Located just 45 minutes from Phoenix, Surprise is one of the fastest-growing cities in Arizona. The city boasts numerous attractions and amenities, including spring training baseball, golf courses, an urban fishing lake, two public aquatic centers, and the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex (STRC), the largest complex of its kind in the Southwest, all of which make the city an attractive place to live.
Contact Our Surprise, Arizona Family Law Attorney Today
Families in Surprise often face difficult challenges that cannot be resolved in the home. Fortunately, residents have access to Cohen Family Law, PLLC, a premier family law practice serving clients throughout Arizona. We are highly experienced in handling all types of complex family matters, such as:
- Divorce
- Division of property
- Child custody
- Parenting time
- Child support
- Paternity
- Stepparent Adoptions
- Mediation
Though these issues are complex, our legal team will help you find innovative solutions. We have a well-earned reputation for providing our clients with compassionate, efficient representation when they need it most. When you become our client, you will have comfort knowing that our experienced family law attorneys are on your side. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
Divorce in Surprise, Arizona
Divorce involves serious legal concerns such as the division of marital property, whether spousal support will be awarded, who will have primary custody of the children, and how much child support will be necessary. We understand the emotional and financial challenges a marital breakup can bring and work to help our clients in Surprise make informed decisions about their family and their future during a divorce.
Dividing Marital Property in Surprise, Arizona
Arizona is a community property state, which means that property acquired during a marriage is considered to be the community property of both spouses. This includes real estate, motor vehicles, income, wages, and earnings, savings, retirement accounts, debt, and closely-held businesses. Although marital property is intended to be divided evenly, this is often impractical: it is not feasible to split a homestead or a business in half. Therefore, courts determine the value of the property as a whole and divide the net worth so that each party retains 50 percent of the communal assets.
Child Custody in Surprise, Arizona
Generally, there are two types of child custody: legal and physical. Legal custody refers to each parent’s right and responsibility to make decisions about the children’s education, healthcare, and welfare, and the courts typically award joint legal custody. Physical custody is a matter of determining where the children will live.
Parenting Time in Arizona
Parenting time, also known as visitation, is designed to provide the non-custodial parent with quality contact because time with both parents is beneficial for their children’s psychological growth and stability. Generally, parenting time may involve one or more weeknights, alternating weekends/school holidays, and one or more vacation periods. Because questions of child custody and parenting time can become contentious, it takes an experienced family law attorney to protect the best interest of your children.
Child Support in Surprise, Arizona
Depending on the custody arrangements, one parent will be required to pay child support. The state of Arizona has established a formula to calculate child support based on certain economic factors such as each parent’s income, the number of children, the children’s ages, and their particular educational and medical needs.
Paternity in Surprise Arizona
When the identity of a child’s biological father is in question, establishing paternity is necessary to determine parental rights, as well as child custody and support matters. Whether you are seeking financial support for your child or looking to assert your rights as a father, it takes an experienced family law attorney to pursue or defend a paternity action.
Stepparent Adoptions
At Cohen Family Law, we routinely assist families in Surprise with stepparent adoptions. If you are considering formalizing the bond with your spouse’s child, we can help you navigate all aspects of the adoption process, from filing the necessary court documents, to representing you at the adoption hearing, to formalizing the adoption.
Mediation
Many family law disputes are best resolved through mediation, rather than litigation; and mediation is required in disputes involving children. Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution in which the parties work with a neutral third party (the mediator) to resolve the key issues of the divorce. In cases involving minor children, the spouses must agree on a parenting plan before the court will grant a divorce. For mediation to be successful, however, each party must be able to negotiate in good faith.
Contact Our Experienced Surprise, Arizona Family Law Attorneys
If your family is in transition, the best way to protect your interests and your future is to consult an experienced family law attorney. Cohen Family Law is highly regarded for providing clients with informed representation and caring, efficient service. Regardless of the issue facing your family, we will provide you with knowledge, compassion, and dependable service. Contact our Phoenix office to set up a consultation.
