Tuscon Arizona Family Law Blog

Military divorce and depression

On behalf of RPM Law posted in Military Divorce on Thursday, January 17, 2019.

Arizona families might have a family member or friend who has served honorably in the military. Some of the brave men and women who have volunteered to lay their lives on the line to protect the United States have actually been called upon to do so. Many of these people, though fortunate enough to survive, can face lasting injury and emotional trauma, and in cases of military divorce, a veteran may suffer more than a civilian counterpart.

One veteran has come forward to share his story about how returning home after a combat tour was nearly as difficult as being injured in war. The man found himself in the pits of despair after losing his legs in a battle in which he also witnessed the deaths of comrades. Upon his return home, he found himself a struggling amputee, going through a divorce.

Gray divorces place many in financial distress

On behalf of RPM Law on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

A long and happy marriage may have been your dream on your wedding day. You may have looked forward with joy to having children, helping them grow and sending them off into the world. The retirement years are those that many couples anticipate most because they can see the fulfillment of all their years of hard work together.

After years of being married, raising children and building a home, some spouses begin to have a change of heart, and the thought of spending those retirement years together is no longer a pleasant one. Perhaps this describes your situation. If you or your spouse has decided to end your marriage later in life, there are many factors to weigh carefully to avoid years of struggle.

Family law attorneys help reach New Year's goals

On behalf of RPM Law posted in family law on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

Husband and wife smiling at each other while the children pose with them in front of a beautiful holiday setting. This is often what the Arizona resident sees when he or she checks social media or opens the mail during the holiday season. Then, to add fuel to the fire, visits with friends and family make one believe that all is well in each of these relationships and struggles are few and far between. These are just a few of the reasons that family law attorneys often see a spike in new divorce cases as the new year begins.

As one looks at social media posts, it is easy to believe that everyone else is in love and happy. But, to be honest, that is what most people want others to believe. It is rare for a friend or family member to post a picture that shows his or her family's reality – the one that includes heated discussions related to finances or infidelity. The simple fact is that even those posting the wonderful family pictures are most likely facing their own struggles.

A parent's poor choices result in loss of child custody

On behalf of RPM Law posted in child custody on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

Arizona parents typically do everything in their power to make certain their children are raised in a supportive and loving environment. Nevertheless, parents are human beings, and human beings are occasionally prone to make poor choices. Sometimes the actions of a parent can directly lead to a loss of child custody.

This time of year, many families take the opportunity to take a quick vacation and unwind for a few days. One mother decided to take her children to an Arizona resort for a few days of relaxation. Unfortunately, she had a bit too much to drink, and the vacation quickly turned into trouble.

Will the end of your marriage signal an end to retirement plans?

On behalf of RPM Law on Thursday, December 13, 2018.

If you have made the choice to move forward with divorce later in life, you likely have many concerns about how this decision will affect your future. What will happen to your long-term savings? Will you have to change your retirement plans? These are just a few issues that can influence your long-term financial stability.

The end of your marriage does not necessarily have to bring about the end of your retirement dreams and other plans you have. With planning and a fair divorce settlement, you can look forward to your future with confidence. An essential part of this is to know what to expect, have reasonable expectations and know how to fight for a beneficial property division order.

Divorce and the holiday season

On behalf of RPM Law posted in Divorce on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

The holiday season is upon us. While many Arizona families are looking forward to spending quality family time and enjoying each other's company, others are dreading the thought of getting through this season in the midst of a divorce. For these families, the holidays have forever changed, and they are now faced with creating new paths and traditions.

Many individuals feel a tremendous amount of stress during the holiday season. They want to keep everything "normal" for the children, yet for these families normal is now different. Perhaps the easiest way to address this situation is to make a plan. Parents will want to decide how holiday celebrations will be handled, where the children will spend particular significant days and other such important family considerations. Planning ahead will minimize the stress and uncertainty of this transition period and holiday season.

Virtual visitation can help military members stay in touch

On behalf of RPM Law on Friday, November 23, 2018.

Being a member of the armed services can make family life challenging. When services members' marriages end in divorce, relocations and deployments can make child custody and visitation a bear to figure out. Thankfully, Arizona and other states allow for the inclusion of virtual visitation in parenting plans.

What is virtual visitation? Are there limits to it? How can you get virtual visitation included in your custody or visitation schedule?

Family law and adoption

On behalf of RPM Law posted in family law on Tuesday, November 20, 2018.

Family is at the heart of what many Arizona residents consider to be most important. Some families consist of mom, dad, brother and sister; other families may only have one parent, more siblings or no siblings. Then, there are those who long to have a family. Unfortunately, many of those longing for a family are children who are a part of the family law and foster care system or are couples unable to have children of their own. In both of these cases, adoption can be the life-changing.

When a child becomes a part of the foster care system, the ultimate goal is to reunite the family. These children range in age from newborns to teenagers. They are often placed with a foster family who will care for them and make sure that their needs are met while they are a part of the system. During this process, the legal system often attempts to work with biological family to resolve the problems that caused the children to be placed in the foster system. However, reunification is not always possible, and many of these children will eventually need to be adopted by loving families.

A mediated divorce can benefit the entire family

On behalf of RPM Law posted in Divorce on Friday, November 9, 2018.

Divorce is thought to be on the decline in Arizona and the rest of the country. There is something fairly new in the divorce landscape that is catching on especially when there are children involved. Mediated divorce is thought to be a less contentious approach and can be particularly helpful to setting up joint parenting arrangements.

Mediation is a process whereby a couple meets with a third party, an impartial mediator, who helps the couple reach an agreement on their various issues. Mediation allows the parties to explore options, goals and concerns regarding shared parenting following a divorce. For mediation to be effective, both parties have to be willing to communicate and negotiate in good faith.

Child custody and what is best for the children

On behalf of RPM Law posted in child custody on Thursday, October 25, 2018.

What is best for the children is often a primary concern when an Arizona couple decides to divorce. Each parent has his or her own idea of what is best for the children. Additionally, if the children are old enough, they likely have their own ideas as well. In the best case scenario, all of these ideas are taken into consideration in deciding child custody issues regarding the couple's children.

The type of legal custody granted by the court determines who has the authority of make decisions for the children. These decisions typically include education, medical, religious and other life decisions. Under a sole legal custody arrangement, one parent is responsible for these decisions. However, under a joint legal custody arrangement, both parents share responsibility.