Tips from Chandler family law attorney

No one files for divorce just for fun. But very few people realize how traumatic divorce can be for themselves and their family. Ending a marriage can cause a lot of stress and you lot financially. For children, divorce can have serious effects on their physical health.

Studies have shown that children of divorced parents face a lot more challenges, compared to children from two-parent homes. They also deal with more illnesses, accidents, and injuries compared to kids who grow up with both parents in the home. While this can be somewhat misleading, the research shows that it is important for parents and extended families to continue to provide children with structure during and after a divorce.

Of course, divorce can have been beneficial as well. In some cases, divorces provide a child a way to get away from physically or emotionally abusive situations. Divorce can have a mixed effect on most children. Ending a marriage can ultimately be for the good, but you need to make sure your children’s needs continue to be met. A family law attorney can help a divorcing parent have a smooth experience to that they are less stress and can help ensure the well-being of their children.

Need help with your divorce case? Give Shaffer Family Law a call today at (480) 470-3030.

Divorce is a solemn and daunting experience. You will face intense pressure, anger, having to talk to your children, and anxiety about your future. During your divorce, you may face legal disputes, and while you may be troubled, having an experienced divorce attorney to guide you can help. A reliable attorney can help simplify your experience. However, concealing any information from your attorney compromise results in the proceedings.

You may feel the need to conceal problems such as infidelity or financial mistakes, or even the reason for your divorce. But lying benefits no one. Your relationship with your attorney, like your relationship with your doctor, will only be as effective as the amount of communication and trust you have with one another. At Shaffer Law Family, we want our clients to know that we are not your enemy – we are your ally. So withholding information from your attorney only hurts yourself. It denies you from having effective representation, and you will also be hurting your case.

If any dishonesty is found in court, do not expect the judge to think highly of you. You can face consequences that can influence property division and even the custody of your child. If you are looking for guidance during your divorce, give the attorneys at Shaffer Law Family a call today at (480) 470-3030. 

Before you and your significant other decide to get married, you must have some serious discussions about your finances. At Shaffer Family Law, we advise couples to consider a prenuptial agreement, especially if either of them has children, is going to get an inheritance, or has a business.

Not Just For The Rich

While family wealth might be more comfortable talking about it, prenups also protect people with considerable assets. They can help you figure out what happens to future investments and protect you from your partner’s debts.

They Take the Place of Most State Divorce Laws

No matter what your financial circumstance looks like, a prenup can allow you to take your financial future into your own hands. It is that or have your marriage dictated by state laws. A prenuptial agreement gives you the chance to develop regulations for your marriage without giving in to the customary rules that may not apply to you and your partner.

They’re Insurance for Your Marriage

Prenups are like insurance policies – something you hope you never have to use but are happy you have it if needed. Just like when you choose insurance, you need to consider the worst-case scenario. You and your partner should talk about different assets, how they will be joined and which will remain separate. You should also talk about whether income (and debts) earned during the marriage will be joint or individual and whether alimony will be paid if you end up divorcing.

Millennials tend to get married later in life and establish less conventional roles. They may also be proving the keys to relationship success. The latest census reports an 18% reduction in divorces for millennials compared to older generations around the same age.

How Millennial View Marriage

Millennials do not act like their parents, who are mostly baby boomers. Baby boomers have had the highest divorce rate in US history. Many of them also get divorced into their 60s or older. This phenomenon has forced millennials to witness unrest in their house and childhood, and many are determined not to repeat this cycle.

Millennial women are also getting married in their 30s. They observe their mothers going through significant financial hardship after a divorce is enough motivation for anyone to become much more financially assertive before committing to a marriage. More and more women are going to school to get degrees and certifications to obtain better-paying careers.

Your children are going to feel significant impacts from your divorce. They may struggle with not seeing both parents as often, but your children can benefit from maintaining a relationship with both parents. While it can be challenging to work together with an ex-spouse, especially when it comes to parenting, putting personal issues aside can significantly benefit your children. Here is how co-parenting can help your children and your family:

Increased Sense of Security

Children who experience a divorce tend to blame themselves for the breakup. When you demonstrate your willingness to parent despite the end of a relationship, it can show your child they are not at fault. Knowing their parents still love and support them can make it easier to transition to this new phase of having two homes.

Conflict Resolution Skills

Co-parenting is not easy. There will be disagreements and conflicts that need a solution. Co-parenting allows you to be a conflict resolution model for your children and a valuable skill to have as they get older.

Less Stress and Anxiety

Many children feel anxious and stressed when it comes to parents divorcing. They are not only dealing with things happening in the home but outside the home as well. By co-parenting and resolving issues together, you can show your children you are united when caring for them. This can allow them to feel less stress and less worry about how their family is viewed.

Better Family Relationship

Whether you like it or not, your children’s other parent will always be in their lives. Be grateful that your ex-partner is making an effort. Several studies have shown that children who grow up in a single-parent household suffer from anxiety and depression at higher rates. They are also more likely to make mistakes in the future. When they have both parents, they have the opportunity to learn from and communicate with both of you. This can increase their confidence and lead to better bonding with family.

Divorce play with your emotions, but it does not have to destroy your finances. If you are concerned about losing money or not supporting yourself after a divorce, hiring a knowledgeable family lawyer is the best step. A family attorney at Shaffer Family Law can not only help you with legal representation, but they can also help you preserve your finances by avoiding the common financial mistakes people make during and after their separation.

Division of Property

The division of property is a significant aspect of most divorces. Arizona is a community property state, meaning a married couple’s property is divided into marital property and separate property. Marital property includes assets and property obtained throughout the marriage. Separate property is bought before the marriage and belongs to the party that acquired it before the marriage.

Do not let Anger and Fear Cause Financial Mistakes

Divorces are highly emotional conflicts. Many people have a roller coaster of emotions – from anger to fear. But letting your emotions get the best of you can cause you to make significant financial mistakes in the heat of the moment. Obtaining legal advice before you make any financial decisions or take action regarding your finances can save you so much in the end.

Do not Fight to Keep a House You Cannot Afford

If you end up paying alimony or child support, you may not have the means to keep your home. It is vital to know where you are financially throughout the divorce process. If you do not have the money to keep your house, do not fight for it. Recognize that during this transition, you will need to make a lot of changes, including moving into a smaller home. Your goal should be to make a move and move on with your future.

Going through a divorce can be easier with the help of an attorney from Shaffer Family Law in Chandler. Give our office call today at (480) 470-3030 to get started

Most of us know lawyers from criminal shows and movies. They go in front of a judge, present heartfelt arguments for their clients, and somehow win the case with little effort. While the work of a family lawyer may not seem as impressive as a lawyer working with criminals, it is just as important. Most of us will need the services of a family attorney at some point – but how can they help you?  

Common Family Lawyer Cases

At Shaffer Family Law, we have worked with families to help them restore conflict and have the experience to help them through some of the most challenging and emotional moments a person can face. Some common cases we work on include:

·       Divorce: In modern times, most marriages will end in divorce, and a family lawyer is specialized in handling these types of cases.

·       Child and spousal support: Unsurprisingly, divorce often comes with the battle of child and spousal support or alimony—our goal is to help families build a working or even friendly relationship after a divorce.

·       Child custody: Figuring out child custody is a pervasive part of a divorce. We work with our clients to secure fair custody of their children and create a plan that benefits everyone.

·       Domestic Violence: Domestic violence cases involve accusations of abuse or threats between two people in a relationship. We work with clients to get restraining orders, protection orders and help clients fight against any false accusations of abuse.

While these are the most common cases we work with, we also work with clients in paternity, division of assets, domestic partnerships, and guardianship. If you need a family law lawyer to help you get through a case, give Shaffer Family Law a call at (480) 470-3030.

Alimony (spousal support or maintenance) refers to one spouse’s financial support payments to the other, either during or after a divorce. When couples split, different types of alimony can be awarded, including:

• temporary alimony, which is paid while the divorce is pending
• short-term maintenance, for short marriages
• rehabilitative support, paid until a person can take care of themselves

These spousal support types have an end date and summarize the couple’s settlement agreement or the final judgment. Courts can also grant long-term alimony, but it is typically reserved for long-term marriages. It occurs when the supported is unable to support themselves, and permanent support can continue until either person passes away.

In Arizona, any future alimony is terminated when the spouse receiving support remarries. The spouse paying the support needs to file a motion to modify support, either by showing continuing change in circumstances or by providing evidence that the ex-spouse’s support needs have changed.

Are you going through a divorce and need some advice? Or are you struggling to understand your rights when it comes to alimony? Give Shaffer Family Law in Chandler a call today at (480) 470-3030.

In Arizona, child support is required to be paid until a child turns 18 years old. However, that does not mean that a parent paying child support should stop paying as soon as the child’s 18th birthday. There are circumstances in which child support is still required to be paid after a child turns 18. For example, if your child is 18 and is still in high school, you are still obligated to pay until the child graduates or turns 19 – whichever one comes first. For those that have children with disabilities, you may be required to continue child support past 19.

While the end of a child support order may seem like the light at the end of the tunnel, obligated child support payers should always make sure they end child support payments legally. A qualified family law attorney who knows child support laws in Arizona can help you if you are nearing your child support agreement or have another reason to terminate child support payments.

Need advice on your child support case? Contact the attorneys at Shaffer Family Law in Chandler today. We can help you understand your rights and responsibilities and ensure that ending your support case works out in your best interests.

When you first met your spouse, their life-of-the-party attitude might have been attractive. You may have had a lot of fun together early in your relationship. However, you got married and had children. Life looks a lot different now, and the wild nights are not so fun anymore. Maybe your ex has not gotten over their partying stage.

Or perhaps their occasional substance use has turned into a full-fledged addiction. Even if your spouse’s substance abuse is not the main reason for the divorce, it typically becomes an issue for many couples. When it comes to their drinking problem or drug use, does this mean that you have a chance to ask for sole custody?

Shared Custody is Preferred

You probably heard that shared custody or co-parenting arrangements are the standards in Arizona family courts. Research has made it clear that both parents are crucial to the happiness and development of children. The courts want to make custody decisions that are in the best interests of the children.

For most families going through a divorce, the court’s order shared custody. If one parent cannot fulfill their parental responsibilities, the other parent can legally ask for full custody. Substance abuse or chemical dependence is a common reason cited by one spouse seeking sole custody in a divorce. Before you head to court, you will need proof. You cannot just get up on the stand and insist that your ex is a violent drunk. The courts are suspicious of any claims intended to influence the custody terms that they set. The more evidence you have of your spouse’s problem, the better.

Maybe they got pulled over for drunk driving, which means there is a police report. Or they have been getting into fights at bars or get arrested because they had drugs in their possession. Criminal records can help validate and prove your concerns. It is also true for medical records if there is any hospitalization or treatment for their habits.