Phoenix Divorce Lawyer- R.J. Peters & Assoc., P.C.

www.FamilyLawAz.com

There are two ways to finalize a divorce — by reaching an agreement with your spouse or by allowing a Judge to make the final decision. At the R. J. Peters & Associates law firm in Phoenix, Arizona, we certainly prefer to avoid the time, costs and uncertainty of letting a Judge decide everything. We are always prepared, however, to fight for you, whether it's in a courtroom or in settlement negotiations.

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Divorce (dissolution) is the legal process that resolves the very important issues involved when a marriage ends. Every divorce is different, but all divorces will generally include some or all of the following six issues:

• Legal custody and parenting time (visitation) with the couple's minor children
• Child support for the couple's minor children
• Division of marital property
• Division of marital debts
• Spousal maintenance (alimony)
• Allocation of attorney's fees

What are the legal requirements for filing for divorce in Arizona? To file for a divorce in Arizona you or your spouse must have lived in Arizona or been stationed as a member of the armed forces here for at least 90 days before you file. If you are asking the Judge to decide matters about children, like custody and support, you must generally have lived here for 6 months with the children. Please contact us to discuss with our divorce attorneys how these rules might apply to your situation.

What happens when the divorce documents are filed? After the initial necessary documents are filed, a temporary restraining order will forbid either party from selling, concealing or wasting the marital assets. It also prevents either parent from removing any common children from the state of Arizona.

Both parties are prohibited from bothering or harassing the other party. Failure to obey this restraining order is punishable by proceedings for contempt.

How long does it take for a divorce to be granted? The simplest divorces are generally final in 80-90 days while complex divorces can take up to two years. An experienced divorce lawyer can give you an estimate based on your specific case.

What is a no-fault divorce? Arizona is a no-fault divorce state. That means you do not need to prove that the other spouse did something that entitles you to a divorce. You simply need to assert that your marriage is irretrievably broken and that there are no reasonable prospects of reconciliation. (The rules for the new "covenant marriages" are different.)

What about counseling to save the marriage? Maricopa County offers free counseling to married couples. When one spouse asks for free counseling, the other spouse is prevented from filing until counseling is complete. If counseling is requested after a Petition has already been filed, the case will be put on hold for a period while counseling goes forward.

We take sides at the R. J. Peters & Associates law firm. This is an important concept that we do not take lightly. Settlement of the difficult issues which arise in family law matters is always an important effort, but not always possible. Our divorce attorneys focus on fighting for our clients whether in settlement efforts or in litigation. Our only business is family law. From our office located near downtown Phoenix, we represent clients in Maricopa County and throughout Arizona.
Free half-hour consultation with a divorce lawyer. Major credit cards accepted.