Legal Question in Family Law in Arizona

Re: husband

It is not clear from your request if you are married or not. FIRST, is the father�s name on the birth certificate? If you were married when the children were born, he is the father. If you were not married, you may have signed papers while at the hospital acknowledging he is the father. The Hospital Paternity Program through DES can still be used to voluntarily acknowledge paternity. Both parties sign & send to the state. Run at search at the DES web site http://www.de.state.az.us/. SECOND, if you are married and wish to get a divorce or separation, you can hire an attorney; check with Legal Aid to see if you qualify for FREE services to attend one of their Divorce Clinics where they help you fill out paperwork and explain what you need to do to go to court on your own; or if you don�t qualify, you can take action by filing with the court on your own. To find your local Legal Aid office, check the phone book or azlawhelp.org. Forms and directions are available from the Maricopa County Self Help Center via http://supreme.state.az.us/selfserv. Even if you are married and are not seeking a divorce, you can still request child support. THIRD, if you are not married, you can take similar steps of hiring an attorney, getting help through Legal Aid, or filing with the courts to get child support ordered.

A FREE service to assist in establishing paternity, getting a child support order, and enforcing a child support order is available through the Arizona Department of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE), a subdivision of DES. Their general site is http://www.de.state.az.us/dcse/default.asp. The Application for Services Form is available online at http://www.de.state.az.us/dcse/forms.asp and choose the APPLICATION FOR CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES. Keep in mind that it may be quicker to get the paternity and support order if you take action on your own. Also, the Child Support Office does not assist with custody or visitation issues.

At Arizona Supreme Court web site http://www.supreme.state.az.us/childsup/ you can read some information and then near the bottom select ARIZONA CHILD SUPPPORT GUIDELINES for good overview of how the monthly amount is determined. Then back to the site listed and select the blue button box CALCULATE SUPPORT. Another site with a general overview with FAQ for Child Support in Arizona is at

http://www.azlawhelp.org/articles_info.cfm?mc=1&sc=2&articleid=53.

GOOD LUCK

Re: husband

If you are married you must file a dissolution or legal separation petition. You can also file a motion for temporary orders to try and establish a need on a temporary and more expedited basis. If you need some assistance, feel free to contact my office.