Family Law

Family Law Attorney Phoenix, AZ

Parker & Lazzara represents people seeking to dissolve their marriage. We will help you through this often difficult process and make every effort to handle your case with as little aggravation and anxiety as possible, while at the same time protecting your interests in a fair resolution of any disputes. We provide our clients with an honest and unsparing evaluation of the merits of their claims. We make it a point to map out an appropriate strategy for each client and each claim, so that costs are kept within control. If your case involves one of the following areas, call us now to set up a consultation with an experienced lawyer.

Separation - We can help you deal with a separation from your spouse, even if divorce is not imminent.

Divorce – Our firm represents people seeking to dissolve their marriage. We will help you through this often difficult process and make every effort to handle your case with as little aggravation and anxiety as possible, while at the same time protecting your interests in a fair resolution of any disputes.

Spousal Maintenance – Arizona Revised Statute Section 25-319 sets forth the factors regarding whether a person is entitled to spousal maintenance, and if so, how long and how much. The statute does not provide a specific formula, but rather a list of general factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to the following. Whether a Party is entitled to Spousal Maintenance depends on:

• Whether a party can meet their reasonable needs through appropriate employment.
• Whether a party has other property to help them meet their reasonable needs.
• Whether a party is disabled and unable to work.
• Whether a party has young children and should be allowed to stay home or work part time.
• Whether one of the parties contributed to the educational or career opportunities of the other spouse.
• Whether the parties had a long marriage.
• Whether the requesting party is of an age which may preclude the possibility of obtaining adequate employment.

Amount and Duration of Spousal Maintenance Payments Depend Upon:

• The standard of living during marriage.
• How long the parties were married.
• The age, employment history, earning ability, physical and emotional condition of the parties.
• Whether the other party can pay spousal maintenance and still meet his or her own reasonable needs.
• Whether one of the parties makes more money or has more property than the other party.
• Whether one of the parties contributed toward the other spouse’s career opportunities.
• Whether one of the parties sacrificed his or her own income or career opportunities for the benefit of the other spouse.
• The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to obtain appropriate employment, and whether this is possible.
• Whether one of the parties wasted or hid community assets or property.

Parker & Lazzara will provide you with its opinions regarding spousal maintenance and whether it is an avenue that should be explored during the divorce process.

Modification - Circumstances may change after your divorce. These circumstances may merit a change in custody, child support, visitation, or alimony.

Paternity - We can help you get setup for DNA testing if there is initially a question of paternity, and of course see your case through depending on the results.

Child Support – Our family law practice includes handling child support matters as part of dissolution proceedings, paternity proceedings, and modification.

Custody and Visitation – Our family law practice includes handling parental custody and visitation matters within dissolution or paternity proceedings and post-decree modifications.

Domestic Violence - Representation whether you are the Petitioner or the Respondent.

As with our other areas of practice, we first explore the possibilities of settlement concerning any potential claim. In many instances, potentially expensive and time-consuming litigation can be quickly resolved through face-to-face negotiations with the parties and/or their attorneys, or through mediation/arbitration. Where litigation is unavoidable, we have extensive courtroom experience at the state level.