Deciding the value of a family business in a divorce defies the certainty of a “ones and zeros” calculation. The only true certainty is that an appraisal will be costly and disruptive – the appraisal depends on the appraiser being a “seer,” who divines the future. Recent events make appraisals even more uncertain. The appraisal … Read more
As a divorce lawyer, I am always looking for ways to help my clients reduce their stress about is typically a highly stressful process. Education about the process is helpful. Knowledge about your options is critical! A lot of what is out there on the internet is either wrong, does not apply to your situation … Read more
Novelist Margaret Atwood wrote, “A divorce is like an amputation: You will survive it, but there’s less of you.” Often, there will be less of you financially after a divorce. But beware: You could end up with more debt than you bargained for. How? If you trade an asset to your soon-to-be ex in exchange … Read more
Arizona is a community property state. This means that the Court must divide community property equally, unless there is a really good and compelling reason. Usually this means that all the assets are valued (or you agree to a value) and each party takes assets of equivalent value. Sometimes, however, there is an asset that … Read more
Unless there is a very good reason, the Family Court must divide community assets equally in a divorce. Other than that, however, the court has lots of leeway in deciding exactly how to divide them up. In the past, some judges have delayed the sale or award of a marital home while the children are … Read more
This pandemic has created a lot of economic suffering especially for people who have lost their jobs or been furloughed. Some employers are handling this by offering severance packages to employees in return for a voluntary quit. Some self-employed business owners have received funding under the CARES Act. If you are divorcing your spouse and … Read more
Sometimes one person in a married couple has poor credit, but they want to purchase a home anyhow. They end up purchasing it in the name of one spouse only, but use their joint funds to do so or end up paying the mortgage and other home expenses with joint funds. In a divorce, is … Read more
There is lots of homespun speculation out there about whether Arizona law requires equal parenting time for separating parents. Some folks think that there must be equal parenting time unless one or the other is unfit or likely to endanger the child. This is not true. There is a strong presumption that the court should … Read more
Online spying and stalking by spouses and significant others has become almost epidemic. This is a critical issue in a divorce or child custody proceeding. Without your knowledge, keystroke monitoring software could be on your computer so that your ex or ex-to-be is able to view your every keystroke. People have been known to hide … Read more