Frequently Asked Questions

  Family law is the area of civil law that governs legal relationships within families and domestic partnerships. In Arizona, it addresses issues related to marriage, children, finances, and family structure, primarily under Title 25 of the Arizona Revised Statutes and the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure.

Family law matters are typically handled in the Superior Court of each county.

Arizona family law commonly covers the following areas:

• Divorce     (legally called "dissolution of marriage") — ending a marriage, including decisions about property division, debt allocation, and whether      the divorce is contested or uncontested
• Legal Separation — a court-ordered separation while remaining legally married
• Child-related Matters — including:
  • Legal Decision-making  Authority (formerly called legal custody) — who has the right and responsibility to make major decisions about a child's education, health care, religion, and personal care
  • Parenting Time (formerly called visitation) — the schedule and arrangement for       each parent to spend time with the child
• Child  Support — financial support for a child's needs, calculated using Arizona's child support guidelines
• Spousal Maintenance (also known as alimony or spousal support) — financial support one spouse may pay to the other after divorce or legal separation
• Property and Division of Debt — Arizona is a community property state, meaning assets and debts acquired during marriage are generally divided equitably between spouses
• Paternity — (legal determination of parentage) — establishing or disestablishing legal      fatherhood, often tied to child support and decision-making rights
• Adoption — including stepparent adoptions, private adoptions, and foster care      adoptions
• Orders of Protection and domestic violence matters — when related to family relationships
• Modification and Enforcment — of existing court orders — changing or enforcing      parenting plans, support amounts, or other family court orders when      circumstances change
• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements — contracts made before or during marriage      regarding property and financial rights
• Annulment — in limited circumstances, declaring a marriage invalid from the beginning

Family law proceedings in Arizona focus heavily on the best interests of any minor children involved and aim to resolve matters fairly and efficiently, often encouraging mediation or alternative dispute resolution when possible.

If you are facing any of these issues, consulting with an experienced Arizona family law attorney is strongly recommended, as each case has unique facts and legal requirements.

The cost of your family law case depends on many factors. These factors include the type and complexity of the matter, the level of contention between the parties, the amount of time required for negotiation or court appearances, and any unexpected developments. It is not possible to provide an exact estimate without a detailed review of your specific situation.

At Dorris Law Group, family law matters typically require an initial retainer of five thousand dollars ($5,000) to seven thousand dollars ($7,000). The retainer fee is due at the time of signing the representation agreement unless otherwise agreed upon with the attorney. We do not offer payment plans for initial retainer fees.

The retainer is placed into a client trust account. As work is performed on your case, fees and costs are deducted from this trust account. Attorney and support staff time is billed at the applicable hourly rate, and additional expenses such as court filing fees, service fees, expert witness fees, or other costs may also be charged. If the balance in the trust account falls too low to cover anticipated future work and expenses, we will request that you replenish the trust account with an additional payment to continue representation.

For a more accurate discussion of potential costs in your case, we invite you contact our office to schedule a free consultation. Please note that no attorney can guarantee specific outcomes or total costs in family law cases due to their inherently variable nature.

 The duration of your family law matter depends on many factors. These factors include the type of case, the level of agreement or disagreement between the parties, the complexity of the issues involved, the court's schedule and caseload, and any unforeseen circumstances that may arise.

At Dorris Law Group, we cannot provide a specific timeline or guarantee a particular length of time for resolution. Family law matters vary widely in duration. Some cases resolve more quickly through cooperative methods such as settlement negotiations, mediation, or collaborative law processes. Other cases that involve significant disputes, extensive discovery, expert evaluations, contested hearings, or trial preparation may take a year or longer to reach final resolution.

Client participation plays an important role in the timeline and overall process. Your prompt responses to requests for information, documents, or decisions help prevent unnecessary delays. Active involvement in reviewing proposals, preparing for meetings or hearings, and communicating clearly with your attorney enables more efficient progress. When clients participate fully and consistently, it often supports faster resolution through settlement opportunities and reduces the risk of prolonged court involvement.

We make every effort to move your case forward efficiently, to explore opportunities for settlement or agreement at every appropriate stage, and to keep you informed of progress and expected next steps. However, much of the timeline is outside our control and depends on the actions of the other party, the court, any required third parties such as evaluators or mediators, and the path chosen for resolution.

For a more informed discussion of the likely timeline in your specific situation, including the potential benefits of settlement options, mediation, or other approaches to resolution, we invite you to contact our office to schedule a free consultation. Please note that no attorney can guarantee a specific resolution date or duration in family law cases due to their inherently variable and unpredictable nature.

 Yes, Dorris Law Group offers free consultations. Please contact our office at (520) 622-4866  to schedule your free consultation. We appreciate your interest in Dorris Law Group and look forward to the possibility of assisting you.