Your Family Law Lawyer Since 1985
If you have a legal matter or problem I can offer you the best representation in Scottsdale and the Payson/Gila County area. I have a reputation for creative litigation approaches and achieving exceptional results where other lawyers fall short. I’ve been practicing law the way it should be practiced since 1985.
I was in the United States Navy from 1972-1976, serving three tours overseas. Subsequently, I managed several businesses for a large company overseas prior to attending law school. I have been a trial lawyer in Arizona for more than 37 years. I have successfully litigated several local and national high-profile matters. In addition to representing clients in the Superior Courts of Arizona, I have argued matters before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Arizona Court of Appeals and in the Federal Court for the District of Arizona.
For the past 19 years, I have been assisted by our paralegal, Johnna Henning. Johnna is one of the very few Advanced Certified Family Law paralegals who have been certified in Arizona.
Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements
A prenuptial or premarital agreement spells out what property is separately owned by each party and what each party would receive in a divorce. It can be tailored to your desires and your situation:
• It may simply say that the divorcing parties take away what they had prior to marriage.
• It may stipulate that one party keeps the house, the business, etc.
• It may provide for a percentage of assets or a set amount of monthly maintenance.
• There may be an escalator clause based on the length of the marriage, with the spouse "fully vested" after a certain period of years.
• There might be a "bad boy/bad girl" clause stipulating that infidelity reduces the ratio or cuts the spouse off from any assets or maintenance.
A post-nuptial (post-marital) agreement is essentially the same thing, except that it is entered at some point after the couple has been married. For example, if one spouse inherits a large sum or receives a substantial settlement from a lawsuit, he/she may want to preserve it.
There are many reasons to enter a marital agreement: to protect a professional practice or business, to keep family-owned assets in the family, to shield wealth from the spouse's creditors, and to segregate inheritances for children from the first marriage and any children from the second marriage.
I occasionally litigate pre- and post-marital agreements on both sides of a contested divorce, and this helps in drafting clear and ironclad agreements for my clients on the front end. To be enforced, a prenup or post-nup must provide complete financial disclosure and both parties must have adequate time to make a reasoned decision and review it with legal counsel.
Spousal Support
Spousal support, also known as spousal maintenance or alimony, is always in play in any divorce. The question is how much and for how long. The court will consider many factors, such as income disparity, need and ability to pay, accustomed standard of living, age and health, education and earning capacity.
There are different types of maintenance:
• Temporary support while a divorce is pending
• Rehabilitative maintenance, a short-term award to allow one spouse to go back to college or re-establish a career
• Restitutional maintenance, as when one spouse supported the other through medical school or establishing a business
• Lifetime maintenance, permanent alimony until the recipient's death or remarriage, typically awarded only in marriages of 20 years or longer
With more than 30 years of I capably argue in court for or against support. I also help clients understand the financial implications of spousal support and how to use it strategically in the bigger picture of dividing the community estate.
Child Support
Parents frequently argue about child support. When money is involved, tempers are easily riled. To focus on what is really important, we concentrate on a fair determination of each parent's resources for paying support.
Some of the information considered by the courts in child support decisions includes:
• Each parent's income and earning capabilities
• The ages of the children
• The parenting time/custody agreement
• Health care and child care expenses
There are factors that can influence the calculation of child support payments. After we review your finances and your child's needs, I can explain any factors that may provide an argument for increased or decreased support.
In high-asset divorce and custody cases, it is important to balance the reasonable needs of the child with the income of the parents. We can present evidence to support equitability in the amount paid or received.
I also handle enforcement/contempt and modification of child support orders as well as child support arrearage matters. You can rely on my experience and knowledge of family law and my ability to find creative resolutions for families.
Child Custody
When divorcing parents cannot agree about how to divide time with their children, or lose sight of the child's best interests, custody disputes can become very nasty and very expensive. It is important to work with an attorney who can fight for your rights and your goals while also providing perspective and practical solutions.
I am ready to help you create a custody agreement and parenting schedule which promotes the best interests of your children. I handle high-conflict matters involving children including:
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Parent Relocation
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Grandparents' Rights
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Third-party Custody
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Paternity
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International or Interstate Custody
Divorce & Separation Agreements
Let Joseph M. Huey, PLC be the solution for your Divorce & Separation Agreements needs. By combining a fundamental understanding of the big picture with the complexity of daily interactions and experiences, I provide proactive solutions to a diversity of clients. I am involved in some of the most innovative, sophisticated, and complex Divorce & Separation Agreements cases in Scottsdale and the Payson/Gila county area.
About Joseph M. Huey, PLC
Joseph M. Huey, PLC is a boutique law firm focusing on divorce and family law, complex property division, and high-conflict custody disputes. Serving Scottsdale, Greater Phoenix, the Payson area, and courts throughout Arizona.
I have more than 30 years of experience in civil litigation and family law litigation. I am equipped to cater to clients who want an extra level of experience and sophistication in protecting their property interests and parental rights.
I have earned a reputation for achieving excellent results for my clients through negotiation and mediation of family law conflicts, divorces involving complex property division, contested child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance litigation, international family law and post-decree conflicts.
I offer high quality representation in a divorce or custody dispute is more than just showing up in a courtroom. I work with clients to ensure that a joint strategy is developed and a proactive approach is taken, from the beginning of representation. I make a concerted effort to resolve even the most complex conflicts out of court to spare you the expense and uncertainty of a trial, but prepare from the outset as if the case will be argued before a judge.
I have represented clients in international divorce and custody issues, and clients with complex property division matters such as business owners or their spouses, and professional athletes or their spouses. We help mothers and fathers in contested custody, parenting time, child support and spousal support matters. I have a reputation for being thoroughly prepared and knowledgeable about the issues to be resolved and offers creative litigation approaches to achieve exceptional results. Most of our clients are referrals from previous clients. Because of our years of experience, we understand the complexity of family dynamics, interactions, and experiences. We work with clients to develop strategies to successfully achieve their goals.
We are committed to excellence in service and solutions - big firm results in a small firm setting.
We understand that confidentiality is an important concern for our clientele. We will arrange discreet meetings at a time and location that is convenient for you.
(480) 624-2776
Get in Touch
6945 E Sahuaro Dr Building B, Suite 125, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
(480) 624-2776