Divorce

& Family Law Attorneys in Arizona

The AZ Divorce Attorneys at My Arizona Lawyers, PLLC are passionate divorce in family law issues in Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties in Arizona. Because our Arizona divorce lawyers know the value of spouse and family in our lives, we passionately fight for you and your right to have and keep healthy relationships. From ensuring a fair parting of ways in the case of a divorce to securing your role in your child’s upbringing, our experienced Arizona divorce team has the remedy for your divorce and family law needs. Therefore, if you are seeking an attorney to assist you with your divorce, you have reached the right site.

infographic: top reasons people get divorced

Divorce can be emotionally devastating.  You are ending what may be a years-long marriage, and what almost certainly represented the hope of something more. Getting un-married can also be financially devastating.  Also, you may have given up your job to care for children or your home while your spouse worked.  Even if you did work, your spouse may have made more than you did, providing the majority of support.

When you go your own way, you may find yourself scrambling to find a job, worried about how to afford your own place, and having to buy new furniture and other household items.  If you have children, you may not have the means to support them on your own.  Plus, you may now have to worry about health insurance and car insurance.  Perhaps you need to get your own cell phone plan.

ARIZONA DIVORCE ATTORNEY

A Mesa divorce lawyer can help you protect your rights and fight for a settlement that allows you to continue living the type of life to which you were accustomed and to provide for yourself.  An experienced divorce attorney will get you the results you seek.  Call and set up a free consultation with one of our Arizona family law attorneys today.

In addition, a divorce lawyer can help you fight for a fair division of assets, an alimony settlement and child support that helps you provide for your children.

Divorce Law Services in Arizona

Impact of Adultery on Your Divorce in Arizona

With the creation of “no-fault” divorce, adultery doesn’t have nearly the impact on your divorce as it used to.  Arizona is a “no-fault” divorce state.  Though many jilted spouses look for satisfaction in filing a divorce decree stating that their spouse had an affair, it generally does not influence many factors in the divorce like:  Child Custody issues, Division of Property, or Spousal Support (Alimony).
Therefore, if you are the scorned party and are hoping for your cheating ex to be punished in a divorce.  Chances are you are going to be let down.  Conversely, if you are the one that was stepping out and having extramarital activities, you shouldn’t worry about getting in trouble for it during your divorce.  In Arizona, affairs and adultery are not considered pertinent to the fair division of assets or a parent’s ability to care for their children.  Additionally, the primary point to take from this discussion on adultery and divorce,  is that an affair will likely have no impact on your divorce proceedings in Arizona. 
There may be ways to penalize the other spouse who is having the affair through a marital waste claim.   If the adultery harmed the marital community financially, there may be a path to filing such a claim.  Contact our Arizona Divorce Attorneys and Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for further information regarding how adultery impacts divorces in Arizona.

CHOOSING A DIVORCE ATTORNEY IN ARIZONA

Arizona custody attorney
Choosing a divorce attorney is an important part of a successful divorce.  It seems like many people are looking for a “bulldog” attorney or an attorney who is aggressive, a fighter, and no nonsense.  When our Arizona family law staff hear this (and we often do), it makes us shudder.  Talented attorneys, like those on our staff at My AZ Lawyers, don’t need to unnecessarily fight or sling mud in order to achieve a successful outcome to a divorce.
We are by no means saying that our attorneys won’t vigorously represent our client, we just know that as divorce attorneys we must separate feelings and emotions in order to achieve the best outcome for our clients.  Additionally, our family law team has represented thousands of people in Arizona who were filing for divorce.

THE MY AZ LAWYERS DIFFERENCE

The exceptional results that we get are due to our knowledge of not only the Arizona family laws, but also to the fact that we are in front of the same judges case after case.  Therefore, with all of the face time that we get in front of these judges we get to know their preferences and stances on the multitude of family issues.  Additionally, our large staff make notes of not only the judges but also of the many opposing attorneys that we face. Our attorneys and staff compile all of these notes which gives our clients an upper hand when filing a divorce in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and Tucson, Arizona.
MESA

1731 West Baseline Rd.
Suite #101

Mesa, AZ 85202
Office: (480) 448-9800
GLENDALE

20325 N 51st Avenue
Suite #134 Building 5

Glendale, AZ 85308
Office: (602) 509-0955
TUCSON

2 East Congress St.,
Suite #900-6A

Tucson, AZ 85701
Office: (520) 441-1450
AVONDALE

12725 W. Indian School Rd.
Suite E, #101

Avondale, AZ 85392
Office: (623) 399-4222

ARIZONA DIVORCE ATTORNEY

Our Divorce And Custody Attorneys Have The Experience And Knowledge Necessary For Successful Legal Representation

My Arizona Lawyers divorce attorneys can help you if you seek legal representation in any family law issue. Our legal team offers flexible scheduling for appointments and convenient office locations. Contact our law firm to set up a free case evaluation and initial consultation with an experienced divorce and family law attorney.

Our attorneys have experience representing Arizona residents in divorce. Each case is unique, and our lawyers and staff are dedicated to the specific needs and circumstances in every situation. Many clients, however, have similar general questions about divorce in Arizona. Below are some frequently asked questions that may help you better understand the law and legal process.

ARIZONA DIVORCE TERMS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ANSWER: 

Divorce is the legal dissolution of marriage. Once your divorce decree is finalized, your marriage is officially over. However, in Maricopa County, around 70% of first marriages end in divorce, with that percentage increasing for subsequent marriages.

Arizona is a community property state, meaning both spouses have rights and obligations for most debts and assets acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the paperwork. Divorce usually also involves splitting up these assets and determining child support and custody.  Therefore, contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance.  Our family law attorneys offer free consultations.  Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

It is always best practice to seek the assistance of a professional when dealing with legal issues.  However, you can always proceed with a legal matter in pro per, or without an attorney. For couples who are getting divorced and splitting amicably, this may be a viable option.   Or, if you have only been married a short while, you don’t have significant assets, and you don’t have children, your case may be relatively simple enough to file without an attorney.

However, some family law cases can be more complex.  If you foresee a custody battle, want to request child support or alimony, or have significant assets to divvy up between you and your ex, you may want to hire an attorney. Therefore, contact our Phoenix Family Lawyers for assistance.  Plus, our attorneys offer free consultations.  Also, our experienced dissolution attorneys have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

Your attorney should hopefully be more knowledgeable about family law and court procedures than you are. They will also be able to file documents for you electronically, whereas you may be required to file your documents in person at the courthouse.

While you may be able to file a divorce on your own, it could cost you more in the long run if your assets aren’t split favorably and you end up with years of alimony and child support payments. If your spouse has an attorney and you don’t, you are entering the proceedings at a huge disadvantage. If you have an attorney and your spouse doesn’t, you will have the advantage. Hiring an attorney when your spouse also has one ensures you are at least on an equal playing field.  Contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance.  Also, our Arizona family attorneys offer free consultations.  Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

To divorce your spouse, you will be required to file a divorce petition and have it served on your spouse. In Arizona, your spouse has 20 days to respond to the petition. If your spouse agrees to all the terms of the divorce, they can file a consent decree. They can also simply not respond at all. If this is the case, your next step is to file a request for default. The court will order the divorce under the terms of the petition you filed.  Therefore, contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance.  Also, our Arizona family attorneys offer free consultations.  Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

Paternity needs to be established before a father has the obligation or right to pay or receive child support and have visitation with the child. Getting the results from a paternity test should only take a few business days at most. However, if the parents of the child in question aren’t on good terms, they may need to get paternity testing through their local child support office. This will need to be court-ordered and will take much longer than a voluntary paternity test.  Therefore, contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance.  Also, our AZ family attorneys offer free consultations.  Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

Physical custody is having the child live with you, while legal custody is decision-making authority on behalf of the child. Both legal and physical custody can be classified as sole or joint. Sole custody means only one parent has that type of custody, while joint refers to both parents. It is possible for custody agreements to be sole legal custody with joint physical custody, or vice versa.  Therefore, contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance.  Additionally, our AZ family attorneys offer free consultations.  Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

If the parents can’t agree during mediation or informally on how much child support is to be paid, the court will have to decide. The guidelines for calculating child support can vary by jurisdiction, circumstances, and can even be left up to a judge’s discretion. The judge will have tables showing an acceptable range for support payments based on the case details. Factors the judge will consider include the needs of the children (healthcare, education, etc.), the paying parent’s income or ability to earn an income, the needs and income of the custodial parent, and the child’s lifestyle before the parents divorced or separated.  Contact our Phoenix Family Lawyers for assistance.  Additionally, our Arizona family attorneys offer free consultations.  Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

A legal separation, unlike a divorce, doesn’t legally terminate the marriage. It is an option commonly utilized by couples who aren’t completely sure yet that they want to divorce, or for those who can’t afford financially to divorce. You can still be ordered to pay alimony during a separation, and child support and custody orders will be put in place if minor children are involved. You will still legally be married after a period of legal separation.  Contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance.  Additionally, our Tucson family lawyers offer free consultations.  Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

Arizona is a no-fault divorce state, meaning that you don’t need to have a specific reason to file divorce.  You can cite “irreconcilable differences” on your divorce petition.  Contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance.  Our attorneys offer free consultations.  Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

You will first want to consult attorneys to learn your legal rights and steps you will need to take on a case-specific basis. You will need to tell the attorney what you want out of the divorce and parenting order so they know how to draft your petition. Your paperwork will be filed with the court and will need to be served on your spouse. Your spouse will either respond with their own demands, or the judge will issue a default ruling based on your petition. You may  need to attend parenting classes, mediations, or go to court.  Contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance.  Our attorneys offer free consultations.  Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

While your spouse won’t be financially penalized just for having an affair, you may be compensated for extravagant purchases by your spouse leading up to the divorce. Lavish gifts for a mistress, gambling expenses, and other fraudulent attempts to dispose of marital property can qualify as marital waste. The purchases must have been made with the intention of defrauding their spouse while divorce was imminent. Contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance. Our attorneys offer free consultations. Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget.

ANSWER: 

One parent can’t simply flee the state to avoid paying child support. The custodial will still be able to collect child support due to the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (RURESA). One way the custodial parent can enforce support is by registering their current child support order with the county where the other parent moved. In this method, the noncustodial parent has the opportunity to argue to the court that their child support should be lowered.

Therefore, the custodial parent can also move to enforce the order in their home state, and the court will notify the courts in the other parent’s new state to withhold their wages to pay the child support.

The parent won’t have the opportunity to argue that their support should be lowered, but their new state may choose to withhold less than the ordered amount from their paychecks. They will still be liable for the unpaid balance in their home state.

Contact our Phoenix Divorce Lawyers for assistance. Our attorneys offer free consultations. Plus, we have payment plans to fit into your budget

If at all possible, please consult with an Arizona Divorce Lawyer before you file for divorce or move out of your marital home. It is in your best interest to do so. Even if you decide to represent yourself, a Free Consultation with one of our Divorce professionals could be very beneficial to you in the long run. Quite often, what happens early on in an Arizona divorce has a lasting effect on the whole case.
No. An annulment is not the same thing as a divorce. They are similar but not the same. The main difference between a divorce and an annulment is that an annulment makes a marriage null and void and a divorce terminates a valid marriage. Both annulments and divorces must deal with similar issues. Both deal with Child Custody, Child Support, Spousal Maintenance, and division of property.
My Arizona Lawyers, PLLC is committed to providing family law clients with quality representation at a cost that they can afford. There are many factors that come into play when determining the cost of an attorney in Arizona. A good rule of thumb is; the more factors that you and your partner agree upon, usually the lower the cost of your divorce.
You can do your own divorce without the assistance of an attorney, which would limit the cost of your divorce in Arizona. However, chances are you may leave out important provisions and factors that will end up costing you more in the long run than it would to hire a divorce lawyer from the start. Our Arizona divorce law firm believes, no matter how “simple” or “uncontested” your divorce may seem, you should always hire a divorce lawyer to protect your best interests.
In Arizona, most uncontested divorce can be completed in approximately 75-90 days. Contested divorces can take longer, much longer. The more the 2 parties in a divorce disagree on things like: custody, child support, division of property, and alimony, the longer it can take to get divorced in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal Counties in Arizona.
90 DAYS. For at least 90 days one of the spouses in a divorce must have been domiciled or resided in AZ before you can file for divorce. Once you have been in Arizona for 90 days, you are then able to file for divorce.
A No Fault State means that you do not need to state any specific reason why you want to get divorced. Additionally, your spouse does not have to agree to get a divorce. Thus, you can get a divorce grom your spouse without a reason in a No Fault state.
Arizona is a “No Fault State.”
Despite what you may be told by others, there is a vast difference between an attorney and a paralegal in Arizona.
For starters, it is not mandatory for one to have any special training, schooling, or a certificate to call themselves a paralegal in Arizona. There are several people in Arizona who call themselves paralegals who have not even ever worked at a law office. Additionally, paralegals can not represent people in court, even if you choose to be “represent yourself” in an Arizona divorce court. In fact, by Supreme Court Rule, paralegals are not allowed to give legal advice, many do, often poor advice which lead to major problems in the divorces of those they are trying to help.
We are by no means saying that all paralegals are a poor choice. There are some excellent paralegals out there, most work for law firms. It is difficult to find out which paralegal has the right training and tools to effectively assist you in court. Another thing to keep in mind is that independent Arizona paralegals are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Arizona State Bar.
If your Arizona divorce lawyer does something wrong, they may be subject to discipline as there are strict rules that govern Arizona lawyers. Unfortunately, there are no such safeguards if you choose to chance paralegal services instead of using an experienced Arizona divorce attorney.

ANSWER: 

Arizona is a no-fault divorce state. That means that in most cases, the fact that your spouse cheated is of no benefit to you. However, if you had a prenuptial agreement, it may be affected by your spouse’s cheating. Many prenuptial agreements are invalidated because of infidelity, or the victimized party will be entitled to more assets in the divorce. You will likely need to prove the infidelity in the court in this situation.

ANSWER: 

Alimony was originally intended to be spousal support the husband pays the wife after a divorce. Times have changed, and alimony can go both ways now. If one spouse earns far more than the other spouse, the court will be more likely to award alimony. The length of time the spouse is required to pay alimony will depend on how long the couple was married before divorcing. Other factors the court will consider are if one spouse sacrificed their career or education for the sake of the other spouse’s career or education. This includes staying home from work to raise children, allowing the other spouse to focus on their career.

ANSWER: 

A guardian ad litem is a neutral third party appointed by the court to represent the interests of the child in a custody matter. One or both parties can be ordered to pay the expense for the guardian ad litem. Having a guardian ad litem assigned to your case will likely extend your case 90-120 days to allow time for the guardian’s investigation.

ANSWER: 
If you and your ex have a fairly simple case and agree to all divorce terms, you may be able to get divorced without hiring a lawyer. Some factors that make a case simple are short duration of marriage, few assets/debts acquired during the marriage, absence of children, and waiver of support obligations. If you and your ex are in agreement, you can draft the petition yourself or use a document preparer. However, if disputes arise, you will not have representation.
ANSWER:
In Arizona, you can get remarried as soon as your divorce is finalized. Most states similarly have little to no restriction on how long before you can remarry after a divorce, but a few states do require a waiting period before remarrying. You should check with a family law attorney to see which laws will apply to your case.
ANSWER:
Yes. You can include in either your petition or your answer to the petition that you’d like to return to your previous name. You will then have to take the divorce decree, along with an application for a new social security card, to your local Social Security office. You can also bring your divorce decree to get your name changed on your driver’s license and bank account.

If you fail to specify your name change in your divorce, you will have to go through the application for name change process. You will go through the same steps to change your social security card, driver’s license, bank account, and other personal information.

ANSWER:
Arizona Family law judges are hesitant to put children in the middle of conflict between their divorcing parents. However, at around the 12 year old age range, children can be interviewed to determine their preference for custody, and whether it is an intelligent preference. The age at which a child’s opinion is taken into account varies case-by-case, but, in some rare instances, it can go as low as 7 years old. Older children, especially teenagers, are more likely to be heard by the judge.
A judge can conduct a private interview in her chambers to avoid pressure from the parents, or a custody evaluator or representative may get involved. If the child voices a preference, intelligent preferences based on important matters are regarded more highly. This means a judge is more likely to listen to a child who wants to live with Mom because they get along great and Mom is involved in after-school activities than a child who wants to live with Dad because Dad doesn’t enforce bedtime.
ANSWER:
Parenting time, otherwise known as visitation, is the non-custodial parent’s time to spend with their child. Arizona law requires that the amount of parenting time awarded to a non-custodial parent must be reasonable to ensure frequent and continuing contact. The amount of parenting time that is deemed appropriate will be determined by factors like the child’s age and whether time spent with the parent will be harmful to the child’s emotional health. If so, the court may appoint a professional to supervise the parenting time. Parenting time doesn’t need to be court-ordered if the couple agrees to a parenting plan. Your county may provide model parenting time plans if you’re unsure of how to create your schedule.
ANSWER:
No. The custodial parent can petition the court to enforce the child support order, but this is a separate matter from visitation/parenting time.
ANSWER:
The court doesn’t favor mother or father, and instead considers the best interest of the child. However, if the parents are unmarried, the mother will have all parental rights until the father establishes paternity. If the father didn’t sign the birth certificate, he will need to submit a witnessed and notarized statement from both parents recognizing his paternity, or get a DNA test.

My ARIZONA Divorce Lawyers

The attorneys at My AZ Lawyers in Glendale have the experience and training to help you through the divorce process and to fight for the settlement you need.  Our family law lawyers at My AZ Lawyers have experience and dedication.  Furthermore, our divorce attorneys serve clients in Glendale, Mesa, Gilbert, Avondale, Tucson, Phoenix and Chandler.

Additionally, a Tucson family lawyer can help you not only with the financial aspects of your divorce, but also the logistical details.  An attorney can help you work out a custody agreement and help you with the details of keeping your last name, among other things.  Therefore, having an experienced family law team on your side can make all the difference.

Contact My AZ Lawyers today to find out how our divorce attorneys may be able to help you work through this difficult transition and ensure that you have what you need to start again.  Plus, our experienced AZ divorce attorneys will be your advocate.

Steps of a Divorce with My AZ Lawyers in Phoenix
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Why Contact My AZ Lawyers For Your Divorce Case

Experienced Attorneys Making Your Divorce Quick And Easy

My Arizona Lawyers is dedicated to providing Arizona residents with experienced, expert, and professional legal representation. Therefore, pleas contact our legal team today for a free consult and case evaluation with an attorney. Our firm is ready to assist you with your legal matter, help you understand the legal process, and protect your rights.

My AZ Lawyers offers affordable, effective, and successful legal services in Phoenix, Mesa, Tucson, Glendale, Avondale, and throughout Arizona. Plus, we are committed to achieving the best possible resolution for your specific legal case and needs.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

ARIZONA DIVORCE MYTHS UNCOVERED

Myths and Truths Regarding Getting Divorced Arizona

Divorce Myths and Fallacies

Our Experienced Arizona Family Attorneys set some wide spread false statements straight.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

While cheating on your spouse may hurt your relationship with far more people than just your spouse, Arizona is a no-fault divorce state. Your infidelity will have no impact on your divorce (unless you are in a covenant marriage, or have a prenuptial agreement with an infidelity clause).

Adultery will have no impact on custody unless the adultery has a direct negative effect on the child’s well-being- e.g., the parent is inappropriately intimate with the affair partner in front of the child, or the child is a frequent witness to the affair partner’s drinking problem. Otherwise, the court will start with the assumption that 50/50 custody is best for the child, regardless of either parent’s adultery.  Contact our Arizona Divorce Attorneys for additional assistance.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

There is no requirement that you get divorced in the same state in which you were married. Each state has different residency requirements, or the minimum amount of time you must live in a state before you are eligible to file divorce there. In Arizona, the residency requirement is 90 days for a divorce. However, a child must reside in the state for 6 months before Arizona has jurisdiction over child custody and support matters.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

Arizona is a community property state, meaning everything acquired during a marriage- even 401K’s and retirement account savings- are divided between the spouses upon divorce. A 401k will be divided using a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or QDRO. Determining how much each spouse is entitled to out of a 401K can be complicated, and is best left to an experienced family law attorney.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

Alimony is decided based on many factors, and gender isn’t one of them. The court will look to factors like each spouse’s income, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, the earning potential of each spouse, any relevant physical and mental health conditions, and if one spouse made sacrifices in their own career for their spouse during the marriage. Nowadays, a divorcing woman shouldn’t count on alimony, and should also consider whether she may be required to pay her husband alimony.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

The second time is not generally the charm when it comes to marriage. About half of first marriages end in divorce, but approximately 67%, or ⅔ of second marriages end in divorce. Approximately 73% of third marriages end in divorce.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

You can actually request a for-cause modification once per year. If a child is in danger, a custody modification hearing can be held more often than once per year. A spouse can be granted a modification if they sufficiently prove they have experienced a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. However, many divorce orders, like spousal support, are non-modifiable.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

When one spouse is ordered to pay debts in a divorce, this only has authority in the divorce courts. If the spouse ordered to pay debts fails to do so, or files bankruptcy and discharges the debt, the divorce court doesn’t have the authority to stop creditors from pursuing the other spouse. For example, the husband is ordered to pay the couple’s credit card debts in the divorce. The husband later files Chapter 7 bankruptcy and discharges the credit card debt, as to his name only. The credit card company will then likely pursue collection from the wife. If the balance remains unpaid, the credit card company may obtain a judgment against the wife and even garnish her wages.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

Child support and child custody are two separate matters, although the amount of support paid can be affected by the amount of custody each parent has. There will be nothing in your court orders that gives you permission to deny the other parent visitation because they are behind on child support. In fact, if you do deny visitation to a parent in arrearages, they can use evidence of this in future custody proceedings. This would be a factor used against you in deciding the best placement for the child.

You have plenty of methods of recourse against a parent who is behind on child support besides denying visitation. Many parents will have a garnishment set up, so the support comes directly out of the paying parent’s wages. While most garnishments are limited to 15-25%, wage garnishments for child support arrearages can be as high as 65 percent. You can also petition the court to place a lien on the parent’s property, or revoke that parent’s driver’s and occupational license.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

There is no legal preference between mother and father- all custody decisions are made keeping the child’s best interests as the top priority. The court will look at a variety of factors, like the parents’ and child’s schedules, each parent’s living arrangements, whether each parent has a new partner and children and their relationship with the child, and even the child’s preferences when they reach a certain age.

DIVORCE TRUTH:

Quite the opposite- approximately 95% of divorce cases are settled out of court. Divorce litigation is costly, time-consuming, and stressful, which is why only 5% of spouses actually complete their divorce that way.

Do I Even Need A Lawyer? Can’t I Handle My Own Divorce?

When any marriage ends, the results will forever change your future.  The stakes are far too high to take a do-it-yourself approach. Though filing without an attorney can be done, it is not recommended.  The Arizona marital dissolution process and the paperwork associated with it are more complex than they may initially seem.  Keep in mind, once finalized, for most practical purposes, the marriage is done.  Therefore, make sure professionals are handling such an important process. 

If you choose to forego an Arizona family lawyer and choose to fend for yourself, you are running a risk of not getting everything you are entitled when seeking a dissolution of marriage.  Plus, the ramifications of a dissolution of marriage done wrong are too heavy to take such a risk. Whereas, making the smallest error or overlooking what  you may think is a minor detail or unnecessary paperwork can have catastrophic consequences on your divorce.

By handling all aspects of your dissolution, our experienced family law attorneys strive to reduce the stress and uncertainty you may be experiencing. While you tend to care of your children or take care of yourself, our family law team attends to every legal detail of your divorce.  We strive to provide the best customer service to ensure that the orders you receive are clear, concise, and enforceable.  

PAYING ATTORNEY FEES IN AN ARIZONA DIVORCE

Who Pays for Attorney Fees in a Divorce?
Something to keep in mind during an Arizona divorce is it is possible that one spouse may have to pay a portion of the other spouse’s attorney fees and costs.  Paying for your own attorney fees is bad enough, if you end up paying for your spouses fees as well, it will be costly.  This is a real possibility.  Plus, it is something to always consider when navigating a divorce in Arizona.
Who pays for the attorney fees at the end of a divorce is something that any good divorce lawyer will keep in mind.  There are a couple of main factors that are looked at by the judge when awarding attorney’s fees.  First, the court will take a look at finances and determine if one spouse makes significantly more than the other spouse, or does one spouse have a lot more assets than the other.  Additionally, the court will take a look at if one party or the other took unreasonable positions during the divorce proceedings.  More than ever, it is important that your Arizona Divorce Attorney acts reasonably and ethically while fighting for your rights during the legal process of ending your marriage.

Hiring the Most Aggressive Attorney May NOT be the Answer

Often, when seeking to hire a divorce attorney in Arizona, people seek a “bulldog” or “aggressive attorney“.  A lot of the time, such an attorney do you more harm than good.  Sure, these attorneys are outspoken and may talk loudly or be unruly to your soon-to-be Ex.   However, more than ever, Judges in Arizona Family Court will not tolerate this behavior.  The Judges know which attorneys routinely act in such a manner.  Regularly, they may minimize arguments made by these lawyers.  All the show-boating, nasty letters, and e-mails to the other side, and false accusations without evidence work against the attorney and against the client.  These actions of being the aggressive bulldog attorney truly set their clients up for failure.

My Arizona Lawyers – Advocating for our Clients

Contact our Phoenix Divorce Attorneys for a Free Consultation
The experienced Phoenix Divorce Attorneys at My AZ Lawyers pride ourselves in putting our clients into the best position for success while divorcing a spouse in AZ.  Our years of experience allow us to take appropriate steps to assure that our clients recover all or at least a portion of their attorney fees.  We limit the exposure of our clients regarding having to pay the other party’s lawyer fees.  Don’t let another arrogant attorney jeopardize your case to satisfy their ego.  Choose our AZ Family Lawyers, the best choice for ethical and professional representation.

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