Stewart Law Group

Yes, if sole legal custody is appropriate. In Arizona, there is no legal presumption favoring one parent over the other. Meaning that the Court starts with the presumption that parents should have joint custody. However, if you believe joint custody is not appropriate, you can request sole custody.

To initiate a divorce in Arizona, a spouse files a “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage” with the clerk of the Superior Court and pays the requisite filing fee. The other spouse must be served with a copy of the petition and summons. He or she has 20 days from the date of service to file a written response with the court (30 days if service is out-of-state). The other spouse may waive service by signing and having notarized an “Acceptance of Service.” The petition and response make up the initial family court pleadings.

Because the details of each case are unique, please call our client service coordinators and they can answer all your questions and get you scheduled for a consultation with one of our attorneys. 602-548-3400.

Stewart Law Group has represented and opposed thousands of litigants over the past 16 years. We have experience with all types of people in all types of circumstances and situations. I encourage you to reach out to our office and schedule a meeting with one of our attorneys to see how we can help you in your specific situation.

Yes. You can contact the court self help center for the civil forms for a name change. A lawyer can help you but it's pretty simple and I would save the money and handle it yourself. If you have any questions call us.

I'm sorry we do not handle disability matters. We handle divorce, child custody, child support, probate, estate planning and other various family law matters.

We do not practice in that area but if you call our office we can give you a referral. Please call 602-548-3400.

Thank you for your question. Marriages of this duration are often very complex and I would certainly recommend that you hire counsel if possible. Often times, we can file a motion for a contribution of attorney fees from the other party so that both of you are on even footing during the litigation. I recommend that you call our office.

No, your child does not have the right to decide which parent shall have custody. However, the child’s wishes may be considered by the court at any stage in the proceedings. More often than not, though, the judge will rely on the opinion of a mental health professional for guidance on what is in the child’s best interests.

Divorce can profoundly affect a child’s emotional development, so preparing the child for divorce is an important parenting issue. The child’s emotional well-being during and after the dissolution depends greatly on how the parents handle their divorce. To help ease the children’s transition into the new family relationship, read our helpful parenting suggestions for couples who are contemplating divorce.