Arizona Divorce

"The emotional and financial recovery time for a divorce is roughly equivalent to 25% of the length of the marriage."

"The best form of revenge is a well lived life."
                                                -Author Unknown

Arizona Law strives to equally protect the rights of Husband and Wife.  Despite what you may have been told by your family, friends or folklore, both spouses have the opportunity to secure favorable and equitable custody, primary residential parent, visitation, child support, spousal maintenance, asset distribution and debt distribution.  The outcome of your case depends greatly on effective legal representation and not negotiating away your critical rights based on ignorance.  Once critical elements (custody, primary residential parent, parenting time and spousal maintenance) of your case are settled in your spouse’s favor, they may be impossible to regain. 

If you are considering a divorce strategic planning is crucial to a favorable outcome.  If you have been served with a Petition for Dissolution of a Non Covenant Marriage the choices you make within the first 20 days after service may decisively decide the outcome of your divorce, favorably or unfavorably. 

Unless you cannot pass a hair follicle drug test or have a conviction for domestic violence against the present members of you immediate family, why would you ever consider any thing but joint legal custody. Understanding your right will enable you to make the right decisions. Consider carefully whether to concede primary residential parent to your spouse without good cause, if you do, it will likely become an overwhelming problem in the future. Further, in most cases, there is absolutely no reason that you should not share equal parenting time with your soon to be ex-spouse. 

Spousal maintenance is common in Arizona.  Careful and conscious assessment of the factors that contribute to a spousal maintenance order are critical to ensure you are treated fairly.

If your name is not on the deed of trust, but the house was purchased during the marriage with community funds, it is very likely community property, despite your spouse attempting to convince you or coerce you into believing otherwise.

Another critical factor in a divorce situation is never lose your cool and commit even the slightest act of domestic violence.  If you raise your voice, curse, verbally abuse, push, slap, body block, break a dish or window, punch a hole in the wall or door, etc, it may cost you custody, parenting time and use of your residence.

If your spouse commits an act of domestic violence and you are afraid, contact your local police department and report it, immediately. No, you do not have to endure repeated harassing calls from your soon to be ex-spouse.  Nor may they contact your family or employer to denigrate or malign you.

To better understand the divorce process and procedure, read further.