A new study shows divorce rates are high in Arizona. The American Community Survey and the Daily Beast, which conducted the study, found Arizona to have one of the highest Divorce rates in the country. According to the study, Arizona has a divorce rate between 10.98 and 12.63 per 1,000 people. Sierra Vista ranked second on the study’s list of cities with the highest divorce rates, second only to Panama City, Florida. With such high rates of divorce, it is important Arizona residents become aware of the various divorce legal issues and how an attorney can help them attempt to reach a favorable resolution.
As many people know, divorce proceedings bring a whole host of legal issues. Property division, alimony, child custody, child support, and visitation rights may all be hotly contested. When emotions run high, it may be helpful to seek help from a qualified family law attorney who can see the big picture from a clear point of view.
When one faces the end of a marriage, there are many ways the parties can reach a resolution. First, the parties can sit down and negotiate the various legal issues in an attempt to reach an agreement that is fair to both. An attorney can help valuate assets for property division, argue for or against alimony, and discuss arrangements regarding child custody, visitation, and each party’s parenting ability.
If negotiations fail, then the divorce may have to be litigated in front of a judge. If this happens, an attorney can vigorously fight for what his client deserves. This may mean challenging the other party’s ability to provide a stable home for their children, showing one party put her career on hold to take care of familial duties thus entitling her to alimony, and assessing the complexities revolving around property division.
In the end, a divorce is never fun. Yet, an attorney can help try to make the process smoother so his client can quickly get on with his or her new life, hopefully on firm financial footing.
Source: ABC 15 News, “Divorce rates high in Arizona, according to study,” Weslie Swift, Nov. 5, 2013