How Do I Change Custody or Support Orders in Arizona
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Transcript of How Do I Change Custody or Support Orders in Arizona
HOW DO I CHANGE CUSTODY OR
SUPPORT ORDERS
IN ARIZONA?
“Child custody and child support are related issues in
Arizona. The amount of child support that you will need to pay is based on your income and based on the number of
children that you share with your ex.”
How Do I Change Custody or Support Orders in Scottsdale? www.singerpistiner.com 2
Child custody and
child support are
related issues in
Arizona. The amount
of child support that
you will need to pay is
based on your income
and based on the
number of children
that you share with
your ex. It is also
based on whether you
have shared parenting
time with your children
or whether the
children live only with
one parent and visit
with the other.
Parents should come together to create a custody arrangement based on what is
best for their kids. When the parenting plan is in place, the standard state formula
can be used to determine the right amount of child support. If the child has
special needs or the family otherwise has unique circumstances, the amount of
support can deviate from the standard in order to best provide for the child. If
parents are not able to come to a joint decision on a parenting plan, the judge
can step in and make the choice about how a child’s time should be split. The
judge will consider what is in the best interests of the child.
How Do I Change Custody or Support Orders in Scottsdale? www.singerpistiner.com 3
When a decision is made on custody and support, the judge will issue a court
order and both parents must abide by the rules. If you need to change custody or
support orders in Scottsdale, you will need to go through the formal legal process
of doing so in order to have the court modify the existing legal arrangement. An
experienced attorney can provide you with assistance in getting your custody and
support orders modified.
HOW DO YOU CHANGE CUSTODY OR SUPPORT ORDERS IN
SCOTTSDALE?
In order to make a change to a custody or support order, you need to petition the
court and make the request for modification. An attorney can help you to file the
appropriate
paperwork asking
the court to change
the existing custody
and support orders.
If both parents
agree that the
change in custody
should be made, it
is not difficult to
change custody or support orders in Scottsdale. With both parents requesting a
modification, a judge is almost always going to grant it and allow the new custody
or support arrangement to take effect.
How Do I Change Custody or Support Orders in Scottsdale? www.singerpistiner.com 4
If there is not consensus, however, then it becomes much more complicated to
change custody or support orders in Scottsdale. You will need to file your
petition with the court requesting the modification. The other parent will be served
and given time to answer the petition and your case will then move forward in the
family court system.
You may be encouraged to consider mediation to work out an appropriate
parenting plan and to make the requested modifications. Mediation or other
types of alternative
dispute resolution
can empower you to
make the decisions
that make sense for
your family.
If you cannot agree,
then you need to
convince the family
court judge assigned
to your case to make the desired changes to your current arrangement regarding
custody and support. The courts do not just change custody agreements, but
must have a valid and compelling reason to do so.
Typically, a court will want at least two years to pass in between a custody order
being entered and a modification occurring. However, there are times when your
need to modify an existing custody agreement cannot wait. If this happens, you
will need to show that there was been a material change in circumstances.
How Do I Change Custody or Support Orders in Scottsdale? www.singerpistiner.com 5
A material change in circumstances refers to the fact that something is so
different now as compared with when you first created the parenting time plan
that the old plan no longer makes sense. An example of a material change in
circumstances includes:
• One parent becoming more, or less, fit to provide a stable, supportive,
appropriate home environment for the child.
• One parent becoming addicted to or abusing alcohol, drugs, or any controlled
substances.
• One parent behaving neglectfully or
abusively towards a child.
• A parent seeking to move to a distant
location, like out of the state or out of
the country.
These are just some of the many
examples of situations were the court
may determine a material change in
circumstances justifies a modification of
a court agreement. To learn more about
how to change custody or support
orders in Scottsdale, contact an
experienced attorney today. Your
lawyer can help you to determine if you
have a case for modifying your support
order and, if so, can provide you with assistance filing paperwork and making a
strong argument for your position in court.
How Do I Change Custody or Support Orders in Scottsdale? www.singerpistiner.com 6
About Singer Pistiner, P.C.
In the midst of a family crisis, you may feel like you have nowhere to turn. But there is a solution. At Singer Pistiner, P.C., we will help you to find it. As a small firm, we are able to respond quickly to your needs and concerns. The efficiencies of being a small firm also enable us to provide high-quality legal services at affordable rates.
At Singer Pistiner, P.C., in Phoenix, Arizona, we know that divorce is an emotionally and financially taxing experience. That’s why we provide you with a simple, quick and personalized approach to family law services where you will deal with one attorney who will handle your case from start to finish.
Your Personal Attorneys
Throughout the legal process, our lawyers will keep you informed of important developments. We will return your phone calls, answer your questions and address any additional issues that may arise in the course of your case.
We will devote all of the time and effort needed to achieve the best possible outcome. Our law firm can take your case to family court, which is a part of the Superior Court of Arizona, or handle it through another avenue of resolution, such as mediation. In addition to divorce, our lawyers handle paternity, prenuptial agreements,grandparents’ rights, orders of protection, child relocation, and modification and enforcement issues.
In any family law case, your best interests are our overriding concern. Our goal is to find the right solution for you — in an efficient, timely and affordable manner.
OUR FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS PROUDLY SERVE PHOENIX, GLENDALE, SURPRISE, SCOTTSDALE, TEMPE, CHANDLER AND MESA
If you’d like to know more about how our Phoenix family law firm handles divorce and other family issues, please feel free to call 602-264-0110 or send us an e-mail to schedule a free initial consultation.
Singer Pistiner, P.C. 15849 N. 71st St., Suite 100
Scottsdale AZ 85254 Phone: 602-264-0110
Fax: 602-264-0440 Website: www.singerpistiner.com