A divorce attorney isn’t just for divorce, although that is of course one of our main functions. There is a wider scope of family law that we handle other than just divorces, though. Here are a few things a divorce attorney can help you with.

• Domestic abuse. If you’re a victim of domestic abuse, and your abuser is your spouse or if you have kids together, it’s important to get a divorce attorney involved as soon as possible. A lawyer can advice you on filing a police report, establishing a record of abuse, and seek legal actions to keep you safe as you separate from your spouse and/or co-parent.
• Child custody. Whether you and your co-parent were married, you will need to establish custody once you decide to separate. Establishing custody, a parenting plan, and child support are a complex process that benefits from experienced legal representation. A divorce attorney can guide you and represent you.
• Establishing paternity. If you were not married to your partner at the time of your child’s birth, you may need to establish paternity before you can even begin to seek shared custody or child support. Establishing paternity is sometimes very easy, but it can be a battle, so it’s good to have a lawyer on your side for this.
• Grandparent visitation. In certain situations, Arizona will grant grandchild visitation. For instance, if your grandchild’s parents weren’t married at the time of the birth, and still aren’t married, you may be able to petition the court for visitation. Likewise, if one of the parents is dead or has been missing for more than three months, or if they were divorced more than three months ago, you may be able to get court-ordered visitation to protect your rights to see your grandchild.
• Modifying child support or spousal support orders. If you or your ex have recently gone through a change in income, you may need to petition the court to change your child support or spousal support. Typically the court will only consider it if the change is more than 15 percent from what it was. A divorce attorney can help you make a case for modifying the support orders, and help establish your case if the other party is resistant.
• Renegotiating the parenting plan. Just as incomes sometimes change, justifying a change in support orders, sometimes something about your or your co-parent’s life may change, making the formerly established parenting plan no longer an option. Your original parenting plan should have something in it about how to go about changing the terms, but if you expect some friction, don’t hesitate to seek out a divorce attorney to ensure the situation is addressed fairly.

There are many family law situations where a divorce attorney is more necessary than you might expect. Whenever you’re in doubt, err on the side of seeking representation, as mistakes made during divorce and child custody proceedings can have lasting impacts on your and your children’s lives. To schedule a consultation for your case, contact Simon Law Group, PLLC, today.