Legal Question in Family Law in Arizona

Ex-Husband Lied about income...what can I do?

Hello,

My ex-husband is a surgeon in Bullhead City, Arizona. We have been divorced for almost six years. We have three children...one natural and two adopted.

When he divorced me in 2001, we had three children under the ages of 18. He immediately remarried and has now started a new family with two new babies.

His child support order was only 200/child/month. Every time I asked him for an increase, he told me he only was making 40,000 a year b/c he could not get his practice going.

I have only just discovered that in the past four years, he has made over a million dollars and this past year his income was over 250,000.

I have applied for an increase in child support, but I only have one child under the age of 18 now.

Can I sue him for the past years? We have lived in near poverty since the divorce and all the while he was making a very comfortable living.

Just fyi, he hasn't seen his children in almost 4 years, despite my efforts to help him arrange a meeting.

Is there anything I can do?

Thank you for any information you can provide.

KS


Asked on 11/21/06, 12:52 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Rich Peters R. J. Peters & Assoc., P.C.

Re: Ex-Husband Lied about income...what can I do?

Typically, Arizona does NOT allow retroactive modifications of child support. However, if I am trying to be creative or aggressive, I would ask whether he ever explicitly misrepresented his income to you. If so, MAYBE there would be some claim.

I can explain the issues and procedures better by phone or in person. As you can imagine, there is too much to cover via e'mail. We offer free 1/2 hour consultations, in which we can discuss the matter in more detail.

Please call me directly to discuss the specifics of your case, or contact my assistant Alicia or my paralegal Jennifer to schedule a free 1/2 hour consultation.

/s/ Rich J. Peters, Attorney

--------------------------

R. J. PETERS & ASSOC., P.C.

1422 N. 2nd Street, Suite 100

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

602x254x7251

602x254x1229 (facsimile)

see our web page at www.familylawaz.com

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Answered on 11/22/06, 10:56 am
SHERRY RAGOLE RAGOLE & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Re: Ex-Husband Lied about income...what can I do?

Based on the facts that you describe, you do have legal options. The best opportunity to utilize them to the fullest exists in employing a family law attorney.

The above information is provided as a courtesy and does not establish nor imply the existence of an attorney-client relationship.

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Answered on 11/21/06, 1:07 pm


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