When it comes to their children, most parents in Arizona and elsewhere want what is best, especially if the child is sick or suffering. Family courts work under the same guidelines of seeking the best interests of the child. However, sometimes what the parent feels is best for the child may clash with the law. In those cases, a parent's child custody rights may be jeopardized.
Mental competency becomes an issue during a divorce
In the vast majority of cases, Arizona couples who wish to end their marriage go through a fairly predictable series of steps to reach that goal. In some cases, however, there are unusual factors that make obtaining a divorce a more difficult hurdle to clear. An example is found in the case of a man is unable to obtain a divorce from his wife, due to the fact that he has been deemed mentally incompetent. The issue is complex, because it balances an individual's right to direct the course of his or her own life against the need to have a legal guardian look after one's rights.
Woman not permitted to serve divorce papers via Facebook
When an individual initiates a court case in Arizona or any other state, one of the first steps is to serve the other party with a copy of the pertinent documents. Each state has its own set of rules when it comes to legal service, and those rules must be closely followed in order for the matter to proceed. When filing for divorce, the spouse who files must then serve the papers to the other party. Failure to do so can halt the proceedings, which can complicate matters for the spouse who is ready to move beyond the marriage.
Unusual fathers' rights case highlights child custody risks
A young man is taking his extremely personal and stressful custody battle and turning it into a message of hope for prospective fathers in Arizona and across the nation. The man is now a happy father of a 2-year-old little girl, but he had to fight long and hard to have the right to raise her. The child's mother placed her for adoption without the father's consent, and by the time he found out and began asserting his child custody rights, a prospective adoptive family had already initiated the adoption process.
Collaborative divorce can lead to lower legal bills
One of the most powerful decisions that any divorcing couple in Arizona can make is to work together to move through the end of their marriage. A collaborative divorce can have a number of benefits, including reduced stress, less contention and a speedier resolution. Another benefit can be lower legal bills, as compared to a traditionally litigated divorce.
Pediatricians can assist parents in child custody matters
The vast majority of Arizona parents love their children more than anything in the world. When a marriage ends, working through the details of child custody and visitation can be one of the most difficult challenges that a parent will ever face. Navigating those tricky waters can be hard, and parents should take advantage of every available resource in getting through that process. The family pediatrician is an often overlooked yet incredibly valuable source of information and support.
State's highest court asked to address child support matter
When Arizona parents go through divorce, the most common outcome is a situation in which shared children reside with one parent while the other receives visitation. In those circumstances, the non-custodial parent is often tasked with making child support payments to the parent with physical custody. Custodial parents rely upon that financial support to provide for the needs of their children. When child support goes unpaid or is unfairly calculated, the children at the center of the matter are the ones who will suffer.
