Research has shown that low-income couples are less likely to marry and more likely to divorce than couples with more money. According to researchers at the University of California, money problems, drinking and drug use is the cause of this trend. However, researchers say that lower-income people value the institution of marriage as much as those with greater incomes. A study which was published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, suggests that efforts to strengthen marriages of lower-income people need to focus on the problems faced by these people instead of just promoting ..read more

Work with Our Phoenix Child Custody Attorney Child custody legally determines how each parent will care for their child after their marriage has ended. Because these terms influence each parent’s right to make key decisions and spend time with their children, it is a primary concern in most divorces and modifications. Steven N. Cole, LLC can help you seek a ruling that is optimized to meet your needs and the needs of your child. At our firm, we pride ourselves on providing the representation families need to maneuver a wide range of circumstances. Our counsel is backed by more than 2 ..read more

With the divorce rate hovering around the 50 percent mark in the United States, more couples are turning towards counseling to help cope with divorce. Divorce counseling also called divorce therapy, is a fairly new concept in the mental health field, and is a therapeutic process for those who are either contemplating divorce, going through a divorce or still suffering feelings of pain or humiliation from a divorce. A divorce counselor can assist in helping an individual grow personally and adjust to life during and after divorce. When you begin to think your marriage is heading in th ..read more

Throughout the State of Arizona and across the country, many men feel left out of their children’s lives. Whether they’re unmarried, divorced, or separated, fathers can commonly be pushed away from their kids because they don’t know their parental rights. This hurts both fathers and their children, not only in the quality of their relationship to one another, but also if parents disagree about important decisions such as healthcare and education. Even fathers with amicable relationships with their child’s mother should have a working understanding of how the law protects their rights, the opti ..read more

In disputes about child custody, parenting time, visitation rights, and legal decision making, mothers often wonder about their specific rights. Under Arizona law, it’s important to understand that parents are seen as legal equals, and judges cannot make determinations based on sex or gender of either the parents or the child.Still, that doesn’t mean that mothers are powerless in such disputes. Ultimately, Arizona law favors the best interests of the child, and mothers are well within their rights to present evidence and testimony to show their past history and future ability to provide care a ..read more

Getting a divorce is an emotional process, but you still have to be smart about the decisions you make along the way. At the Law Office of Steven Cole, we walk our clients through the steps they need to take in order to start separating their lives and setting boundaries with their ex-partner. These boundaries will give the judge a more clear picture of each individual’s finances and contributions when going through the court process. Minor Children One of the most emotional parts of any separation is preparing for the new parenting arrangement. You need to get informed about your state’s cust ..read more

When you decide to initiate a divorce it seems like such a big weight on your shoulders and you don’t know where to start. We always tell our client’s considering a divorce to start with getting together important documents and let us put the pieces of those documents together for you. At the Law Office of Steven N Cole, we are experienced in the divorce process and in this article we are going to walk you through documents you need to collect when initiating a divorce. 1. Agreements When you got married and throughout your time together you most likely had agreements you signed. This normally ..read more

Arizona law requires custodial and non-custodial parents to provide “reasonable support” for their minor children. This obligation is not something you can avoid. The Arizona Supreme Court has adopted a set of guidelines to calculate the amount of monthly support owed by each parent. However, the detailed explanation that is listed on the court’s website is confusing. To help you understand these issues, we have outlined some of the important points embedded in the Guidelines. We always recommend you seek legal counsel when arranging child support payments because it is not a straightforward p ..read more

Common Divorce Mistakes Going through a divorce is one of the most stressful things a person goes through in their life. It is both emotionally draining and creates financial uncertainty. How you play your cards in a divorce can drastically determine the judge’s decisions. The mistakes below are common mistakes our clients have made before hiring us. You don’t want to make mistakes in your divorce. That is why you need an experienced team to advise you through the process. Mistake #1 – Using the Divorce for Revenge The reason for your divorce may be a painful one. This may make it enticing to ..read more

Need help enforcing your court orders? For many parents, child support is necessary to care for their children after a divorce. When your ex-spouse fails to provide such support, you may be unable to adequately provide for your children. Our Phoenix child support attorney can advocate on your behalf to ensure that you receive the support you need after a divorce. When you work with Steven N. Cole, LLC, you can rest assured that your case is in the hands of a compassionate and understanding attorney. Our family lawyer is firmly committed to every client’s well-being, placing a sp ..read more