Do you and the other parent of your child(ren) need a formal written order in place that establishes your legal decision making (custody) rights, parenting time, child support, and even tax exemptions?
Are you thinking about a divorce or maybe even a legal separation? Are you wondering which one is best for your circumstances? We can help with that!
In Arizona, even if you are on the birth certificate as the Father, it does not necessarily mean you have rights. You need to establish your legal rights to legal decision-making (custody), parenting time and child support through the Court.
At Lewis Labadie, our uncontested family law cases are handled at a flat, reasonable and less expensive cost than a contested family law case. Uncontested means both parties agree.
Arizona recognizes both covenant and non-covenant marriages, each with different requirements for divorce or legal separation.
Once a couple decides to split up, there are many questions to move forward when you have child[ren] together. Some people think one person will have sole custody when the children live with them for a majority of the time. This is not true.
In 2021, Arizona created a new role for non-attorneys called Legal Paraprofessionals or LP to assist clients in obtaining representation for their family law cases, at a lower cost because many people do not have the resources to pay an attorney to represent them and there needed to be another option.
Termination of parental rights (TPR) is a legal process that severs the legal relationship between a parent and their child, thereby freeing the child for adoption. In Arizona, as in many states, TPR is a significant legal proceeding governed by strict guidelines designed to protect the best interests of the child.
A prenuptial agreement or post-nuptial agreement is a contract between both parties and in the event the marriage crumbles and you end up in a divorce or one of you dies, it determines the outcome.
A Summary Consent Decree is a newer process that allows parties that are in full agreement on all of the terms to be able to divorce in an easier process…
A contested legal matter means you and the opposing party in your case do not agree on everything. On the other hand, if the parties agree, then it would be an uncontested matter
Do you want a Better Divorce? Part 1 covered what a Better Divorce is and Part 2 explains what the process looks like and possible issues.
A better divorce exists. Divorces are often emotion-filled and endless drains of time and money.
ICWA has a number of protections, but they can be summed up with two words: participation and difficulty.
ICWA is designed to benefit an Indian child by protecting the child’s cultural and familial bonds to the child’s Indian tribe. In the culture of many Indian tribes, the tribe is the child’s family.
ICWA affords opportunities for an Indian child’s family and tribe to participate in any DCS case involving an “Indian child.”
Legal Separation will divide all of the assets and debts, and award legal decision-making (custody), parenting time, child support and/or spousal maintenance.
Divorce is the legal process of dissolving your marriage. It is also typically referred to as a dissolution of marriage action.
Paternity is the legal process of establishing the paternity of a child. A paternity action cannot be filed until after the child is born and can be initiated by either the parent of the child.
In Arizona a stepparent can adopt their spouse’s child. This can provide permanency to a child who does not have a relationship with their other biological parent and many times has never had a relationship with the other parent.
