$21,500 is the mean cost of a child custody lawyer in the USA as per LegalMatch with fees varying from as little as $3,000 to around $40,000 in the US for 2023. Undoubtedly, child custody cases can be one of the most emotionally taking experiences a parent may encounter. Read on to learn more.

Cost Factors

Undoubtedly, the fees charged by attorneys make up a sizeable amount of the total costs but there are other factors to consider as well.

Type Of Custody Dispute

The more intense a child custody dispute becomes, the higher the likelihood of increased costs. If one party has objections they may wish to fight for sole custody and the dispute will generate additional paperwork such as dispositions, the filing of multiple motions, many court appearances and the hiring of child psychologists. A trial will always be the costliest option.

Hiring Of Expert Witnesses

It is possible a comprehensive family custody evaluation will have to take place including personal interviews as well as professional evaluations and can cost up to $10,000. Another choice may be a parenting conference costing around $600 or a $2,500 Limited Family Assessment.

Attorney Fees

Assuming there is not a huge difference in the income of the parties, each party is responsible for their own legal costs, but a judge may assess one party to the legal fees of the other party when there is a large difference in financial situations, or one party is incapable of affording appropriate representation.

Other Fees

Court filing fees can go up to $400 to just initiate a case and process servers usually charge between $100-$150 per service completed.

Child Custody Lawyer Fees

Here are some factors that can vary change the fees a lawyer charges:

• How cooperative the parties are;
• How the lawyer’s fees are structured;
• The number of expert witnesses or consultants are retained;
• The number of motions or depositions are conducted;
• If the parties are willing to mediate or if a trial is forced by one party.

As previously stated, whether or not a child custody issue is ” amicable ” can have a significant impact on the ultimate cost of the case. Furthermore, how the lawyer and specialists bill the client might have a significant impact on the total costs incurred.

Child custody attorneys usually charge a set fee or charge by the hour. Expect to pay between $3,500 and $7,500 if a lawyer charges a fixed fee. The fact that they charge a cheap cost does not imply that they provide poor legal representation. It’s just an assessment of the labor that the lawyer is expected to accomplish as a result of the case’s intricacy.

As a result, if a custody battle will be swift and painless, requiring only mediation or a few court appearances and papers to be submitted, a lawyer will most likely charge a lesser flat fee. Where, on the other hand, the case may require multiple court appearances before a judge, disputing complicated legal problems but can still be handled in a relatively civilized manner, the lawyer is likely to charge a larger flat fee.

Child Lawyer Hourly Charges

Legal hourly costs will vary greatly depending on the lawyer’s expertise and talents. A rookie lawyer fresh out of law school can take 5 hours to finish a legal work that a seasoned lawyer would complete in 1 hour. A lawyer’s time can cost anything from $195 to $500 per hour.

Your choice of legal advice should not be based just on the lowest hourly charge. On the contrary, you may be better served by a more expensive lawyer since you will know that your case is in qualified hands and will be handled with precision, experience, and care.

As previously stated, lawyers who work on an hourly basis will usually want an up-front retainer payment. This retainer will cover a specific period of time for that lawyer. To keep the lawyer engaged after the retainer has been expended, the client is expected to replenish the retainer to its original level.

With an hourly fee system, it’s not uncommon for monthly legal expenditures to swiftly reach $5,000 – $15,000 level. As a result, this billing structure is more typical when the parties are unable to agree on a visitation or custody plan, one party is attempting to relocate the child out of state, or there is another complex and contentious child custody dispute.

Preferable Fee Structure

One price structure is not always superior to another, and each instance is different. A skilled family law attorney will recognize this. Doing your homework and learning more about what you will be paying for is always a good idea. Knowing the basics of a child custody lawyer’s fee structure and how it works is the first step toward having an open and honest conversation about any fee structure and how they plan to spend their legal time to get the best possible outcome for you and your child.

When there are children involved in a divorce, the Scottsdale-based Canterbury Law Group fights aggressively to protect their future and well-being. Indeed, we are well-known for securing the most cost-effective child custody arrangements possible. We begin by collaborating with both parents and other relevant experts to develop practical provisions for effective co-parenting and child support schedules.

If a mutual resolution of these issues is not possible, our no-nonsense litigators will prepare your case with zeal and utmost care. Arizona law requires that the child’s best interests take precedence over all other considerations when allocating child custody. Additionally, judges are required by statute to maximize each parent’s parenting time. This typically entails a 50/50 parenting time split unless the other parent establishes parental fitness issues (e.g., drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, or domestic violence) through competent and admissible evidence.

Arizona family courts determine custody based on the child’s best interests, taking into account a variety of factors, including the following:

• Age of the child
• The wishes of the child
• The desires of each parent
• The adjustment of the child to his or her home, school, and community
• Either parent has a history of domestic violence or child abuse.
• Whether the child’s primary caregivers were the parents
• All individuals involved’s mental and physical health
• Each parent’s relationship with their child
• The willingness of each parent to cultivate a meaningful and substantial relationship with the other parent.

If you’re considering divorcing in Scottsdale or Phoenix, contact us today to schedule a consultation. Oftentimes, the best defense in a case is a well-positioned, well-thought-out strategy developed weeks or months in advance of the case being formally filed.

$21,500 is the mean cost of a child custody lawyer in the USA as per LegalMatch with fees varying from as little as $3,000 to around $40,000 in the US for 2022. Undoubtedly, child custody cases can be one of the most emotionally taking experiences a parent may encounter. Read on to learn more.

Cost Factors

Undoubtedly, the fees charged by attorneys make up a sizeable amount of the total costs but there are other factors to consider as well.

Type Of Custody Dispute

The more intense a child custody dispute becomes, the higher the likelihood of increased costs. If one party has objections they may wish to fight for sole custody and the dispute will generate additional paperwork such as dispositions, the filing of multiple motions, many court appearances and the hiring of child psychologists. A trial will always be the costliest option.

Hiring Of Expert Witnesses

It is possible a comprehensive family custody evaluation will have to take place including personal interviews as well as professional evaluations and can cost up to $10,000. Another choice may be a parenting conference costing around $600 or a $2,500 Limited Family Assessment.

Attorney Fees

Assuming there is not a huge difference in the income of the parties, each party is responsible for their own legal costs, but a judge may assess one party to the legal fees of the other party when there is a large difference in financial situations, or one party is incapable of affording appropriate representation.

Other Fees

Court filing fees can go up to $400 to just initiate a case and process servers usually charge between $100-$150 per service completed.

Child Custody Lawyer Fees

Here are some factors that can vary change the fees a lawyer charges:

• How cooperative the parties are;
• How the lawyer’s fees are structured;
• The number of expert witnesses or consultants are retained;
• The number of motions or depositions are conducted;
• If the parties are willing to mediate or if a trial is forced by one party.

As previously stated, whether or not a child custody issue is ” amicable ” can have a significant impact on the ultimate cost of the case. Furthermore, how the lawyer and specialists bill the client might have a significant impact on the total costs incurred.

Child custody attorneys usually charge a set fee or charge by the hour. Expect to pay between $3,500 and $7,500 if a lawyer charges a fixed fee. The fact that they charge a cheap cost does not imply that they provide poor legal representation. It’s just an assessment of the labor that the lawyer is expected to accomplish as a result of the case’s intricacy.

As a result, if a custody battle will be swift and painless, requiring only mediation or a few court appearances and papers to be submitted, a lawyer will most likely charge a lesser flat fee. Where, on the other hand, the case may require multiple court appearances before a judge, disputing complicated legal problems but can still be handled in a relatively civilized manner, the lawyer is likely to charge a larger flat fee.

Child Lawyer Hourly Charges

Legal hourly costs will vary greatly depending on the lawyer’s expertise and talents. A rookie lawyer fresh out of law school can take 5 hours to finish a legal work that a seasoned lawyer would complete in 1 hour. A lawyer’s time can cost anything from $195 to $500 per hour.

Your choice of legal advice should not be based just on the lowest hourly charge. On the contrary, you may be better served by a more expensive lawyer since you will know that your case is in qualified hands and will be handled with precision, experience, and care.

As previously stated, lawyers who work on an hourly basis will usually want an up-front retainer payment. This retainer will cover a specific period of time for that lawyer. To keep the lawyer engaged after the retainer has been expended, the client is expected to replenish the retainer to its original level.

With an hourly fee system, it’s not uncommon for monthly legal expenditures to swiftly reach $5,000 – $15,000 level. As a result, this billing structure is more typical when the parties are unable to agree on a visitation or custody plan, one party is attempting to relocate the child out of state, or there is another complex and contentious child custody dispute.

Preferable Fee Structure

One price structure is not always superior to another, and each instance is different. A skilled family law attorney will recognize this. Doing your homework and learning more about what you will be paying for is always a good idea. Knowing the basics of a child custody lawyer’s fee structure and how it works is the first step toward having an open and honest conversation about any fee structure and how they plan to spend their legal time to get the best possible outcome for you and your child.

When there are children involved in a divorce, the Scottsdale-based Canterbury Law Group fights aggressively to protect their future and well-being. Indeed, we are well-known for securing the most cost-effective child custody arrangements possible. We begin by collaborating with both parents and other relevant experts to develop practical provisions for effective co-parenting and child support schedules.

If a mutual resolution of these issues is not possible, our no-nonsense litigators will prepare your case with zeal and utmost care. Arizona law requires that the child’s best interests take precedence over all other considerations when allocating child custody. Additionally, judges are required by statute to maximize each parent’s parenting time. This typically entails a 50/50 parenting time split unless the other parent establishes parental fitness issues (e.g., drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, or domestic violence) through competent and admissible evidence.

Arizona family courts determine custody based on the child’s best interests, taking into account a variety of factors, including the following:

• Age of the child
• The wishes of the child
• The desires of each parent
• The adjustment of the child to his or her home, school, and community
• Either parent has a history of domestic violence or child abuse.
• Whether the child’s primary caregivers were the parents
• All individuals involved’s mental and physical health
• Each parent’s relationship with their child
• The willingness of each parent to cultivate a meaningful and substantial relationship with the other parent.

If you’re considering divorcing in Scottsdale or Phoenix, contact us today to schedule a consultation. Oftentimes, the best defense in a case is a well-positioned, well-thought-out strategy developed weeks or months in advance of the case being formally filed.

Here are more reasons people get divorced. Read on to learn more.

Expectations

People have a lot of expectations when they marry. The strain of reality not meeting expectations can be very intense.

Intimacy

Intimacy does not always mean sex but also refers to the deep emotional connection a couple have. However sexual relationships are fundamentally important in many relationships and when both parties work on satisfying the other it can be the ideal way to grow closer.

Equality

When there is an equality imbalance along with a lack of emotional and physical intimacy, it is often a recipe for divorce – especially when one partner is making more of an effort in the marriage than the other.

Ill-Prepared

One aspect of marriages of people when they are both younger is they later discover they were not ready for marriage.

Abuse

Sadly abuse is something many people are the victim of. The abuse may not always be traumatic from a physical standpoint but the emotional impact can be very deep. Abuse is something no-one should have to suffer from.

With the exception of when a restraining order is in effect, which requires a person to stay away from their property, child(ren), or spouse, anyone can legally continue to live in their home, whether they own it alone or jointly with their spouse. Continue reading to find out more.

People have varying levels of comfort, and many will choose to leave in order to avoid further marital problems. However, if you are listed on the property’s title or lease, you have the legal right to remain there as long as there is no evidence of harassment, domestic violence, or criminal activity.

It Is Possible To Make A Mistake By Moving Out.

When a man moves out, he may have just opened himself up to problems, particularly if papers have not yet been filed – this is especially true if the man has a child or children. It’s critical not to leave on your own volition, as this can be misconstrued as abandonment – even if your reasons are valid. Your spouse may suggest that you leave to reduce the amount of stress you are putting on your child or children. They may also promise plenty of parenting time, but none of this is guaranteed, and if you have a mortgage or a lease, you have the right to remain in your home.

Even if a protective order is in place, removing yourself from the home creates far more potential for conflict and disruption of family routine than it does for a child or children.

When you leave the house on your own volition, the court may get the impression that daily interactions with your child or children are not a high priority for you. However, staying and having the other parent leave looks particularly good when you can show the court how much you are involved in the lives of your child or children and how that is the main priority.

When you leave the house, this could result in court orders while your divorce case is pending, and it could work against you if the current arrangement is shown to the court to work. As a result, you may have to pay significantly more in child support and have limited access to your child or children. Simply put, stay put until your attorney tells you otherwise.

Convenience And Security

If you are facing domestic violence in your home, leaving may be the safest option, and you may want to bring your child or children with you. However, you must obtain a temporary custody order from a court as soon as possible in order to avoid being accused of kidnapping. Even if there is no violence, it is still critical to prioritize child custody. When a parent moves out, a court may be required to approve parenting time. The sooner you can accomplish this, the better for your future parenting prospects.

Custody Of A Child Or Children

When a child or children has remained in the family home, the Judge is more likely to maintain that position in order to avoid disruption. This can be avoided by drafting a parenting agreement before one of the parents leaves, establishing a parenting schedule, and agreeing that neither parent will relinquish their parental rights. However, in order for the parenting agreement to be binding and enforceable, it must be submitted to the court for the judge’s signature.

Should I Move Out If My Spouse Wants To Divorce Me?

Staying in the marital home as much as possible increases your chances of the best possible outcome in the long run. It is for the best if you can find a way to coexist. Move to a new room, avoid unnecessary interactions, and stay involved in your child’s or children’s lives. Bring no new romantic partners into the house; this will confuse the kids and cause your current spouse to escalate the conflict.

$21,500 is the mean cost of a child custody lawyer in the USA as per LegalMatch with fees varying from as little as $3,000 to around $40,000 in the US for 2021. Undoubtedly, child custody cases can be one of the most emotionally taking experiences a parent may encounter. Read on to learn more.

Cost Factors

Undoubtedly, the fees charged by attorneys make up a sizeable amount of the total costs but there are other factors to consider as well.

Type Of Custody Dispute

The more intense a child custody dispute becomes, the higher the likelihood of increased costs. If one party has objections they may wish to fight for sole custody and the dispute will generate additional paperwork such as dispositions, the filing of multiple motions, many court appearances and the hiring of child psychologists. A trial will always be the costliest option.

Hiring Of Expert Witnesses

It is possible a comprehensive family custody evaluation will have to take place including personal interviews as well as professional evaluations and can cost up to $10,000. Another choice may be a parenting conference costing around $600 or a $2,500 Limited Family Assessment.

Attorney Fees

Assuming there is not a huge difference in the income of the parties, each party is responsible for their own legal costs, but a judge may assess one party to the legal fees of the other party when there is a large difference in financial situations, or one party is incapable of affording appropriate representation.

Other Fees

Court filing fees can go up to $400 to just initiate a case and process servers usually charge between $100-$150 per service completed.

Child Custody Lawyer Fees

Here are some factors that can vary change the fees a lawyer charges:

• How cooperative the parties are;
• How the lawyer’s fees are structured;
• The number of expert witnesses or consultants are retained;
• The number of motions or depositions are conducted;
• If the parties are willing to mediate or if a trial is forced by one party.

As previously stated, whether or not a child custody issue is ” amicable ” can have a significant impact on the ultimate cost of the case. Furthermore, how the lawyer and specialists bill the client might have a significant impact on the total costs incurred.

Child custody attorneys usually charge a set fee or charge by the hour. Expect to pay between $3,500 and $7,500 if a lawyer charges a fixed fee. The fact that they charge a cheap cost does not imply that they provide poor legal representation. It’s just an assessment of the labor that the lawyer is expected to accomplish as a result of the case’s intricacy.

As a result, if a custody battle will be swift and painless, requiring only mediation or a few court appearances and papers to be submitted, a lawyer will most likely charge a lesser flat fee. Where, on the other hand, the case may require multiple court appearances before a judge, disputing complicated legal problems but can still be handled in a relatively civilized manner, the lawyer is likely to charge a larger flat fee.

Child Lawyer Hourly Charges

Legal hourly costs will vary greatly depending on the lawyer’s expertise and talents. A rookie lawyer fresh out of law school can take 5 hours to finish a legal work that a seasoned lawyer would complete in 1 hour. A lawyer’s time can cost anything from $195 to $500 per hour.

Your choice of legal advice should not be based just on the lowest hourly charge. On the contrary, you may be better served by a more expensive lawyer since you will know that your case is in qualified hands and will be handled with precision, experience, and care.

As previously stated, lawyers who work on an hourly basis will usually want an up-front retainer payment. This retainer will cover a specific period of time for that lawyer. To keep the lawyer engaged after the retainer has been expended, the client is expected to replenish the retainer to its original level.

With an hourly fee system, it’s not uncommon for monthly legal expenditures to swiftly reach $5,000 – $15,000 level. As a result, this billing structure is more typical when the parties are unable to agree on a visitation or custody plan, one party is attempting to relocate the child out of state, or there is another complex and contentious child custody dispute.

Preferable Fee Structure

One price structure is not always superior to another, and each instance is different. A skilled family law attorney will recognize this. Doing your homework and learning more about what you will be paying for is always a good idea. Knowing the basics of a child custody lawyer’s fee structure and how it works is the first step toward having an open and honest conversation about any fee structure and how they plan to spend their legal time to get the best possible outcome for you and your child.

When there are children involved in a divorce, the Scottsdale-based Canterbury Law Group fights aggressively to protect their future and well-being. Indeed, we are well-known for securing the most cost-effective child custody arrangements possible. We begin by collaborating with both parents and other relevant experts to develop practical provisions for effective co-parenting and child support schedules.

If a mutual resolution of these issues is not possible, our no-nonsense litigators will prepare your case with zeal and utmost care. Arizona law requires that the child’s best interests take precedence over all other considerations when allocating child custody. Additionally, judges are required by statute to maximize each parent’s parenting time. This typically entails a 50/50 parenting time split unless the other parent establishes parental fitness issues (e.g., drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, or domestic violence) through competent and admissible evidence.

Arizona family courts determine custody based on the child’s best interests, taking into account a variety of factors, including the following:

• Age of the child
• The wishes of the child
• The desires of each parent
• The adjustment of the child to his or her home, school, and community
• Either parent has a history of domestic violence or child abuse.
• Whether the child’s primary caregivers were the parents
• All individuals involved’s mental and physical health
• Each parent’s relationship with their child
• The willingness of each parent to cultivate a meaningful and substantial relationship with the other parent.

If you’re considering divorcing in Scottsdale or Phoenix, contact us today to schedule a consultation. Oftentimes, the best defense in a case is a well-positioned, well-thought-out strategy developed weeks or months in advance of the case being formally filed.

$21,500 is the mean cost of a child custody lawyer in the USA as per LegalMatch with fees varying from as little as $3,000 to around $40,000 in the US. Undoubtedly, child custody cases can be one of the most emotionally taking experiences a parent may encounter. Read on to learn more.

Cost Factors

Undoubtedly, the fees charged by attorneys make up a sizeable amount of the total costs but there are other factors to consider as well.

Type Of Custody Dispute

The more intense a child custody dispute becomes, the higher the likelihood of increased costs. If one party has objections they may wish to fight for sole custody and the dispute will generate additional paperwork such as dispositions, the filing of multiple motions, many court appearances and the hiring of child psychologists. A trial will always be the costliest option.

Hiring Of Expert Witnesses

It is possible a comprehensive family custody evaluation will have to take place including personal interviews as well as professional evaluations and can cost up to $10,000. Another choice may be a parenting conference costing around $600 or a $2,500 Limited Family Assessment.

Attorney Fees

Assuming there is not a huge difference in the income of the parties, each party is responsible for their own legal costs, but a judge may assess one party to the legal fees of the other party when there is a large difference in financial situations, or one party is incapable of affording appropriate representation.

Other Fees

Court filing fees can go up to $400 to just initiate a case and process servers usually charge between $100-$150 per service completed.

Child Custody Lawyer Fees

Here are some factors that can vary change the fees a lawyer charges:

• How cooperative the parties are;
• How the lawyer’s fees are structured;
• The number of expert witnesses or consultants are retained;
• The number of motions or depositions are conducted;
• If the parties are willing to mediate or if a trial is forced by one party.

As previously stated, whether or not a child custody issue is ” amicable ” can have a significant impact on the ultimate cost of the case. Furthermore, how the lawyer and specialists bill the client might have a significant impact on the total costs incurred.

Child custody attorneys usually charge a set fee or charge by the hour. Expect to pay between $3,500 and $7,500 if a lawyer charges a fixed fee. The fact that they charge a cheap cost does not imply that they provide poor legal representation. It’s just an assessment of the labor that the lawyer is expected to accomplish as a result of the case’s intricacy.

As a result, if a custody battle will be swift and painless, requiring only mediation or a few court appearances and papers to be submitted, a lawyer will most likely charge a lesser flat fee. Where, on the other hand, the case may require multiple court appearances before a judge, disputing complicated legal problems but can still be handled in a relatively civilized manner, the lawyer is likely to charge a larger flat fee.

Child Lawyer Hourly Charges

Legal hourly costs will vary greatly depending on the lawyer’s expertise and talents. A rookie lawyer fresh out of law school can take 5 hours to finish a legal work that a seasoned lawyer would complete in 1 hour. A lawyer’s time can cost anything from $195 to $500 per hour.

Your choice of legal advice should not be based just on the lowest hourly charge. On the contrary, you may be better served by a more expensive lawyer since you will know that your case is in qualified hands and will be handled with precision, experience, and care.

As previously stated, lawyers who work on an hourly basis will usually want an up-front retainer payment. This retainer will cover a specific period of time for that lawyer. To keep the lawyer engaged after the retainer has been expended, the client is expected to replenish the retainer to its original level.

With an hourly fee system, it’s not uncommon for monthly legal expenditures to swiftly reach $5,000 – $15,000 level. As a result, this billing structure is more typical when the parties are unable to agree on a visitation or custody plan, one party is attempting to relocate the child out of state, or there is another complex and contentious child custody dispute.

Preferable Fee Structure

One price structure is not always superior to another, and each instance is different. A skilled family law attorney will recognize this. Doing your homework and learning more about what you will be paying for is always a good idea. Knowing the basics of a child custody lawyer’s fee structure and how it works is the first step toward having an open and honest conversation about any fee structure and how they plan to spend their legal time to get the best possible outcome for you and your child.

When there are children involved in a divorce, the Scottsdale-based Canterbury Law Group fights aggressively to protect their future and well-being. Indeed, we are well-known for securing the most cost-effective child custody arrangements possible. We begin by collaborating with both parents and other relevant experts to develop practical provisions for effective co-parenting and child support schedules.

If a mutual resolution of these issues is not possible, our no-nonsense litigators will prepare your case with zeal and utmost care. Arizona law requires that the child’s best interests take precedence over all other considerations when allocating child custody. Additionally, judges are required by statute to maximize each parent’s parenting time. This typically entails a 50/50 parenting time split unless the other parent establishes parental fitness issues (e.g., drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, or domestic violence) through competent and admissible evidence.

Arizona family courts determine custody based on the child’s best interests, taking into account a variety of factors, including the following:

• Age of the child
• The wishes of the child
• The desires of each parent
• The adjustment of the child to his or her home, school, and community
• Either parent has a history of domestic violence or child abuse.
• Whether the child’s primary caregivers were the parents
• All individuals involved’s mental and physical health
• Each parent’s relationship with their child
• The willingness of each parent to cultivate a meaningful and substantial relationship with the other parent.

If you’re considering divorcing in Scottsdale or Phoenix, contact us today to schedule a consultation. Oftentimes, the best defense in a case is a well-positioned, well-thought-out strategy developed weeks or months in advance of the case being formally filed.

Spousal maintenance previously known as alimony is a term that means the same as the more commonly used term, alimony. Spousal maintenance refers to the money that is paid by one spouse to the other as part of the divorce decree. The payment is designed to be a safety net for a spouse who cannot provide for his or her needs or who meets other requirements under law. The idea behind Spousal maintenance is that the accomplishments of the spouses during the marriage, including increases in earning potential and living standards, are shared and earned by BOTH spouses, not just the spouse who gets a paycheck or has a job.

Spousal maintenance is paid separately from child support and is not a substitute for or a supplement to child support payments.

When and How Spousal Maintenance is Ordered

When spousal maintenance is ordered, the judge will consider the length of the marriage, the age and earning ability of the spouse who is asking for maintenance, the standard of living the parties enjoyed during the marriage, the ability of the other spouse to pay, and what the person who is asking for the maintenance contributed to the marriage.

Community property can be a very technical subject. If you own a home or property that is worth a significant amount of money, or if you or your spouse or your employers contributed to a pension or retirement plan while you were married, you might want to ask a lawyer for help before you file for or respond to a divorce petition.

The amount of a spousal maintenance payments is determined by what the judge considers to be a reasonable deduction from the monthly income of the paying spouse and a reasonable monthly payment to the receiving spouse. Not every divorce case involves spousal maintenance. You might want to talk to a lawyer about whether you have good legal reasons to request Spousal maintenance before you file a petition for divorce.

Paying Spousal Maintenance

Spousal maintenance payments may be ordered to be made through an Income Withholding Order from the paying spouse’s paycheck. This means that the court’s order directs the employer of the spouse to deduct the amount of spousal maintenance directly from the paycheck, and then the employer sends this money to the Clerk of the Superior Court. The Clerk records the payment and sends the money to the spouse who is entitled to receive the spousal maintenance payment. Self-employed or unemployed spouses must make spousal maintenance payments directly to the Clerk of the Court too.

Source: https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/alimony/

Alimony, now called Spousal Maintenance is Arizona is often a contentious issue. Read on to learn more about how and why alimony may be rewarded.

Spousal Maintenance Needs

The qualification for spousal maintenance is decided by the court as well as the ability of the payer to make payments before the order is made. Alimony is often requested for the following reasons:

• If one spouse does not have sufficient property following distribution of assets to meet their financial requirements
• If a spouse is unable to find sufficient employment
• If one partner has made a large financial contribution to the education of the other

Marriage Duration

Generally, the longer a marriage has lasted the higher the likelihood alimony will be rewarded. If a marriage has lasted less than five years, it increases the likelihood alimony will not be rewarded. Once a marriage exists for ten years or more, the likelihood of alimony being involved becomes significantly higher and that is even more the case following. Thirty years of marriage! Although it should be added the law in Arizona does not address the specific duration of marriages.

Alimony And Unfaithfulness

If a spouse has been unfaithful alimony can still be granted especially as Arizona is a “no fault” state – hence divorces can be filed without giving a reason and misconduct us not deemed legally relevant to the legalities of a divorce. Depending on the duration of a marriage and the financial positions of the parties, alimony may still be awarded to a cheating spouse.

Here are more reasons people get divorced. Read on to learn more.

Expectations

People have a lot of expectations when they marry. The strain of reality not meeting expectations can be very intense.

Intimacy

Intimacy does not always mean sex but also refers to the deep emotional connection a couple have. However sexual relationships are fundamentally important in many relationships and when both parties work on satisfying the other it can be the ideal way to grow closer.

Equality

When there is an equality imbalance along with a lack of emotional and physical intimacy, it is often a recipe for divorce – especially when one partner is making more of an effort in the marriage than the other.

Ill-Prepared

One aspect of marriages of people when they are both younger is they later discover they were not ready for marriage.

Abuse

Sadly abuse is something many people are the victim of. The abuse may not always be traumatic from a physical standpoint but the emotional impact can be very deep. Abuse is something no-one should have to suffer from.