Phoenix Arizona Family Law Blog

"Deadbeat parents" is a common term thrown around in the media for anyone unable to afford their child support payments. But the reality is that most parents that are unable to meet their child support payments are not doing so out of neglect or ill will. In many cases, low-income parents in Arizona and across the country are simply unable to afford the child support payments required by the court.

Unfortunately, it's a common occurrence for many custodial parents to not receive some or all of the child support that is due. According to the United States Census Bureau, only 45.3 percent of all custodial parents receive the full amount of child support due each month.

When parents in Arizona decide to get divorced, their children can get understandably upset. Children can be uncomfortable with drastic life changes, especially if these changes mean that they'll get to spend less time with the people they love the most. One of the better ways to ease children into this transition is for parents to set up a solid parenting schedule that accommodates the children's needs.

There are several things parents can do when establishing a parenting schedule in order to make things easier for the children. To begin with, parents should take into consideration any special needs the children might have that might impact their everyday lives. Accordingly, parents will be able to plan ahead and make sure the children are as comfortable with the arrangement as anyone could ask of them. Parents might benefit from asking the children what they want and involve them in the process of establishing the schedule, but this only works if the children are old enough to get involved in this tough conversation; otherwise, it is better for the parents to tackle this topic on their own.

Jeff Bezos and his wife had assets worth about $137 billion at the time that they announced their divorce. Therefore, their divorce is going to look different than the ones most Arizona residents might go through. The most important question that will need to be answered is how the couple will divide their joint assets. In Washington, they are divided 50/50, which means that each would walk away with about $65 billion.

That assumes that there was no agreement entered into before the divorce took place. However, reports indicate that there was no prenuptial agreement and that is not clear if any postnuptial agreement was created. While there were rumors that Jeff Bezos was having an affair before the divorce, it is unlikely that it would factor into the final divorce settlement. It is also unlikely that hidden assets are going to be a problem in this case either.

Couples who have children together but are splitting up may have to deal with the stresses of a child custody battle. In Arizona, this can be among the most trying parts of a divorce case. Even if the couple was never married, child custody and child support may have to be determined by a family court. Ideally, the parties involved will work together to develop a co-parenting plan that works for them and for the children.

Often, though, emotions are too strong, or the couple simply cannot come to an amicable resolution. Courts in nearly all states recognize that the father's role in raising a child is as significant as the mother's, but a lot of children still end up living primarily with their mothers. Regardless of the specific circumstances, parents can take steps to minimize the stresses of the custody process and make it easier on the kids.