody) and parenting time. Until this age, …
Continue reading “When Can My Child Decide Which Parent to Live With After the Divorce?”
Family law attorneys typically see an increase in January of individuals calling to set a divorce consultation. Often times the requests for consultations are precipitated by the desire to not have to spend another uncomfortable holiday season with your spouse. Or perhaps it is because the new year is a good time to take stock …
Continue reading “Out with the Old, In With the New: 5 Things to Know Before You File for Divorce”
The three most important words in any divorce action are the simple words: “can”, “may” and “should”. While parties tend to concentrate on the major issues of support, custody, and division of assets and liabilities, the use of these three words in the context of requesting relief through the divorce process and finalizing a settlement …
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You and your spouse have commenced divorce proceedings and are in the process of negotiating an appropriate parenting time schedule for your children. The next day, the doorbell rings, and when you answer it, a police officer serves you with an Order of Protection. The Order of Protection prohibits you from seeing or even communicating …
It is common for divorcing spouses to negotiate and resolve between themselves claims relating to division of property, debts, payment of spousal maintenance and parenting schedules for their children. When parties are able to reach these agreements on their own, the Court offers standard forms that parties can complete themselves and submit to the Court …
Continue reading “Please Do Not Sign That Divorce Agreement Yet!”
The holidays are right around the corner and often can be a very difficult and emotional time if you are going through a divorce or separation, especially if you have children. Managing the many holiday demands including school programs, various events, buying gifts, and helping your children cope with the perceived loss of their family …
Judges are elected or appointed officials serving the citizens of our communities. The majority of our judges are intelligent, empathic, possess a vast knowledge of the law and are experienced and wise. However, judges are also human and thus not immune from error or misjudgment. Putting your fate and your children’s fate in the hands …
It is universally recognized that litigating legal decision making, parenting time or other parenting issues can be harmful to the development of children. Litigation involving minor children, especially high conflict and protracted litigation, can result in ongoing emotional turmoil, depression, lower levels of self-esteem and a higher risk of mental illness, substance abuse, educational difficulties …
I recently had lunch with a non-lawyer friend who, like me, has been married over 30 years (34 years for me; 31 for him). He was having some doubts about long-term marriage and found it odd that a divorce attorney (like me) could be happily married and content for so long. He wanted to know …
So you’ve gone through a divorce. You have survived the mental anguish of the process and a court order has been entered regarding custody and parenting time. Eventually, life has settled back down, you and your ex-spouse are complying with the court order and everything is going as it should. But what happens to custody …
Continue reading “What Happens with Parenting Time and Custody if I Have to Move After my Divorce?”