The right legal representation can tremendously improve your chances of a positive outcome in your  divorce case. From separation to meditation, we can assist you with these case types:

The right legal representation can tremendously improve your chances of a positive outcome in your  divorce case. From separation to meditation, we can assist you.

Distribution of Property and Division of Debt

When it comes to dividing property, the process alone can seem daunting before even taking into account the various rules and regulations regarding property division. In Arizona, all property acquired during the marriage will be divided equally upon divorce. This is known as community property.

Property refers to possessions, real estate, income, and debts. Any property acquired before the marriage will not be included as community property. This can be very beneficial to parties seeking a divorce. However, parties often disagree about the worth of property and/or classification of property as “marital.”

The Phoenix divorce lawyers at Gillespie Shields and Taylor are experienced at navigating these disputes in the Arizona system and can guide you to a fair division of property.

How is a Business Divided in a Divorce?

Family owned businesses can complicate a divorce matter if it is not handled with care. Parties frequently disagree on what the business is worth and how much each party should receive. Business valuations are a tool often used to resolve this dispute.

When parties cannot agree, Judges can and will order parties to have a business valuation completed. However, business valuations are very expensive. Clients can lose money by paying more for the valuation than what the business is actually worth. Our attorneys understand that this step is not always necessary. We can help you explore better potential options.

Our team uses a process known as discovery to assign a numerical value to your assets, including 401ks, stocks, bonds, savings, and business investments. We can also uncover any hidden assets you may not be aware of. This way, we can create a fair and equitable agreement for you, and our Phoenix divorce lawyers will help keep the proceedings amicable.

Types of Divorce: Contested Vs. Uncontested Divorce

An uncontested divorce proceeding is generally when both parties agree to resolve their differences amicably. Even if you and your spouse have decided to part as friends, it is still in your best interest to hire an experienced divorce law firm.

Matters become significantly more complicated when members of a marriage cannot come to a mutual arrangement. When a divorce becomes contested, seek the help of a professional. In these cases, family law mediation or arbitration may be necessary to achieve the outcome you want.

The more assets you jointly share, the more complicated your court proceedings can get. Our team of divorce experts can help you secure the outcome you are looking for by advocating for you in every step of the process. Whenever possible, we work with opposing counsel to reach a civil agreement to save you the time, money and aggravation associated with taking a case to court.

How Does a Cheating Spouse Affect a Divorce and Spousal Support?

Spousal support guidelines factor in the income of both spouses, general quality of life before the divorce, length of the marriage, and a number of other factors. Generally speaking, the faithfulness of a spouse is not a factor in calculating alimony. It is strictly a math calculation involving the factors listed above. However, it is helpful to have the guidance of an experienced Phoenix spousal support attorney because parties frequently disagree or are unclear about what numbers to use for income and quality of life. These are important calculations that can affect your quality of life for years to come. Contact one of our attorneys today to help you receive a fair ad manageable settlement.

Prenuptial Agreements and Divorce

If you and your spouse signed a prenuptial agreement, it can be hard to decipher the “legalese” and know if anyone violated it. Let our team of Phoenix divorce lawyers read over your agreements and determine how a premarital arrangement will play a part in your divorce proceedings.

Legal Separation Versus Divorce in Phoenix, AZ

Legal separation is a situation in which a couple is still legally married but living apart with a court order dictating the situation. Legal separation may initially sound like a good option, but it almost never is. The rare instances where it would be recommended include religious or financial protection reasons. If you have concerns or questions about the differences between legal separation and divorce, please contact our office for a consultation. We are happy to meet with you and discuss which option is right for you and your family.

For example, the court will assume that both parties are able to work a full-time, minimum-wage job unless he or she meets very specific criteria. Child support is also calculated off of gross income, not net income. Courts will then combine both parties income calculations, determine a basic child support obligation based off of a statute, add in other expenses, and then prorate that number based on the amount of time each parent gets with the child.

It is important to seek experienced legal counsel for matters of spousal and child support to be sure you have effective representation and get the amount of support you need. Although modifications to decrees can be made after the fact, they can be difficult to secure unless there are significant changes that warrant the modification.

Divorce Mediation– Divorce ADR

Mediation/ADR is an opportunity to settle a case without going to trial. It is a flexible dispute resolution process in an attempt to come to a mutual agreement without involving the court. Most family law cases should be settled in mediation, but it is essential to have an attorney guide you. Our attorneys have seen far too many unfair, impracticable, and unmanageable resolutions in mediation because of poor representation. The attorneys at Gillespie Shields and Taylor are creative problem solvers and fierce advocates of fairness. We are committed to ensuring that your mediation establishes fair and sustainable results.

How much does a divorce cost?

The fees for your divorce include paying your attorney, their paralegal, the court, the law firm, and other experts helping to resolve your case (mediators, child custody evaluators, appraisers, etc.). Family law attorneys generally bill by the hour in six-minute increments. These attorneys and their paralegals constantly track the time spent on your case and then bill you accordingly. You may have additional firm expenses for copying and mailing documents. The court will also charge you certain fees for filing certain types of documents. Gillespie Shields and Taylor includes those court and firm fees in your bill from the attorney so that you only have to worry about one bill per month.

We understand that divorce attorneys are not what you want to be spending your income on. We strive to lower your fees and keep your divorce as simple, quick, and cost-effective as possible.

Mark Shields

Over nearly 30 years, Mark has developed a unique insight into the intricacies of family law. His approachability and honesty make him a key leader of our family law firm.

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Robert Newell

Robert has helped hundreds of families resolve their family law disputes, drawing from his extensive experience as a litigator to approach family law from a unique perspective.

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