- Home
- »
- Blog
New 2022 Child Support Guidelines – Here Are The Important Changes
The 2022 Arizona Child Support Guidelines feature a lot of extremely important changes and updates from the 2018 Guidelines. While this explanation is by no means comprehensive, here is a brief overview of the changes that were made: What Are the Child Support Guidelines and How Do They Work? Arizona law requires custodial and non-custodial parents to provide “reasonable support” for their minor children. This obligation is not avoidable. This aspect of Arizona family law is...
New “Summary Consent Decree” Process in Family Court
Recently, the Maricopa County Superior Court introduced something called a Summary Consent Decree, a process that was designed for cases in which the parties have reached a full settlement before even filing anything with the court. This new system is great for divorcing couples who want things to be as quick, easy, and amicable as possible. The Summary Consent Decree is basically a “one-stop-shop.” It allows the parties to submit all documents jointly on the same day. The initial filing of...
What to Expect from a Legal Consultation at Our Office
When you come in for an initial conference at the Law Office of Gary J. Frank P.C., what you get is a comprehensive legal consultation with an experienced and caring attorney — not a sales pitch, like you may get from some lawyers. During your initial consultation, you will meet with one or more of our firm’s attorneys, Gary Frank, Hanna Amar, and Logan Matura. We’ll give you a solid understanding of your legal rights and how the court system works – and at the end of the meeting, we will give...
Loss of Parental Rights For Rapists Should Be A No-Brainer
A rapist who fathers a child through sexual assault should not be allowed to have any parental rights. That's a no-brainer. But then why has it taken so long for the Arizona legislature to address this issue? Rape is such a heinous act, but the fact is that there have been cases in other states where a man whose sexual assault resulted in the conception of a child petitioned the court and was later awarded parenting time with that child. Can you imagine a mother in this type of scenario being...
The Many Benefits of Virtual Court Hearings
When every court went virtual in March 2020, many attorneys and judges were skeptical. Nobody knew what to expect—this was completely unprecedented and not what anyone was used to. For many, it certainly took a bit of time to adjust. But now, many of those same attorneys and judges are realizing that there are some great advantages to holding hearings virtually. Here are just a few: IT REDUCES CONFLICT: Having court hearings virtually has really helped reduce conflict between parties,...
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...
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