Legal Representation For Contested And Uncontested Divorce

No two families have the same property, the same members or the same priorities. In the same way that no two families are the same, no two divorces are the same, either.

I am attorney Riisa Petersen Mandel, founder of the Petersen Law Firm, PLLC, in Tucson, Arizona. I have dedicated my law practice to providing the personalized attention my clients need. If you are going through a divorce, I will tailor my services and approach to meet your unique needs.

Protecting Your Financial Interests In Marital Property Division

Arizona is a community property state. This means that, with few exceptions, assets accumulated during your marriage will be divided equally with your spouse. This includes real estate, cars, businesses, stock investments, pensions, 401(k) accounts and other property. Even if you are the sole person on a title, your spouse may be entitled to half of the asset. Debt accumulated during your marriage may also be considered marital property, regardless of who incurred it.

Arizona judges can depart from a 50-50 division of assets and debt based on a principle of equity. For example, if one side has a higher earning potential, the court may award more marital debts to the party who has the greater ability to pay. For this reason, it’s important to have an attorney who will protect your financial interests.

Will I Receive/Have To Pay Alimony?

Arizona judges may award spousal maintenance or alimony when one side has a financial need and the other side has the ability to pay. Arizona’s spousal maintenance statute is very broad, which gives judges a great deal of discretion. The skill of your attorney can make a big difference in determining whether alimony should be awarded, how much it should be and how long it should continue.