Arizona Family Law Attorneys; Estate Planning (Wills and Trusts) and Probate
Professional ◦ Effective ◦ Knowledgeable
Responsive service and effective representation since 1985.
Contact Gillespie, Shields & Associates, P.A., to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney regarding any of the following legal matters:
Family Law: The dissolution of a marriage is a time of stress and confusion. There can be financial concerns, property and business divisions to decide, child custody and support issues to determine. Sometimes, a client contacts the firm and some or all of those decisions have been made among the parties. At other times, negotiation, mediation and sometimes even litigation is necessary to protect.
Contested Divorce/Uncontested Divorce: At the law offices of Gillespie, Shields & Associates, P.A., in Phoenix and Mesa, our lawyers are dedicated to serving our clients involved in divorce proceedings, whether contested or uncontested. In an uncontested divorce, a married couple has decided to end the marriage, and has usually already decided how to equitably divide their personal and business property, and have come to agreement on custody and visitation issues. In these types of cases, the marital dissolution can usually be accomplished in an expedient, cost effective and mutually respectful manner. We can handle the paperwork and ensure that all your present and future rights are preserved. Other times, a divorce is contested — or ends on a negative note between the parties. Issues such as the best interests of the child(ren), financial support for the child(ren) or spouse, and the division of business property become contested because of emotional distress or physical abuse. When a divorce is contested, a settlement takes more time, effort and resources. Sometimes, settlement negotiations and/or meditation bring about a satisfactory outcome. Often in these types of circumstances, litigation becomes necessary. Our professionals and para-professionals are skilled and available to help you navigate this contentious route.
Child Custody: Determining the true best interests of the child(ren) can be an emotional and difficult decision. Our understanding lawyers work with our clients to deliver an effective and compelling argument with respect to custody issues. We take the time and make the effort to really listen to our clients and then advocate vigorously on their behalf.
Relocations: When one parent is planning to move out of state or perhaps even across the country, a family law court may expect to see a post-decree modification agreement that includes less frequent, but longer, visits with the non-custodial parent. An experienced and skilled attorney can make a tremendous difference when dealing with a relocation case. We help guide our clients through this process.
Child Support: A few of the factors in determining child support include the costs of day care, health insurance, the age of the child(ren), the visitation that each parent has with the child, and any special needs that a child may have requiring out-of-pocket expenses form either parent. We are familiar with the State's child support guidelines and work diligently to ensure that our clients' financial interests are safeguarded and the child(ren) are adequately supported.
Post Decree Modifications: Change happens. Our clients may suffer the loss of a job, a reduction in benefits or possibly remarry after divorce. Whether the change in your life is personal or financial, we can offer assistance in having your spousal maintenance (alimony), child support amount, visitation or custody modified.
Premarital & Postmarital Agreements: Premarital agreements or "prenups" are often considered by couples who are preparing to marry late in life, or when one of the engaged parties has children from a previous relationship, or has much greater assets than the other. The law governing said agreements is often misunderstood or ignored. We can help you take the steps necessary to protect your assets.
Grandparent Rights: In today's society, grandparents play an extremely important role in children's lives. At a time when children need more, not less, adult guidance and loving positive role models, the barriers that come between grandchildren and their grandparents seem unfair. There is legal protection for grandparents. The attorneys at Gillespie, Shields & Associates, P.A. understand the emotional distress grandparents feel when they lose touch with their grandchild(ren), and we are prepared to vigorously defend the rights of grandparents to maintain contact with the offspring of their adult children.
Adoption: The adoption of a child is a happy and special occasion. Our firm would love the opportunity to help you make a dream come true. If a child is not already a ward of the State, an issue that must be addressed in adoption is gaining the consent of the natural parent or severing parental rights. If severance of parental rights of the natural parent is needed, GSA can handle this complexity.
In Loco Parentis: Often, an individual develops an intense, bonding relationship with the child(ren) of a family member or close friend — so much so that the individual has literally stood in place of a parent. In a situation such as this, and where a parent is deceased, the legal parents are not married to each other or are pending a dissolution / legal separation, parental incarceration, or any time there are extreme concerns for a child's well being, clients have come to Gillespie, Shields & Associates for custody and/or visitation rights to be enforced under the statute. Our attorneys will work diligently toward that end while also ensuring the best interests of the child(ren) are met.
Military Divorce: Our Arizona military divorce lawyers are especially diligent in maintaining clear lines of communication with clients who are undergoing divorce while serving in the military and BAH are often at issue concerning child support obligations. Likewise, the fear of losing custody of your child(ren) when you return from a deployment or other TDY is often alleviated after seeking the advice of our attorneys. We are also experienced in areas of the law affected by the Service Member civil Relief Act and your divorce/post divorce matters.
Older Woman in Divorce: The loss of your life partner, however unsatisfactory the marriage was, is a major change. Spousal maintenance must be addressed in this instance. You need a lawyer you can trust to protect your rights and prevent assets from being hidden or important details neglected.
Property Division/Property Settlement Involving Business: Any business venture that came into formation during the marriage, or enhanced the value of marital property during the marriage, needs to be included as property division settlements are crafted. We work with reliable experts who can evaluate businesses to determine your rightful ownership and will help determine the appropriate settlement proceeds.
Spousal Maintenance or Support (Alimony): In considering the question of spousal maintenance (alimony), family law judges will take into account such factors as the length of the marriage, the ability of each spouse to earn a living, and the degree to which one spouse or the other sacrificed his or her career options for the sake of the wage earner. At Gillespie, Shields & Associates, we are familiar with the intricacies of the law on this subject.
Domestic Violence: The first priority when domestic violence has struck your family is to take steps to ensure that you and your child(ren) are as safe as possible. On the other hand, if you have been accused of domestic violence, you owe it to yourself to get the most ardent possible defense attorney on your side.
Juvenile Law: We are prepared to help you fight to regain custody of your children if they have been removed from your care in a dependency action. If you are a relative seeking guardianship status on behalf of a minor child in your family whom you believe is in need of protection, discuss your options with one of our experienced and proactive attorneys. If you believe that your family has been wrongly targeted by CPS agents, you need legal representation. Our attorneys are familiar with the juvenile laws and will be relentless in protecting your family in all stages of CPS involvement, including pre-dependency, post-dependency, and severance trials.
Paternity: Discuss what legal protections are available to you and your child, and how to establish or dispute paternity through DNA testing. If paternity is positively established, we can assist you in protecting your financial rights, obtaining visitation or custody, and ensuring that your child is adequately cared for.
Mediation: Disputes that are headed to the courtroom through litigation can be costly, time-consuming, stressful, and sometimes more contentious than is necessary. Mediation is a solution. The mediation process allows you to maintain ownership in the decision-making process, rather than leaving the verdict to a judge. Our attorneys will assist you in avoiding the animosity and stress of litigation by facilitating a mutually acceptable agreement. In mediation, one of our attorneys will act as a go-between for the parties, and help them come to their own terms for a peaceful resolution.
