Scottsdale’s Leading Divorce Lawyers

Each case is completely unique with various factors to be considered throughout the annulment process. The entire process can take anywhere from 6 months to 4 years depending on how easily both parties can agree on various issues. A family lawyer will help you sort through issues such as child custody, child support, alimony, and more.

In an uncontested divorce, the couple is able to reach agreement on the major issues before a trial occurs, often with the help of a mediator. If there are a variety of significant issues the couple can not agree on, it is a contested divorce and typically takes more time, energy, and financial investment to resolve.

When it comes to child support, our divorce lawyers are able to collect payments when the paying spouse fails to comply. We can do this by utilizing tools such as garnishing wages, intercepting tax refunds, suspending driver’s or professional licenses, or even putting liens on properties. For alimony, our lawyers can do much the same for collecting alimony. In addition, the receiving spouse will have to file a motion for contempt with the court who will then impose penalties for refusing to pay. In either case, you can count on our lawyers to guide you through the process to ensure you receive the money that you are owed.

In most cases, each spouse is responsible for paying their own legal fees and attorney fees. In some situations, the spouse with less means and resources and inability to afford an attorney can appeal to the courts to have the other spouse assume most or all of the financial burden. Working with an attorney will ensure a positive outcome in this case.

Yes. The law requires at least one of the spouses to be an Arizona resident for 90 days before they can file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in Arizona. Regardless of where you were married, you have the opportunity to file for divorce in another state. It is also not required for your spouse to be in Arizona in order to file for divorce.

While adultery is a strong contributing factor to the annulment of many marriages, it is not actually legal grounds for divorce in Arizona. Neither spouse is required to prove blame or responsibility for the end of the marriage. Adultery is also not a reason for requiring alimony or child support.

Yes. If there are items in the divorce petition that your spouse does not agree on, they have the option to file a Disagreeing Response, making it a contested divorce. Or, they can spend time with a mediator attempting to resolve the disputes with you. In either case, there is a 20-30 day deadline to reach a decision.

If your spouse refuses to sign divorce papers, not to worry, you can still get divorced. Arizona is a no-fault divorce state which means you do not need the consent of anyone to get divorced, including your spouse. However, if your spouse is contesting the divorce, the process will likely take more time to complete. Additionally, it will be up to the court to decide who gets what in the divorce which can cause a lot of turmoil and frustrations. With our divorce lawyers at AZ Family Law, you can be confident that you have the best representation in the area guiding you through the process and protecting your rights.

How long your divorce process will take depends on how much conflict is involved in the divorce. For couples who are in agreement about key issues such as property division, child custody, and support, the process can take as little as a few months. However, divorces where there are disputes can take a year or more. Having a skilled Scottsdale divorce attorney involved in your case can streamline the process and make it go quicker.

When you divorce, you will have to change your filing status for the future which can impact your tax rates. Additionally, alimony is not tax deductible and if you are receiving alimony, you will be required to report it as income. Child support is also not tax deductible and neither is it taxable. If you’re in the midst of a divorce, it is helpful to talk with a divorce lawyer about how the tax implications will affect you in your particular situation.