Phoenix Arizona Family Law Blog

Famous singer jailed for failing to pay child support

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law posted in child support on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

When parents decide to split up or end a marriage, they are still obligated to support and provide for their children who have not yet reached the age of majority. In Arizona, child support laws were established to ensure that the economic needs of children are met. Most often, the noncustodial parent is required to make child support payments each month to the custodial parent. Failure to pay or abide by these laws can mean harsh punishment that includes months of jail time.

Famous singer R. Kelly recently made headlines and for the wrong reasons. The singer was arrested and sent to jail for allegedly failing to pay thousands in child support. According to reports, Kelly owed over $161,000 in unpaid child support.

How to have a peaceful divorce

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law posted in divorce on Thursday, February 28, 2019.

Separating from a long-time partner can be a difficult situation to experience. Without the right mindset, a person can psychologically and emotionally spiral out of control during a divorce. Here a few things that can help make this transition smoother for those in Arizona and take some of the emotional pain out of divorce.

First and foremost, ensure that a divorce is actually needed. Divorce is final, so make sure that this is the only option. It can be extremely helpful to maintain a mutual level of respect with an ex-spouse. Understandably, this can be incredibly tough during this time. Although this can be challenging, maintaining a mutual respect will save time and unnecessary stress on all parties, especially children.

Advice for those seeking child custody

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law posted in child custody on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

When Arizona parents divorce, its very common for both parents to want primary custody of the children. Even the most minor disagreements can cause a vicious battle to erupt. Unfortunately, it is often the children who suffer the most from lengthy and vicious child custody battles. There are things that parents can do that may help them to win custody.

First and foremost, an understanding of family law is always beneficial in custody disputes. Custody laws vary by state, so parents should study and familiarize themselves with laws so they know what to expect. Collaboration with the other parent will show the court a willingness to work together as a family. Parents seeking custody should always do what is asked of them by the courts to show a level of commitment. Also, an in-home custody evaluation can very helpful, especially if it is suspected that an ex will attempt to portray a negative impression of home life.

Vacation planning as a newly single parent

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law on Wednesday, February 20, 2019.

Taking a vacation with your children isn't always easy, but when you are doing this for the first time as a single parent, you might find that it is even more challenging. If you have recently gone through a divorce, you have to find out what you can do about vacation with your children. Most of the time, the parenting plan will have specific travel and vacation guidelines about what is acceptable.

You should review the order to determine what you need to do. There might be notification requirements or geographical restrictions. If these are included in the order, make sure that you abide by them or you can face legal problems. There are some other ways that you can try to reduce the stress of the situation.

Failure to pay child support could mean harsh penalties

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law posted in child support on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

All parents have an obligation to support their children financially. These days, it often takes two incomes to make ends meet and provide necessities for the family. When parents separate, going from two incomes to one could lead to children suffering and lacking basic needs. Luckily, the state of Arizona has child support laws that require the noncustodial parent to give economic support to their children. All parents, even celebrities, must obey laws or face harsh punishment.

A child support dispute between television star Nicole Curtis and her ex, Shane Maguire, recently made headlines. According to reports, Maguire has failed to pay over $6,000 in child support and has been ordered to appear in court. The former couple, who have a 3-year-old son together, had previously reached an agreement on joint custody of their son.

Interesting study portrays the reasons for divorce

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law posted in divorce on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

In most stereotypical love stories, a couple falls in love, gets married and lives happily ever after. Marriage is often portrayed as a blissful eternal union of two soul mates. However, marriage takes work and can definitely be tough. Approximately half of all marriages in Arizona and across the country will end in divorce. An interesting study was recently conducted to determine the top reasons why most couples get divorced.

For the couples surveyed, about 13 percent cited their reasons for divorce as religious differences or no premarital education. Sometimes, couples can rush into a marriage. Premarital counseling can teach couples how to communicate and what to expect in their new lives together. Also, recent statistics indicate that couples in interfaith marriages are less happy than spouses who share the same religion.

Financial mistakes to avoid during divorce

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law posted in divorce on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

No couple gets married with the intention of someday ending the marriage. Nevertheless, some say the divorce rate in America stands at a whopping 50 percent, meaning half of all marriages will end in separation. It's no secret that ending any long-term relationship can be very tough and have drastic effects on a person. Divorce can also be extremely expensive. There are a few things Arizona residents need to avoid to prevent this experience from being even more costly.

Posting about a divorce on social media should always be avoided. Boasting about new-found freedom could complicate negotiations and proceedings. Neglecting to get the necessary financial paperwork together is another common mistake. Things like balances and account numbers for all financial accounts, amounts paid for assets, receipts and other financial records should always be retained.

Child custody: Preparation is key

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law posted in child custody on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

When parents separate, it is not uncommon for both parents to want sole custody of children, igniting a custody battle. Child custody hearings can be intimidating for parents and children alike. However, thorough preparation can increase parents' odds of winning a case. The following tips may be helpful for Arizona parents who are preparing for their first child custody hearing.

It's always helpful to have an idea of what to expect, so parents should know that custody cases are not heard before a jury. Instead, a judge will likely make an immediate decision. When requesting sole or primary custody, the better-parent standard will come into play, which means the judge needs to be convinced who is the better parent. To prepare for this, parents should find out what courts are looking for and display why they're the best caregiver.

4 tips for your finances during a divorce

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

One of the impacts that a divorce has on a person is financial. Divorce is an expensive prospect, not only because of the cost of the legal proceedings but because you are going to have to take on the expenses of an entire household on your own income.

Even if you are the one to move out of the marital home into a smaller place, you will still have to carry the financial burden on your own. Fortunately, there are ways to prepare for this during a divorce.

Steps for making divorce as painless as possible

On behalf of Reppucci & Roeder Attorneys at Law posted in divorce on Thursday, January 17, 2019.

In life, there are certain events that can bring about enormous change and be difficult to endure. Divorce is a life-changing event that can obviously be very emotional and stressful. For those in Arizona who decide to end a marriage, there are certain things that can be done to make this experience less stressful.

One of the hardest things to deal with when faced with a divorce is breaking the news to friends and family members. The best way to deliver tough news is to be upfront and honest. Loved ones may feel the need to ask questions, but do not feel the need to go into details about the situation. Brief and authentic responses are all that should be required.