- Home
- »
- Blog
How to Begin the Divorce Process
Deciding to get a divorce can be a very difficult (yet necessary) decision to make. For many, trying to navigate the divorce process and figure out the next steps can be extremely stressful and overwhelming. Hopefully, this will break it all down for you: In Arizona, the first thing that needs to be filed with the court in the divorce process is the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (aka Petition for Divorce). Either spouse can file this Petition. The petition will include various...
5 Tips for Making a Good Impression in Court
When you walk into a courtroom for your divorce or custody trial, you are literally placing your future and everything that is important to you, in the hands of a stranger. The judge doesn’t know you, but over the next few hours, she/he is going to listen to your testimony and consider the evidence you present – and weigh it against the testimony and evidence presented by your opponent. Then the judge will make a ruling that could alter the course of your life in a good way – or maybe a...
3 Major Benefits of Mediation in Family Law Cases
Saves Time And Money Mediation is almost always significantly quicker and less expensive than litigation. For divorce and custody cases, or any other type of dispute, mediation is a more peaceful and cost-effective alternative. In mediation, a mutually acceptable resolution can often be reached in a day, or in a few sessions over the course of a number of weeks. In contrast, litigation can drag on for months or even years. In litigation, the communication typically takes place between the...
The A-B-C’s of Divorce
Divorce can be stressful and confusing. It’s always good to have a plan. So to assure that your divorce goes smoothly, follow these steps – from A to Z. A - Ask questions – If you have a question for your attorney, ask it! Asking questions can help you to stay informed and ease any anxiety you may have. B - Be smart – Think about everything you do and say before you do it, or say it. You should always assume your ex (or soon-to-be-ex) is recording your phone conversations and taking...
5 Tips For Dealing with the Stress of a Separation or Divorce
Going through a breakup, separation, or divorce, can be really tough. It can turn your world upside down and make it difficult to stay positive. To make sure you stay emotionally strong and healthy, it’s important to learn how to deal with divorce stress in a productive way. Here are some tips on how to cope with the stress of a separation or divorce: Take Care Of Yourself Emotionally And Physically It is so important to take care of yourself both emotionally and physically while you...
Premarital Agreements are a Wise Move
Premarital Agreement Basics In the past ten years or so, there has been a significant rise in couples exploring the option of entering into premarital agreements. Many soon-to-be-married couples often avoid the topic of premarital agreements as they feel it could be detrimental to their relationship. This makes sense since you’re essentially negotiating what would happen in the event of divorce. However, in many circumstances, it can be a really smart thing to do both financially and...
How to Prepare Children for a Divorce
Each year, over 1 million American children are affected by their parent's divorce. How each child reacts depends on many factors, including their age, personality, and of course, the circumstances surrounding the divorce or separation. Many times, the initial reaction of children is one of shock, sadness, frustration, anger, or worry. However, with enough planning, you can handle your divorce in a way that doesn’t have to feel like your kids’ world is crashing down on them. If dealt with...
Conflict in Front of the Kids: Why Not to Do It and How to Avoid It
We recently posted an article on our social media about Parental Alienation and its harmful effect on children. But recent child development research shows that even experiencing lower levels of parental conflict can lead to mental health problems for children who are caught in the middle. The findings of a new Arizona State University research study, titled “Longitudinal Effects of Post-Divorce Interparental Conflict on Children’s Mental Health Problems Through Fear of Abandonment” were...
Decorum for the Online Courtroom: How You Dress for Court Matters
For centuries, Judges have dressed in black robes, while Lawyers and parties to the litigation have been encouraged to dress modestly to signify credibility. In recent years, people going to court have begun dressing more casually, while maintaining a level of modesty. However, according to a recent New York Times article, as courtrooms have moved online during the COVID-19 Pandemic, dress codes have begun to go out the window. A recent New York Times article discusses a letter that a Florida...
5 Tips for Surviving Grey Divorce in Retirement
By Guest Blogger: Michelle Petrowski Buonincontri, CFP®, CDFA This article was originally published in “The Street” You were happy “once upon a time” and planned a future…. Now you’re 55 and getting a divorce. Or maybe you’re 60 or even in your 70’s and now part of a trend referred to as “Gray Divorce”, “ Grey Divorce”, “Silver Splitters”, or even “Diamond Divorcees”. We know from reports such as the “Aging in the US Retirement Security Trends in Marriage and Work Patterns May...
What You Post on Social Media CAN Hurt You In a Family Law Case
These days, most teens and adults have at least one social media page, whether it be on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, LinkedIn, or some other platform. Since so many adults have social media accounts, many attorneys have witnessed mistakes that have been made on social media which negatively impacted their family law cases. In fact, we have won cases for our clients simply because of what an opposing party, in a moment of anger, posted on their social media. You may wonder...
Everything You Need to Know About Social Security and Divorced Spousal Benefits
This article was originally published in “The Street” By Guest Blogger: Michelle Petrowski Buonincontri, CFP®, CDFA As Baby Boomers continue to have higher and increasing divorce rates than other age groups, divorce later in life can bring increased retirement risks - there is less time (a shorter investment horizon) and an opportunity to recover from losses. This creates more vulnerability to market fluctuations and retired spouses may also be confronted with unplanned liquidity needs...
ARIZONA’S PRESUMPTION OF EQUAL PARENTING TIME HURTS CHILDREN
Is Arizona's presumption of equal or near-equal parenting time in the best interests of children? We think not. Several years ago, revisions were made to certain Arizona Family Law statutes that guide the Court in making custody decisions involving children. These revisions have had a tremendous impact on how the Court determines custody, and in our opinion, it is not a positive one. The changes have resulted in Arizona now having what is essentially a legal presumption of equal...
A PRESUMPTION OF EQUAL PARENTING TIME HURTS CHILDREN
Is Arizona's presumption of equal or near-equal parenting time in the best interests of children? We think not. Several years ago, revisions were made to certain Arizona Family Law statutes that guide the Court in making custody decisions involving children. These revisions have had a tremendous impact on how the Court determines custody, and in our opinion, it is not a positive one. The changes have resulted in Arizona now having what is essentially a legal presumption of equal...
HOW TO SURVIVE THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN THE MIDST OF DIVORCE
The holiday season is supposed to be filled with joy, celebrations, and traditions. However, for those going through a divorce, it can be a dreaded time, filled with emotional pain, stress, and loneliness. And unfortunately, there is virtually no way to avoid being exposed to the constant ads, TV shows, billboards, and messages that highlight this “most wonderful time of the year,” making it all the more difficult. While going through a divorce during the holidays may, and likely will, be...
Ratings and Reviews
Client Reviews
Very honest
November 2009 I retained Mr. Frank almost two years to represent me in a visitation modification filed by my ex-husband. Mr. Frank quickly and efficiently became familiar with my case and was very honest about all the potential results that could occur. I truly feel that Mr. Frank had my children’s best interests in mind…
– Judy K