Family Law Attorney in Scottsdale Arizona | Smith Law Firm
Smith Law Firm has been providing legal services for family law cases in Scottsdale Arizona since 1984. Family law is traditionally defined in 8 separate categories.
Adoptions: In Arizona, adoptions are required to be approved through the legal court system. Married couples, single people, and gay or lesbian couples have an equal right / equal opportunity to adopt a child.
Child Custody and Visitation: This can be defined in separate categories. Physical custody law permits a parent to have a child with her/him. Visitation rights are granted by the court to a parent who has legal custody over the child, but does not have physical custody.
Child Support Child: Payments from one parent to another are designed to help provide the essentials for the child. These items include: food, shelter, clothing, health care, and educational expenses. Child support enforcement laws are enforced by the State and family law lawyers with the help of FPLS (Federal Parent Locator Service).
Divorce: This is the largest area of family law. Divorce can be defined in two types of cases, "Contested" and "Uncontested". Cases normally center around issues of property division, child custody, and spousal support. Divorce can also be declared by the court as "Fault" and "No-Fault" categories.
Guardianship: Guardianship lawyers arrange relationships that allow an adult to assume the role of a legal protector or guardian of an individual or "ward."
Paternity: Paternity lawyers help to decide who should be legally recognized as the father of a child. This usually constitutes a DNA test to confirm or conclude the parent is or is not the biological father/mother.
Separations: This is a alternative to divorce. The couple would remain married, but comes to a mutual agreement on how to live and divide the assets they own.
Spousal Support or Alimony: Commonly referred to as 'alimony'. This is the process of making regular payments from one spouse to another during and/or following the divorce or legal separation.