Tuscon Arizona Family Law Blog

Divorce in Arizona after 50 may come with financial consequences

On behalf of RPM Law posted in Divorce on Wednesday, April 25, 2018.

Women who have relied on their husbands to make the financial decisions in their marriages may encounter problems should the marriage dissolve after many years. In Arizona and elsewhere, not only could gray divorce -- or divorce after the age of 50 -- mean a significant loss of income, it could also spell the need for some, mostly women, to learn to manage finances on their own. In fact, more than 55 percent of married women leave the financial aspects of their marriages to their husbands.

The women who are unaware of the financial part of their marriages become cognizant not only of the problems, but of the positives of their finances, when their marriages fizzle. Perhaps they didn't know about a retirement plan their spouse set up or a trust fund or other hidden asset gems. Women 50 or older who are divorcing are often forced into having to deal with these sorts of monetary issues, and reports show in the long run they believe that to have been a good thing.

The rise of gray divorce in America’s fifty plus population

On behalf of RPM Law posted in blog on Thursday, April 12, 2018.

The phenomenon of later in life divorce, often dubbed gray divorce, continues its ascent. As the population ages, it will become even more common.

It's not just the number of older people, however. The divorce rate among U.S. adults ages fifty and older doubled in the last three decades.

Dealing with debt is an important part of divorce proceedings

On behalf of RPM Law posted in Divorce on Monday, April 9, 2018.

When an Arizona couple decides that the marriage is no longer viable, there are a number of things that must be considered. Typically, who will get the house and how will assets be divided are top of mind during the initial divorce negotiations. However, in addition to these important decisions, how debts will be handled needs to be addressed.

Arizona is a community property state. As such, assets and liabilities accumulated during the marriage belong to and are the responsibility of both parties. In other words, even debts that are held in only one name can become the responsibility of the other individual.

Discussing child support and the costs it can cover

On behalf of RPM Law posted in Divorce on Monday, April 2, 2018.

Misinformation is an unfortunate part of life nowadays, and when it comes to the world of family law and divorce, there are plenty of ideas that have been pushed around that are either inaccurate or false. One of these ideas is the notion that child support payments can only be used in certain circumstances, or that the payments are limited in their scope. We are here to tell you that this is wrong. Child support payments can be used for many different financial costs.

It shouldn't need to be said, but child support covers the basic necessities of life for you child. So after a divorce and if you are awarded child support, you can use the payments to help pay for a roof over your child's head, clothing for your son or daughter, and food to keep the family satisfied and healthy.

Unmarried parents and the pursuit of custody and support

On behalf of RPM Law posted in blog on Friday, March 23, 2018.

It can be confusing to know how to assure custody and support if your child is born and you and your partner are no longer together. Either you are no longer married or were never married in the first place.

Usually, the responsibility of proof of paternity falls on the individual who wishes to challenge lack of support or acknowledgment. Here are some common scenarios that happen to a parent that is not married to the other parent of a child and how Arizona law handles them.

Thinking of divorce in retirement?

On behalf of RPM Law posted in Divorce on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.

The Friendship Factor

Number of "grand-families" increasing across America

On behalf of RPM Law posted in Custody/Visitation on Friday, October 27, 2017.

A recent report from Generations United, a national group focusing on "intergenerational collaboration" between kids, young adults and older adults reveals that the rate of children being raised - at least partially - by grandparents and other relatives is on the rise. These so-called "grand-families" are often formed by trauma affecting a nuclear family, such as divorce, incarceration of one or both biological parents, abandonment or even death of one or both biological parents.

The grandparents in these situations step in to raise the children, sometimes to help the kids avoid going into the foster care system. The Generations United report emphasizes the very important role that grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren.