Phoenix Arizona Family Law Blog

Fathers in Arizona may be concerned about their rights when it comes time to seek custody of their children in family court. Over the years, many people have come to believe that fathers are likely to suffer from a bias that makes them more likely to have less time to spend with their children or be denied child custody altogether. Many of these beliefs come from historic approaches to custody, although these have changed over the years. Research backs up the idea that children benefit from having a strong relationship with both parents, and fathers who actively pursue custody are even more likely than mothers to successfully receive child custody.

In the past, women were far more apt to provide primary care to their children. Women were less likely to work in jobs outside the home except when absolutely necessary. At the same time, men generally were seen as having less of a role to play in child care except in terms of providing financial support. These types of gender stereotypes excluded women from the workplace and many areas of achievement at the same time that they functioned to keep fathers distant from their children. Mothers almost received custody by default except in circumstances where they were clearly unfit, and fathers were expected to provide support and have minimal visitation.

Every parent in Arizona wants their children to thrive. However, a divorce can really throw a wrench into the system. As the parents try to raise their children between two separate households, many issues could arise. Here are a few things parents can do to successfully raise their kids after a divorce.

Children of divorce often feel a conflict as far as their loyalty is concerned. That's why each parent should be fully supportive of the child's relationship with the other parent.

A divorce financial specialist may be a useful professional for some Arizona couples to work with during a divorce. In particular, people with complex assets or who are unfamiliar with the marital finances may benefit from their expertise. This can include experience with such topics as forensic accounting, business valuation and the tax implications and long-term financial effects of divorce settlements.

Knowledge of these divorce-related matters mean that a divorce financial specialist can complement the services of other financial professionals, such as a financial adviser. For example, a divorce financial specialist may be able to help a couple decide what to do with the shared home, often a focus of strong emotions and acrimony in a divorce. They may work with individuals or couples, or they might offer expert testimony if there are issues a couple cannot resolve.

One step for most parents getting a divorce in Arizona is working out a schedule for custody and visitation. If their child is an infant, there are some additional considerations to keep in mind.

Parents who are the main caregiver may hesitate to hand the child over to the other parent even for short visits. The custodial parent may worry that the other parent will not know what the child's cries mean or have the same instinctive sense of how to care for the child. However, the other parent is most likely capable of learning even if parenting styles are different. With an infant, the priority is for the noncustodial parent to have the opportunity to bond with the child, and as little as half an hour several times a week may be enough for this. Overnights can be stressful for the main caregiver, but many courts do not order them until the child is older anyway.