What is a Summary Consent Decree Process?
A Summary Consent Decree Process is for couples (with or without minor children) who agree on most issues and want to file for a Summary Consent Decree (the divorce). The package can be filed all at once and the court will sign the Decree after the required sixty (60) waiting period. You can be divorced in 60 days. (The old process required one spouse to sue the other spouse and submit documents at various times throughout the process).
Best Law Firm can help you with this process, even if you have issues that you and your spouse still need to resolve. We can meet with you, negotiate any issues and resolve them, answer all your legal questions, draft all the documents that you sign and then we can file the entire package with the court at once. Neither party has to file first and you don’t have to wait and send your documents piecemeal. We will submit them all at once and in sixty (60) days, the court will sign the decree and you will be divorced.
You you eligible for a Summary Consent Decree Process if:
1. Both spouses want the divorce
2.Both spouses want to settle the issues and sign the documents
3. Either spouse has lived in Arizona for 90 days before you file the form (or either spouse has been stationed in Arizona by the military for 90 days)
4. If you have minor children, they have lived in Arizona the prior six months.
5.You and your spouse believe the marriage is “irretrievably broken” (the buzz words used by the court to mean you do not think you can make the marriage work)
6. You can advise the court that you have tried to resolve the problems through a court process called “Conciliation Services” or you already know there is no point in trying that service.
7.You don’t have a “covenant marriage” (you would know if you did) and there are exceptions to that also.
Some people find this a bit daunting to do all by themselves without the advice of an attorney. It is not any different than retaining an attorney for a contentious divorce except you and your spouse walk in the door together expecting to do this as a team project. We can help you and your spouse by giving you legal advice specific to your family and give you some ideas for creative solutions. For instance, we can help with any of the concerns you have that might be listed here:
1. What do we do about a parenting time plan for the children?
2. How do we decide what schools the kids go to?
3. How does it work with our business?
4. Won’t I get taxed if we split our retirement?
5. What do we do with my inherited property?
6. My spouse has a second job, is that income for child support?
7. My spouse has been unfaithful, does that matter?
8. How do we decide who gets the house?
9. What if we both want the house or neither of us want the house?
10. Can we live together until we are divorced?
How We Can Help Your Family Find Peace of Mind
You might have a million other questions and we can answer them for you. We have helped hundreds of families just like yours to resolve issues so they can move forward with their lives. Our law firm has almost 75 years of legal experience. Hundreds of clients and families have shown us their trust over the years. Solving problems and helping families is one of the most rewarding aspects of our profession. I remember one of my earliest settlements where I helped a family. They were stuck on spousal maintenance. She was concerned about the next three years of income. He was upset about the total amount. We found a way for her to have more money in the first three years and he paid the same overall amount. They were both happy to get it resolved once we knew their major concerns. It was truly a win win.
I know that you have major concerns. Divorce isn’t easy and it can create a lot of anxiety. We can address your concerns and it is possible to negotiate a win win solution. Give us a call today and schedule your consultation to find out more about how we can help you and your family find peace of mind and look forward to the future. Call Best Law FIrm at 480-219-2433. We think you will be glad you did.
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We have helped thousands of clients successfully navigate their family law matter.
Schedule your consultation and meet with our team to create a customized game plan and move forward confidently.
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Family Law Success Stories
Best Law Firm has helped thousands of families during the past 18 years. We help families through negotiation, settlements, mediations and court litigation when necessary. The goal is to resolve issues with the least amount of money and stress and only use court litigation as a last resort. Every family we meet is important to us so we would like to share just a few of our success stories with you.
We represented an unmarried father and were able to reunite him with his 4 year old son after the mother secretly moved him to Florida.
We represented a mother and were able to require the father to undergo therapy before he could have any parenting time with his three daughters who he had been physically and emotionally abusing. We had a certified domestic violence expert testify in the case.
We represented an unmarried mother and were able to reunite her with her 2 year old daughter after the father took the child in secret without permission or a court order.
We represented a husband who had a large estate and the wife wanted assets greater than their prenuptial agreement allowed.
We represented a wife in a long term marriage to obtain the spousal maintenance that she was due.
We represented the husband whose wife violated their divorce decree's spousal maintenance agreement by living with her boyfriend.
We represented an unmarried mother and were able to obtain a large child support order from the father who was a professional athlete and it was upheld on appeal. (Murphy)
We represented an unmarried father and were able to fight abuse allegations filed against him and get a court order for 50-50 parenting time for his 2 children.
We represented an unmarried father and were able to defend him against false allegations and obtain a court order where he was named primary custodial parent of his 3 year old son.
We represented a mother who lived in Italy whose teenager was unlawfully kept in Arizona after summer visitation by the Father. It was ordered for the child to return to his mom in Italy.
We represented a father whose 2 children were taken to Kansas after their divorce was filed in Arizona and the court ordered them to be returned.
We represented a father who lived in Texas and fought for primary custody of his daughter who lived in Arizona. The daughter was able to move to Texas because of the mother's abuse and neglect.
We represented a Canadian mother whose husband attempted to get a divorce in Arizona where he could keep the kids. Mother had no long term visa and would have lost her children. Tali Collins was a "friend of the court" and was heard at a Canadian hearing on the same matter that had been filed in BC.
We were the mediators for a mother who wanted to keep the community house (and equity) and the father who wanted to keep his community retirement. We were able to craft an agreement where she received more spousal maintenance up front which the husband agreed to pay to keep the community retirement he had earned.
We represented two ER doctors and mediated their parenting agreement which was drafted to help each doctor have the maximum time with their son.
We represented a father who was a doctor and obtained sole custody of his two daughters after the mother had a worsening mental illness.
We represented a father whose former wife attempted to enforce an out of state child support arrears calculation that was incorrect. We also won the case on appeal. (Glover)
We represented a mother and successfully protected against potential kidnapping by the father to a non Hague country, the UAE. The parenting time order put in safety measures and supervisors to protect the daughters.
We represented a father from Japan to obtain a parenting time order for his young son.
We represented a father to severe the rights of the mother with their two daughters after the mother was imprisoned for criminal abuse against them.
We represented a father and were able to negotiate a parenting plan with joint legal decision making and a 50-50 parenting plan for his son.
We represented a divorced couple against the grandmother who wanted visitation time with their daughter against the parents' wishes.
We represented a married couple and negotiated visitation with a former mother in law, grandmother to their son/step son.
We represented grandparents and negotiated parenting time with a previously estranged father of their grandson.
What Our Clients Say
Our experienced team at Best Law Firm has helped thousands of clients. See what some of them have to say about working with us.
J.S
Divorce Mediation“Ms. Best resolved my spousal maintenance issue with my husband and his attorney in two hours. She accomplished what the lawyers could not do in 9 months of litigation. I am very grateful for her help.”
B.W.
Divorce With Children“We hired this law firm to represent our son in trying to get joint custody. They did a fabulous job keeping us informed as to their plan each week. I have to say I do not think my son would be enjoying his daughter right now with his 50/50 custody if it was not for this law firm.”
T.N.
Custody And Father's Rights“You are the Best, before I retained counsel, I was not able to see my children and did not know what rights a father had in Arizona. I now have joint legal and physical custody. Thank you for all that you have done for my family.”
R.C.
Divorce Mediation“Thank You! Thank you! Thank You! Thank you for getting my son what he deserves! Thank you for finally ending this 9 year chaos…I slept like a little baby last night! You are all GREAT!”
MM
Family LawI’ve used Best Law Firm twice now. Excellent communication skills, rapid responses, and they know EXACTLY what they are doing. They look out for you.like one of their own and do everything they can to keep your case cost effective. Highly recommend!
J.G.
Family Law“The service provided at ‘Best’ was beyond exceptional. The staff at ‘Best’ were professional, going above and beyond their normal duties to help me. I would sincerely recommend ‘Best’ for anyone looking for help with their families legal matters.”
B.H.
Family Law“I have worked with Best Law Firm on two issues in the past 12 months. Their service is exceptional and the quality of their attorneys is second to none! So, their name (Best) is truly appropriate! I would recommend their legal services to anyone!”
C.J.
Divorce With ChildrenThank you for the excellence in your craft and communication each and every step of the way, for the care, for helping me to be brave and strong in holding someone accountable for their wrongdoings, for helping my sons and me to receive the best possible scenario out of the worst situation of my life.
TM
Family Law“Alan was very professional and quick, he had our paperwork done the same day. When I called him to follow up I was able to speak with him then. Highly recommend Alan, he’s very easy to talk to, he’s very knowledgeable, and he means business.”
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Scottsdale, Arizona 85253
