Child Custody

questions & answers

Question: If i got my divorce on grounds of physical abuse and had soul custody of my child can he go after custody 3 yrs later

Answer: Of course, your ex can ask the court to give him custody, but that does not mean the court will grant his request.  In family law, everything depends on the facts of the individual case.  Is your record clean?  Has your ex had regular and responsible contact with his child?  Has he failed to make reasonable attempts to stay in contact?  Is he paying child support?  All of these issues are relevant.  Sometimes, former spouses will make idle threats to create anxiety and anger.  But how likely is he to actually file the documents with the court and serve the papers on you?  If you believe he is serious, it is in your best interests to discuss the details of your case with a lawyer.  There are 3 programs in Arizona that you can use to get some inexpensive legal advice and guidance.  One is the Modest Means Program.  If you are financially qualified for the program, for a $75 fee, Modest Means offers a one hour consult with an experienced attorney.  If you need additional help and the attorney agrees to take your case, the fee charged will not exceed $75 per hour.  The telephone number is (866)637-5341.  Both the Maricopa and Pima County Bar Associations have lawyer referral programs that offer a 30 minute consult with an experienced attorney.  Maricopa County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute consult for a fee of $40.  The telephone number is (602) 257-4434.  Pima County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute consultation for a fee of $35.  The telephone number is (520) 623-4625. If you do  not have sufficient money to pay for a reduced fee consult, you can go elsewhere on this website and apply to see if you qualify for a free lawyer.  Go to http://www.azlawhelp.org/accesstojustice.cfm.