In Casa Grande, AZ, judges weigh certain factors when they decide parenting time and visitation. The law requires the judges to include certain factors, and a child custody lawyer can help you understand how to best present your case for a parenting schedule in light of these factors. The following are just some of the most important factors involved.
What Factors Do Judges Weigh When Setting Parenting Time?
1. Best Interests of the Child
The controlling factor is always what’s in your child’s best interests. If you can show that your primary consideration is also your child’s best interests, this will position you well with the court.
Read the rest of this entry »How to Find the Right Divorce Lawyer in Arizona
Starting the divorce process can be one of the most difficult experiences in life. Emotions run high, financial questions surface, and the future can feel uncertain. Having a trusted divorce lawyer by your side can make all the difference. For families in Scottsdale and Casa Grande, Arizona, choosing the right attorney is about finding someone who listens, communicates clearly, and understands the challenges of family law in both Maricopa and Pinal Counties.
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If you share both children and pets with your ex, custody-related decisions can become even more complex than they might otherwise be. Pets are legally considered property in most states, but for many families, they are cherished members whose well-being deserves thoughtful planning, especially when children are involved.
In homes with kids, pets often provide emotional comfort and stability during the upheaval of divorce. The routine of feeding, walking and caring for a pet can help children feel grounded and maintain a sense of normalcy. Because of this, some parents choose to align pet custody with parenting time schedules to ensure children continue spending time with their pets.
For example, if children spend weekdays with one parent and weekends with the other, the family dog or cat might travel with them to maintain consistency. This arrangement supports the child’s bond with their pet and reduces the feeling of loss that can come from leaving a beloved animal behind when switching homes. However, it also requires cooperation between parents to transport the pet safely, agree on care standards and manage expenses such as food, veterinary visits and grooming.
In other situations, it may be best for the pet to remain in one home full-time. This is often true if a pet does not adjust well to new environments or if frequent moves would cause stress.
What arrangement will work best for your family?
When negotiating pet custody matters with your ex, consider practical factors. Who has the time and resources to care for the pet daily? Which home has more space or a yard? Is the pet deeply bonded with one child who spends more time in a particular household? Courts generally do not issue formal pet custody orders, but parents can include detailed pet care agreements in divorce settlements to reduce their risk of future disputes.
Additionally, think about costs. Veterinary bills, grooming, food and pet insurance add up. Agreements should address whether these expenses are shared and how unexpected costs will be handled.
Children may already feel anxious about changes in their lives, and knowing their pet will remain loved and cared for in both homes can ease transitions. Talking honestly with your ex about what is best for both the children and the pet can help to keep everyone’s focus on family wellbeing rather than ownership battles.
Working with an experienced legal team can help you include clear, enforceable pet care agreements in your parenting plan or settlement. Divorce does not have to mean choosing between your child and their pet. With thoughtful planning, families can create arrangements that protect these important bonds and support everyone’s emotional health during life’s transitions.
Social media is a place where people go to connect with friends, family members and others. Some people choose to share cautiously on social media, but others are open about every aspect of their lives.
For those who are going through a divorce, there are some specific considerations that must be taken into account if they’re going to remain on social media. Thinking about these factors may help you to ensure you’re using social media responsibly during your divorce.
Consider how others may perceive your posts
What you say and how others perceive it can be two vastly different matters. If you’re active on social media during your divorce, think about how other people may take what you say or show. For example, sharing a picture of yourself on a luxury superyacht may seem like a fun post, but it could be used by your ex if they claim you’re hiding financial accounts, even though the truth is that you were on the yacht for a work event.
Remember everything is permanent
Social media platforms give you the option of deleting posts, pictures, comments and other items. But just because you delete it doesn’t mean that it’s gone forever. It’s possible that someone was able to take a screenshot of the item prior to you deleting it. They can then turn the screenshot over to your ex to use against you.
Thinking about your social media activity is only one of the factors that you should consider if you’re going through a divorce. Working closely with someone familiar with your circumstances may help you to find out what options you have so you can make decisions that are in your best interests.
People contemplating divorce often feel very anxious about the process. They don’t know what to expect, and they may assume the worst. Few things sound more unappealing than filing for divorce and having the courts dismiss the case. Remaining trapped in an unhealthy marriage after trying to divorce a spouse could be disastrous.
Some people put off even exploring the possibility of divorce because they assume that they may not qualify for divorce in their current circumstances. For example, they may know that their spouse cheated, but they may not have any real evidence to provide to the courts. Other times, they may simply be unhappy in their marriage and may believe that they don’t qualify for divorce.
Do people need strong evidence to show that they qualify for divorce?
Most people file no-fault divorces
Arizona has more complex statutes governing marriage and divorce than many other states. Arizona recognizes covenant marriages, which helps contribute to the confusion surrounding divorce.
Generally speaking, most couples do not need to prove anything to divorce. They pursue no-fault proceedings that do not require any evidence of misconduct. Only those pursuing divorce based on specific grounds need evidence of misconduct.
The rules are slightly different in covenant marriage scenarios. Spouses may need to prove that they have lived separately for long enough to qualify for divorce or that other unique circumstances make them eligible for divorce.
Reviewing one’s marriage and the reason that one spouse wants to file for divorce with a skilled legal team can help that spouse determine what steps to take next. In many scenarios, people do not need any evidence to petition the courts for divorce in Arizona.
What are your rights at a DUI checkpoint?
Driving after a long day can be a welcome break until flashing lights appear ahead. As traffic slows and you approach a line of vehicles, it becomes clear you have entered a DUI checkpoint. Even if you have not had anything to drink, it is common to feel a wave of anxiety in that moment.
DUI checkpoints or sobriety checkpoints can feel confusing and uncomfortable, especially when you are not sure what is expected. In Arizona, these stops are legal and common, especially around the weekend or special events. But while officers are allowed to stop cars without warning, you still have rights.
Stay calm, know the rules
The best thing you can do at a checkpoint is stay calm and be prepared. If you find yourself in this situation:
- You can remain silent: You do not have to answer questions like “Where are you coming from?” or “Have you had anything to drink?” You can politely decline.
- Keep your hands visible: Roll down your window and hand over your license, registration and proof of insurance when asked.
- You do not have to agree to a field sobriety test: In Arizona, you are not legally required to perform balance or eye tests on the side of the road.
- Refusing a breath test has consequences: Under Arizona’s implied consent law, refusing a chemical test (like a breathalyzer) can lead to a one-year license suspension, even if you are not charged.
- You can legally turn around: As long as it is done safely and legally, avoiding a checkpoint is not against the law. But making an illegal U-turn or driving erratically can give police a reason to stop you.
Understanding your rights can help you stay in control and avoid making a stressful situation worse. In times like these, having a legal representative can help you figure out what comes next, easing the pressure.
2 things to know about property division
One of the more challenging aspects of going through a divorce is determining how to handle the property division matters. This requires that you and your ex determine all the assets and debts that you acquired during the marriage.
Considering these two tips may make it a bit easier as you work through this aspect of the divorce.
Logic must overrule emotions
Dividing the property during your divorce can be one of the most emotionally charged aspects of going through a divorce. Decisions that are made out of sentimental considerations or frustration can lead to long-term challenges and possibly financial setbacks.
It’s understandable to be attached to some of the things that you acquired during the marriage. This is common for the house and vehicles, but it’s important to remember that those are objects and that the memories will remain even without the items.
Debts must be paid
People sometimes become hyper-focused on assets and forget about debts. The fact is that marital debts have to be assigned to a party or paid off as part of the property division process.
Some individuals opt to liquidate assets to pay off those debts. If they aren’t paid, each party will have to ensure they pay what they’re ordered to pay or both parties can face negative marks on their credit report because creditors don’t have to abide by the property division assignment of debts.
Divorce is often a complex process, and property division is only one part of that. Working with someone familiar with these matters is beneficial so you can ensure that your rights are being protected throughout the process.
One of the most difficult aspects of having children with someone you aren’t in a relationship with any longer is that you still have to work with each other to raise the children. Some people are fortunate enough to have an ex that they can work with, but not everyone has that luxury.
If you’re stuck with an ex who wants to battle with you at every turn, you have to learn how to handle contentious situations. These tips may be beneficial for you, but you have to carefully consider how they apply to your circumstances.
Focus on the children
The most important thing to remember is that your kids come first. Even if your ex is difficult, your responses should be guided by what’s best for the children. That means avoiding arguments in front of them, not using them to send messages and not letting your frustrations spill into their lives.
Think of your communication as a business transaction. Keep it brief, respectful and child-focused. Document conversations when needed, and if verbal discussions escalate easily, consider switching to written communication through text or a co-parenting app.
Set the parenting plan
A well-crafted parenting plan is a roadmap to how the parenting relationship should work. An ideal parenting plan should outline everything from the parenting time schedule, who will make decisions for the children and communication standards. The more detailed this plan, the less that’s left to chance.
The parenting plan must reflect the best interests of your children in a way that’s legally enforceable. It may be best to work with someone who can assist you in getting everything together in an appropriate manner.
During divorce proceedings, married couples have to address a variety of different issues. Spouses who own a home together may find themselves disagreeing on issues related to their real property. After years of living in, working on and paying for a home, people tend to have very strong attachments to where they live.
It is only natural for those strong emotions to lead to disagreements during divorce negotiations. Spouses who may already have a strained relationship with one another may find it very challenging to make concessions about an asset that represents a significant amount of their personal wealth and emotional value as well.
The people who prepare themselves for conflict in the early stages of divorce may find it easier to address their disagreements. What issues about a marital home might lead to conflict between spouses?
Who gets to stay?
For many families, the most pressing issue related to the marital home is who retains possession or the right to occupy the marital home. Neither spouse may want to leave the home. Particularly when there may be young children in the family or when the local real estate market is quite competitive, both spouses might prefer staying in the marital home as opposed to leaving and looking for a new place to live. Spouses may need to consider carefully whether they can maintain the home and whether their emotional attachment to it could become a source of pain in the future.
How much is it worth?
Home values change as time passes. The longer spouses have lived in the home and the more improvements they have made to the property, the more likely it is that they need help determining the fair market value of their house. People need to know the estimated value of key assets if they want to divide them in a fair and reasonable manner when they divorced. An appraisal could help determine the current value of the home.
How can they divide equity?
Even after the spouses have decided who stays and roughly what the home is worth, they may still find themselves disagreeing about how to share home equity. They may not have other high-value assets worth a comparable amount. Perhaps the spouse hoping to stay in the home does not have enough income or a high enough credit score to withdraw all of the other spouse’s equity when they refinance. Spouses sometimes have to establish creative solutions for home equity if they want to settle property division matters before they go to court.
Thinking about these and other significant property division issues can help people effectively prepare for divorce negotiations or litigation. The way that people divide their biggest assets can have an impact that persists for years.
What is probable cause in DUI cases?
In a DUI case, probable cause is a key evidential standard. It refers to the facts or evidence that would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime has been committed. Before police can arrest someone for DUI, they must have probable cause to think the driver was breaking the law.
Below are some key factors to consider.
Reasonable suspicion vs. probable cause
Police need reasonable suspicion to pull over a driver. This means they saw something that made them suspect the driver might be impaired or breaking traffic laws. Examples include swerving, speeding or running a red light.
Once the car is stopped, probable cause is needed before the officer can make an arrest. Probable cause is a higher evidential standard. It must be based on specific signs of impairment, like slurred speech, the smell of alcohol, failed field sobriety tests or a high blood alcohol level on a breath test.
What counts as probable cause in a DUI case
Probable cause is based on clear signs that suggest a driver is impaired. Officers may notice slow reactions, trouble answering questions or unsteady movements. Field sobriety tests help check balance and coordination, while chemical tests can confirm alcohol or drug use.
It’s not about one detail alone. Probable cause comes from the full picture. Officers must be able to explain how the evidence pointed to DUI at the time of arrest.
What if there is no probable cause?
If someone is searched, arrested or charged without probable cause, the case may be dismissed. Evidence collected unlawfully can be suppressed, meaning it cannot be used in court. This can lead to reduced charges or even a dismissal.
Understanding probable cause protects your rights and ensures fair treatment during DUI stops. If you have been charged, it’s essential to seek legal guidance.
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