About Dawna Argenbright
Dawna Argenbright is a family-law attorney at Cochise County Office of the Legal Advocate based in Arizona, Arizona. Family law in Arizona is governed by Title 25 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which covers divorce, legal decision-making (custody), parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, and orders of protection. For consultation, contact details are listed below.
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Education
- Law School: U of Arizona
Common questions about Family Law in Arizona
Answered by Arizona Attorney Search Network
Is mediation required in Arizona family-law cases?
In most counties, yes - particularly for legal decision-making and parenting time disputes. Maricopa County uses Conciliation Services under ARS § 25-381.09, and other counties have similar court-connected mediation. Property and support issues are typically not court-mandated to mediation but are often voluntarily mediated, since judges encourage settlement.
What is spousal maintenance in Arizona?
Arizona uses the term 'spousal maintenance' rather than 'alimony.' Under ARS § 25-319, the court considers the standard of living during the marriage, length of the marriage, age and health of both parties, ability to earn, contributions to the other spouse's career, and other factors. Awards may be temporary, rehabilitative (set duration), or - rarely - of indefinite duration.
How is child support calculated in Arizona?
Arizona uses the Income Shares Model under ARS § 25-320 and the Arizona Child Support Guidelines. Both parents' gross incomes, parenting time percentages, healthcare costs, and childcare costs feed a worksheet that produces a presumptive amount. The court can deviate from the presumed amount on specific factual findings, and orders can be modified for a substantial and continuing change of circumstances.