Other Family Law Issues:

For your free initial telephonic divorce or family law consultation, please call McGuire Gardner P.L.L.C. today, and speak with an Arizona divorce attorney experienced in family law cases. Our Flagstaff telephone number is (928) 225-2597, or in Tempe and throughout Maricopa County call (480) 559-8101, or call us toll free at (800) 899-2730. You may also contact us online or by email and we will promptly reply.

Adoption/Step Parent Adoptions:

Attorneys at McGuire Gardner P.L.L.C. have helped many families with their adoption needs, including adoptions of infant children, and step child adoptions. If you want to bring a child into your home through adoption, or if you are considering giving a child up for adoption, do not hesitate to contact us.

Call McGuire Gardner for a free initial telephone consultation to discuss your adoption or step-parent adoption matter.

Grandparent's Rights:

In Arizona, grandparents are allowed the right to see and spend time with their grandkids. Relationships between a grandparents and their grandchildren are special, and Arizona recognizes this fact. Quality time spent with grandparents typically benefits both the child and the grandparents. Unfortunately, divorce or other family tension can sometimes threaten the grandparent/grandchild relationship.

If a parent with custody will not let a grandparent visit with his or her grandchild, the grandparent may petition the Court to allow vistation.

In all cases, the Court's primary concern is what is in the best interests of the child. Don't let a family disagreement keep you from maintaining your relationships with your grandchildren. Instead, call us so we can protect your relationship and prepare a petition for filing with the Court.

Call McGuire Gardner for a free initial telephone consultation to discuss your rights as a grandparent.

Non Parent Custody:

In some cases, neither parent is able to provide for the needs of the child. Often a relative will take responsibiity for the care and support of the child.

Numerous circumstances can prevent a child's parents from caring for and having custody of the child. Medical conditions, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, or emotion or physical abuse an all play a role. It is important to know your options. Speak to an experienced child custody attorney as soon as possible if one or more of these circumstances is present.

If you are acting as the caregiver for a child whose parents are unable to care for the child, contact us to discuss how you can get legal and physical custody the child to enable you to make the important decisions in the child's life. We will work to make sure that the child's best interests are met.

Call McGuire Gardner for a free initial telephone consultation to discuss your custody rights as a non-parent.

Domestic Violence/Orders of Protection:

Domestic violence encompasses a number of crimes which include violence or threats of violence against individuals in domestic relationships. These include assault, threats and intimidation, trespass, endangering someone, interference with custody of children, kidnapping, trespass, and others.

If you want to protect yourself and others who are facing domestic violence, but are not in immediate danger, you can apply for an order of protection from the Superior Court or Justice Court.

If there is already a case pending in the Superior Court, you need to file the papers there. We can help you.

The order of protection comes from a Judge and is intended to help prevent additional acts of domestic violence by letting you seek help from the police. Such an order is valid for one year, although they are renewable. Even if you have an order of protection, i is not a guarantee of your safety. You should always be alert and careful and take steps to protect yourself.

An order of protection is permitted when certain relationships exist. Examples of the types of relationships include:

  • A spouse or former spouse
  • Your current or former roommate of the opposite sex
  • The Parent of your living or unborn child
  • A relative by blood or marriage.

Call McGuire Gardner for a free initial telephone consultation to discuss your family law case.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements:

A premarital agreement is used to make sure that you and your future spouse agree about what property and debt each is bringing to the marriage. . These agreements may deal with other rights and responsibilities and/or issues that may arise should the marriage end.

Premarital agreements are also used in subsequent marriages to protect children you may bring to the marriage. Premarital agreements help identify assets owned before the marriage as separate property. This may have implications unrelated to the marital relationship, but important to creditors (or potential future creditors). We can also prepare postnuptial agreements to establish rights and responibilities from the time of the agreement into the future.

Complete disclosure of debts and assets of the parties is important in determining whether a prenuptial agreement can be enforced. Failure to disclose assets or debts can have a serious adverse impact on the enforceability of the agreement.

If you are considering signing a prenuptial agreement, you should consult an attorney before you sign.. Your own attorney can give you independent advice and counsel to make sure your best interests are protected.

Call McGuire Gardner for a free initial telephone consultation to discuss how a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can beneit you and your children.

Helpful tips to keep attorney's fees down:

The State Bar of Arizona offers the following suggestions on how to reduce legal costs when working with an attorney.

  • Collect information before your initial meeting with your attorney. This includes names, addresses and telephone numbers of those involved.
  • Be organized. Provide your attorney with copies of letters, documents and other important papers at the first meeting.
  • Be prepared with written questions for your attorney to answer.
  • Keep your attorney informed, but don't make unnecessary calls. It is likely you are being charged for your call at the attorney's hourly rate.
  • Be to Court and appointments with your attorney on time.
  • Ask if there are other ways you can reduce costs.
  • Keep a file with copies of the documents sent by the Court or your attorney.

Useful Family Law Links:

Marriage Handbook
Things you should know about divorce in Arizona
Divorce in Arizona
American Bar Association Article on Family Law
Things you should know about custody and parenting time.
Model Parenting Time Plans
Things You Should Know about Child Support Payments in Arizona
Arizona Child Support Guidelines
Arizona Supreme Court Child Support Calculator
Things You Should Know about Child Support Modification in Arizona
Things You Should Know about Parent Education Class
Domestic Violence Information Page
County Resources for Domestic Violence Victims
Domestic Violence Survivor's Guide
Things You Should Know about Protective Orders
How to Help Children Deal With Domestic Abuse
Arizona law on termination of parental rights
Arizona law on adoption
Arizona Supreme Court's Glossary of Legal Terms
Law.com Law Dictionary

Disclaimer
The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.