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This website is designed to provide only general information pertaining to family law matters in the state of Arizona. Nothing contained herein constitutes legal advice, nor is it intended to offer legal advice. Any information provided in this website shall not constitute legal advice nor establish any type of attorney client relationship. Perry Law Firm, PLLC does not make any guarantee as to the accuracy or currency of any information contained herein or created through use of any link to another website contained in this website.
LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION and DOCUMENT PREPARATION SERVICES
Overview:
- Self-represented litigants are frequently unaware of the issues of procedures necessary to adequately represent their own interests. PERRY LAW FIRM PLLC never recommends that an individual attempt to negotiate or litigate a family court case without the assistance of an attorney. A large percentage of the work done by our firm involves revising, renegotiating, or re-litigating issues that were not properly handled in the first place by individuals representing themselves, or by individuals using the assistance of a paralegal or other document preparation service. Nonetheless, in some circumstances, individuals elect to or have no option other than to represent themselves in court (such an individual is referred to as a “pro per” or “pro se” litigant). Upon the commencement of a case, it is important to be aware of applicable deadlines and procedural requirements to ensure that your case proceeds smoothly and efficiently through the Court system. Although, in the state of Arizona, it is possible for a person to proceed pro per, that individual must follow the same rules and procedures as an attorney. That is, all documents lodged with the Court must be in proper form and must be timely filed. Furthermore, all Motions or agreements must conform to governing rules, statutes and guidelines
- Self-represented litigants often compromise their case or create future problems with inaccurately prepared or inappropriately filed documents. It is imperative to finalize your matter with tightly drafted documents to avoid possible future litigation to address loopholes, errors, or omissions contained therein. Even basic documents, if poorly drafted, can have far reaching and disastrous consequences and possibly result in substantial unanticipated time and expense. To assist individual in representing and preparing documents themselves, PERRY LAW FIRM PLLC has implemented a document preparation service to assist individuals in representing themselves in Arizona. Following an initial consultation, if you and the attorney determine that you can perform the legal tasks required to represent yourself, we can enter into an agreement whereby PERRY LAW FIRM PLLC will act in a limited role for the sole purpose of drafting (and, if desired, filing) your documents.
- Limiting the scope of legal representation is often more cost effective that full legal representation. “Limited scope representation” are terms that mean essentially the same thing and are often used interchangeably. Limiting the scope of legal representation is also sometimes referred to as “unbundling” a lawyer´s legal services. At PERRY LAW FIRM PLLC, limited scope representation is a relationship between you and the attorney in which it is agreed that the scope of service will be limited to only the defined tasks that you ask the attorney to perform. As such, you are aware of in advance and pay for only those specific documents you wish to have prepared. Although, the scope of legal representation is limited, by utilizing PERRY LAW FIRM PLLC to draft your documents, you will receive advice from a licensed attorney who is also allowed by law to answer your questions concerning your rights—a service that a paralegal and most document preparers are not able to provide.
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- The following is a sample of the issues and related documents we can prepare to assist you in your matter.
- Annulment Packages: An “Annulment” declares that the marriage was not legal and therefore never occurred. To obtain an Annulment in Arizona, legal grounds must exist. Legal grounds include, but are not limited to, that you or your spouse were still married to someone else at the time you were wed; that you or your spouse were underage and did not secure proper permission to get married; the marriage was not consummated (you and your spouse did not have sexual relations after the marriage was officiated); that you and your spouse are blood relatives; that you or your spouse married with the intent to defraud a person, business, or government agency; or you wed your spouse as a result of your spouse´s material misrepresentations or omissions concerning your spouse´s criminal record or mental history. As long as the appropriate legal grounds exist, the procedure for securing an Annulment is the same as that for obtaining a divorce.
- Petition for Annulment (With Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Regarding an Annulment
- Family Court Coversheet
- Confidential Sensitive Data Sheet
- Petition for Annulment of Marriage (With Minor Children)
- Summons
- Preliminary Injunction
- Order and Notice to Attend Parent Information Program
- Notice Regarding Creditors
- Notice of Right to Convert Health Insurance
- Petition for Annulment (Without Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Regarding an Annulment
- Family Court Coversheet
- Confidential Sensitive Data Sheet
- Petition for Annulment of Marriage (Without Minor Children)
- Summons
- Preliminary Injunction
- Notice Regarding Creditors
- Notice of Right to Convert Health Insurance
- Response to Petition for Annulment (With Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Regarding an Annulment
- Confidential Sensitive Data Sheet
- Response to Petition for Annulment (With Children)
- Response to Petition for Annulment (Without Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Regarding an Annulment
- Confidential Sensitive Data Sheet
- Response to Petition for Annulment (Without Children)
- Consent Decree of Annulment (With Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Instructions: How to Obtain an Annulment via Consent
- Consent Decree of Annulment (With Children)
- Consent Joint/Sole Custody Parenting Plan
- Property and Debt Settlement
- Child Support Order
- Order of Assignment
- Employer Information Form
- Judgment Data Sheet
- Consent Decree of Annulment (Without Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Instructions: How to Obtain an Annulment via Consent
- Consent Decree of Annulment (Without Children)
- Property and Debt Settlement
- Requesting the Entry of Default, includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Application for Entry of Default
- Affidavit for Entry of Default
- Default Screening Checklist
- Information: Requesting Your Default Hearing
- Default Decree of Annulment (With Children), includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information: Attending Your Default Hearing
- Default Decree of Annulment (With Children)
- Default Joint/Sole Custody Parenting Plan
- Property and Debt Judgment
- Child Support Order
- Order of Assignment
- Employer Information Form
- Judgment Data Sheet
- Default Decree of Annulment (Without Children), includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information: Attending Your Default Hearing
- Default Decree of Annulment (Without Children)
- Property and Debt Judgment
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- Dissolution of Marriage Packages: A Dissolution of Marriage is the formal legal name for a divorce in Arizona.
- Petition for Dissolution (With Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Regarding a Dissolution
- Family Court Coversheet
- Confidential Sensitive Data Sheet
- Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (With Minor Children)
- Summons
- Preliminary Injunction
- Order and Notice to Attend Parent Information Program
- Notice Regarding Creditors
- Notice of Right to Convert Health Insurance
- Petition for Dissolution (Without Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Regarding a Dissolution
- Family Court Coversheet
- Confidential Sensitive Data Sheet
- Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Without Minor Children)
- Summons
- Preliminary Injunction
- Notice Regarding Creditors
- Notice of Right to Convert Health Insurance
- Response to Petition for Dissolution (With Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Regarding a Dissolution
- Confidential Sensitive Data Sheet
- Response to Petition for Dissolution (With Children)
- Response to Petition for Dissolution (Without Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Regarding a Dissolution
- Confidential Sensitive Data Sheet
- Response to Petition for Dissolution (Without Children)
- Consent Decree of Dissolution (With Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Instructions: How to Obtain a Dissolution via Consent
- Consent Decree of Dissolution (With Children)
- Consent Joint/Sole Custody Parenting Plan
- Property and Debt Settlement
- Child Support Order
- Order of Assignment
- Employer Information Form
- Judgment Data Sheet
- Consent Decree of Dissolution (Without Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Instructions: How to Obtain a Dissolution via Consent
- Consent Decree of Dissolution (Without Children)
- Property and Debt Settlement
- Requesting Entry of Default includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Application for Entry of Default
- Affidavit for Entry of Default
- Default Screening Checklist
- Information: Requesting a Default Hearing
- Default Decree of Dissolution (With Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information: Attending Your Default Hearing
- Default Decree of Dissolution (With Children)
- Default Joint/Sole Custody Parenting Plan
- Property and Debt Judgment
- Child Support Order
- Order of Assignment
- Employer Information Form
- Judgment Data Sheet
- Default Decree of Dissolution (Without Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information: Attending Your Default Hearing
- Default Decree of Dissolution (Without Children)
- Property and Debt Judgment
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- Complaint for Paternity Package: A "Paternity" action is a Court proceeding used in Arizona to determine and establish a parental relationship between a father and a child. Paternity establishes parental rights (such as parenting time) and parental responsibilities (such as child support). Once paternity has been conclusively established (often via consent or through the use of DNA testing), the Court may make determinations regarding child custody, parenting time, and child support.
- Complaint for Paternity, Custody, Parenting Time, and Child Support includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information: How to Establish Paternity, Custody, Parenting Time, and Support
- Family Court Coversheet
- Confidential Sensitive Data Sheet
- Petition to Establish Paternity, Custody, Parenting Time, and Child Support
- Summons
- Order and Notice to Attend Parent Information Program
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- Service: The Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure require that certain documents be personally served upon the opposing party by a process server. In the alternative, the opposing party may voluntarily acknowledge receipt of these documents, and avoid the embarrassment often associated with formal service. If you do not know the opposing party´s whereabouts, you can effectuate service via publication under certain circumstances.
- Via Acceptance & Waiver includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information: How to Serve the Other Party by Acceptance of Service
- Letter to Opposing Party re: Acceptance of Court Papers
- Acceptance and Waiver of Service
- Notice of Filing Acceptance and Waiver of Service
- Via Personal Service (Certified Registered Process Server) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information: How to Serve the Other Party by Certified Registered Process Server
- Via Personal Service (Sheriff) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information: How to Serve the Other Party by Sheriff
- Letter to Sheriff re: Service of Documents
- Via Publication includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information: How to Serve the Other Party by Publication
- Motion for Alternative Service
- Order re: Motion for Alternative Service
- Letter to Newspaper Requesting Publication
- Affidavit Supporting Publication
- Via Mail includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information How to Serve by Mail or Delivery Service with Signature Confirmation
- Affidavit of Service With Signature Confirmation
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- Temporary Orders (Annulment, Divorce, and Paternity) Packages: “Temporary Orders” govern the parties throughout the duration of their family law proceedings. Temporary Orders will generally address temporary exclusive use and possession of the marital residence or the community vehicles, temporary payment of financial obligations, temporary custody, parenting time, child support, and spousal maintenance.
- Motion for Temporary Orders (With Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Instructions: Procedure for Filing the Motion and Court Papers for Temporary Orders
- Motion for Temporary Orders
- Family Court Department Notice About Returns/Conferences
- Family Court Department Notice About Temporary Orders
- Affidavit of Financial Information (Blank)
- Affidavit of Financial Information (Completed)
- Parenting Plan
- Parent´s Worksheet for Child Support Amount
- Order to Appear
- Motion for Temporary Orders (Without Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Instructions: Procedure for Filing the Motion and Court Papers for Temporary Orders
- Motion for Temporary Orders
- Family Court Department Notice About Returns/Conferences
- Family Court Department Notice About Temporary Orders
- Affidavit of Financial Information (Blank)
- Affidavit of Financial Information (Completed)
- Order to Appear
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- Discovery Package: Discovery is a process used in Arizona wherein one party requests and received documentation from the other party. Through the discovery process, a spouse is entitled (within limits) to learn about the other spouse´s case. The most common forms of Discovery are a request for Interrogatories, and a request for Production of Documents. "Interrogatories" are written questions that a party must answer in writing. A request for Production of Documents is a specific request that the opposing spouse produce certain documents that the requesting party believes will be beneficial to his or her case.
- Request for Discovery includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Concerning the Discovery Process
- Request for Uniform Interrogatories
- Request for Production of Documents and Things
- Blank Affidavit of Financial Information
- Letter to Opposing Party Enclosing Discovery Requests
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- Custody Evaluation Package: If the parties cannot agree on custody, the Court will make the final decision. When awarding custody in Arizona, the Court considers the physical and mental fitness of each parent. The Court also considers the roll that each parent plays in the child´s life, including the parent´s involvement with the child´s health matters, extra-curricular activities, religious matters, where and with whom the child his been living, and the interaction between parent and child. The Court may also seek advice from other relevant professionals. One such professional often utilized by the Court is a Custody Evaluator. The Custody Evaluator will assist the Court in making a determination as to what custody arrangement is in the best interests of the child.
- Motion for Custody Evaluation, includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Information Concerning a Custody Evaluation
- Motion for Custody Evaluation
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- Alternative Dispute Resolution Package: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is an alternative to litigation in Arizona. The most common form of ADR is a mediation. Mediation can be used in almost any type of family law case. During a mediation, the parties meet with a trained mediator who works toward assisting the parties in reaching an agreement. The mediator tries to facilitate an agreement, but does not force either party to agree. If it is not possible to reach an agreement, another form of resolution, such as a trial, can be used.
- Petition for Mediation includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Concerning Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Petition for Mediation (With Children)
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- Trial Packages: Although both parties may desire a divorce, if there is not an agreement on all issues, the matter is contested and a trial is necessary. Preparing for trial is an intense and time-consuming process. Our attorney never recommends that you proceed to trial without the assistance of an attorney. However, should you elect to do so; our pretrial documents will be helpful in presenting your best case to the Court.
- Request a Trial includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Concerning Trial Preparation
- Motion to Set and Certificate of Readiness
- Unilateral Pretrial Statement (With Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Concerning Trial Preparation
- Unilateral Pretrial Statement
- Unilateral Pretrial Statement (Without Children) includes:
- 15 Minute Consultation with an Attorney
- Helpful Information Concerning Trial Preparation
- Unilateral Pretrial Statement
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- Filing: All documents must be properly filed with the Court and Court mandated fees are paid at the time of the filing. Should you wish for us to do so, Perry Law Firm, PLLC will take care of transporting the documents to the Court and filing same, delivering copies to the relevant judges, and providing a conformed (filed) copy to you for your records. Our packages do not include payment of any court costs. You may visit the Clerk of the Superior Court´s website to view the most recent court fees at http://clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/fees.asp#Domestic.
Our goal is to offer an opportunity for you to gain the maximum possible assistance within a very limited scope of representation. Our limited scope service will ensure that your documents are prepared legibly, completely, and with greater accuracy. Additionally, your documents will be prepared based on a complete understanding of the law and court procedures in the state of Arizona. If you are interested and want to discuss our document preparation services further or want to set up an initial consultation, please feel free to call us at 480-491-5152 today or click here to send an email.
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