About Us

Phoenix Law Firm for Family Law Matters

Family law matters can become heated. When they get divorce, parents may have disputes related to their child or how to distribute their property. However, lives are not static over a period of years: in some cases, orders made during a divorce require modification down the road due to a change in circumstances. If you need a dedicated Phoenix family law attorney, you should discuss your situation with Angela Duhon. We represent clients in connection with divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, adult guardianship, and paternity.

About Us

Angela Duhon worked as a Special Advocate in the Arizona Supreme Court for three years prior to becoming an attorney with her own practice. She received a Bachelor of Applied Science from Arizona State University and her Juris Doctor from Arizona Summit Law School. Ms. Duhon is committed to providing compassionate and tenacious legal representation and counsel in family law matters. Understanding that determinations made during divorce or a child’s early years, or an adult’s incapacitation can shape not only the rest of their lives, but also the well-being of their families, she is responsive to inquiries and works hard to give her clients the best possible chance for a good outcome for themselves and their families.

Divorce

Arizona allows no-fault divorces. This means our lawyer won’t need to prove your spouse was unfaithful or abusive to obtain dissolution of your marriage. However, there are certain residency requirements that must be met when petitioning for divorce or responding to a divorce petition within the state, as well as numerous procedural requirements. Some divorcing couples agree about everything, but often divorces involve one or more controversies. While spouses may be able to nail down a settlement agreement through mediation or negotiations, it may be necessary to go to trial on issues that can’t be settled.

Child Custody and Parenting Time

Child custody and parenting time are interrelated. Generally, custody has two parts: physical custody and legal decision making, also known as legal custody in other states. During a divorce or afterward, the court may make orders about parenting time, or the amount of time each parent is with the child. Legal decision making and parenting time are determined according to a child’s best interests. Parents cannot agree to a child’s best interests in a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement; the court will not enforce this aspect of those agreements. Rather, the court will look at various factors to make findings and determine what would serve the child’s best interests. When old enough, a child’s own intelligent preferences will be considered as part of the analysis.

Child Support and Paternity

Paternity must be presumed or established to ensure a child receives proper child support from the biological father. Different procedures can be used to determine paternity including acknowledgement of paternity or paternity suits. In some cases, a mother seeks to establish paternity because she needs the father to pay for basic care needs of the child. However, there are also situations in which a father feels certain a child is not his and wishes to fight the mother’s claims. In either situation, it is crucial to seek knowledgeable legal counsel. While child support is typically awarded according to Guidelines, certain criteria can be used to obtain a deviation as appropriate.

Adult Guardianship

There are situations in which it is appropriate to ask for or defend against a petition for guardianship. Guardianship may be limited, as when an elderly adult can make certain types of daily decisions but is vulnerable to economic exploitation or physical abuse. However, it can also be general and cover all aspects of an incapacitated adult’s life. It is important to work with a lawyer who understands the toll that may be taken on family members’ lives when caring for an incapacitated adult and who works hard to make sure appropriate legal steps are taken to obtain a good outcome.

Retain a Phoenix Family Law Firm

Ms. Duhon provides caring, tenacious, and professional service for those getting divorced or concerned about child custody and child support. She also represents clients in guardianship hearings. Whether you’re filing for or responding to an Arizona divorce petition, you should discuss the circumstances with our dedicated family law attorney. Call Ms. Duhon at (602) 699-4949 or via our online form.