Law Office Of Michael A. Johnson Tucson Family Law Lawyer | Pima County Divorce Attorney | Oro Valley Divorce Mediation Lawyer2026-10-22T12:57:17Zhttps://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1401711/2021/02/cropped-Favicon-new-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[Divorce when you own a business together]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489982026-10-22T12:57:17Z2026-10-22T12:57:17ZThere are many things that can complicate a divorce process. One example is when a couple owns a business together, often when they are both involved in running that business on a day-to-day basis. It could be a restaurant, for example, where one person is in charge of the menu and does all of the cooking, while the other hires staff and manages financial responsibilities.
Because they are joint business owners, the company is an asset that has to be addressed during their divorce. One thing to note is that they certainly can just keep running the business together after the marriage ends. Some people find this possible if they get divorced on good terms. But for couples who cannot imagine working together after divorce, what options do they have?
Selling the business
The first and often easiest option is just to sell that business. The couple has a valuation done, finds a buyer, completes the transaction and splits up any money that they made in the sale. They pay off any remaining financial obligations and go their separate ways.
Buying out the other half
Another option, if one person wants to become the sole business owner, is to buy out the half of the business owned by their former spouse. Their spouse gets the money they deserve in property division, but they get to keep the company. The main hurdle to this tactic is whether or not they can come up with the cash or other marital assets to equal the value of half of the company.This helps to outline the three main options that people use when getting a divorce as business owners. The process can be complicated, and it is important for them to understand their legal options.
]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[How military divorce works in Arizona]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489962026-10-15T15:40:27Z2026-10-15T15:40:27ZEstablishing jurisdiction and residency requirements
An Arizona court must have legal authority over your case before a judge can grant a divorce. Military families must meet basic residence rules before filing:
Most spouses file their petition in the Superior Court of the county where they live
Active duty service members stationed at local bases count as residents after 90 days of continuous physical presence
A court can take the case as long as one spouse meets the 90-day residency or stationing rule
Satisfaction of these residency rules allows Pima County courts to decide property division and child custody matters.
Protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Active military duty can make it hard to respond to court papers on time. Federal law gives service members protections so a court does not rule against them automatically:
Service members can get an initial court pause of at least 90 days if military duties stop them from going to court.
Your request must include a note from a commanding officer showing that military leave is not allowed.
Judges can lengthen this court delay if active service continues to block your participation.
These federal rules make sure service members get enough time to take part in their court case.
Division of military retirement pay and benefits
Arizona law treats military retirement pay as shared marital property. A federal law called the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act sets the payment rules for military pensions:
Direct payments from the military pay center require at least 10 years of marriage during 10 years of retirement-eligible service.
State judges can still divide a pension even if your marriage lasted fewer than 10 years.
Spouses who do not meet the 10-year rule get their ordered pension share straight from the retiree.
A clear and proper valuation of retirement assets helps ensure a fair distribution under state law.
Parenting time plans during military deployment
Military orders can change family schedules without much warning. Arizona family courts use formal court orders to handle temporary duty assignments:
A judge can temporarily transfer a deploying parent's time to a close relative if it serves the child's best interests.
Temporary parenting orders end automatically when the deployment finishes.
A deployment order by itself cannot be the main reason to change a permanent custody plan.
Setting up temporary court orders before you deploy protects your parental rights and keeps things stable for your children.
Guidance for military family legal matters
Military divorces combine state family laws with special federal rules that require careful preparation. Talk with an Arizona family law attorney so you can understand how these statutes affect your property rights and your children.
]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[Are empty nest divorces easier than those that involve children?]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489942026-10-09T22:42:36Z2026-10-09T22:42:36Zbecoming empty nesters. In other cases, the parents may not have realized they had major problems with their own relationship until some of the distractions of parenting were removed.
From a child custody perspective, this type of divorce can be easier. It is still going to have an effect on the children emotionally, but parents do not have to worry about things like creating a physical child custody schedule and making exchanges. They do not have to spend time figuring out who has legal custody rights to make medical decisions or financial decisions on the children’s behalf. Their children are adults who have moved out of the home, so the parents can just focus on themselves.
Conflicts still occur
That said, do not assume that an empty nest divorce will be easy or free from conflict. It certainly can still happen.
Often, property division becomes a major issue. Parents who have raised their children have been together for decades. They may jointly own almost everything in their lives, from the family home to their vehicles to their retirement accounts.
Because they have such complicated assets, dividing them may be far harder than it would have been when they were just a young married couple with much less to their name. Also, parents at this age are often approaching retirement, so they have to consider how to retain the assets they need to retire on their predicted schedule. To address all of these complications and more, it helps to work with an experienced divorce attorney.
]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[Can your work-life balance affect your divorce odds?]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489912026-09-25T17:27:59Z2026-09-25T17:27:59ZYes, a lack of work-life balance can certainly affect the odds that a couple gets divorced. Careers and personal lives are often closely intertwined, and one can affect the other.
For example, when researchers from the University of North Carolina studied this, they found that divorce rates were 40% higher when one spouse qualified as a “workaholic.” This simply meant that the person worked more than necessary, perhaps putting in extensive overtime or working on the weekends. When neither spouse overworked, divorce rates were markedly lower.In some cases, the issue is just conflicting priorities. One spouse may feel that they are taking on all of the household obligations regarding the children, for example, while their partner is always at work. Even if they don’t have children, the couple just spends less time with each other.
A long commute
Similarly, studies have looked at couples who get divorced when one person has a long commute. The odds of divorce are 40% higher if that commute is over 45 minutes.Again, it is just an issue of couples not spending as much time together. Whether one spouse is spending all of their free time on the road, driving to and from work or actually putting in overtime hours at the office, they do not have as much time for their partner. This can cause strain in their marital relationship, increasing the odds that they will get a divorce.Work-life balance is just one factor that can affect divorce rates. If you believe that you and your partner are moving toward a divorce this year, be sure you know exactly what legal steps to take.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[Co-parenting: The key C’s]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489882026-09-16T16:42:07Z2026-09-16T16:42:07ZSuccessful co-parenting rarely happens by accident. Raising children across two households requires ongoing effort, especially when parents are still processing the end of their relationship.
Remembering several “key C’s” related to co-parenting with an ex can provide a useful framework for creating a healthier and more manageable dynamic.
The vocabulary of effective co-parenting
Cooperation comes first. You and your former partner do not need to be friends, but your children can benefit when you can work together on important matters. Cooperating may mean accommodating an occasional schedule change or sharing information without creating unnecessary obstacles.Communication is also important. Keep messages clear, respectful and focused on the children. A co-parenting app, email or another structured method may help when direct conversations frequently become tense.Consistency can give children stability. Household rules do not have to be identical, but maintaining similar expectations concerning school attendance, medication, bedtime and major behavioral issues can reduce confusion.Creativity helps when ordinary parenting schedules do not fit real life. Unusual work hours, children's activities, long-distance parenting or changing school demands may require customized solutions. A parenting plan should serve your family rather than force it into an arrangement that looks good only on paper.Calm can prevent minor disagreements from becoming major conflicts. Before responding to an upsetting message, consider whether an immediate response is necessary. A brief, businesslike reply may accomplish more than an emotional argument.Coping matters too. Divorce and co-parenting can be stressful. Healthy outlets such as exercise, counseling, hobbies and supportive friendships can help parents manage difficult emotions without placing that burden on their children.Finally, there is compromise. Neither parent will get everything they want. Being willing to give ground on less important matters can preserve energy for decisions that truly affect your child's well-being.These principles cannot eliminate every disagreement, particularly in high-conflict situations. However, they can help parents create a more functional relationship after separation. A skilled legal team can help to translate cooperation, communication, consistency, creativity, calm, coping and compromise into practical parenting provisions that can benefit your entire family as it evolves. ]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[Can unpaid child support lead to license suspension in Arizona?]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489862026-09-16T07:24:47Z2026-09-16T07:24:47ZFalling behind on child support can affect more than the amount you owe. In Arizona, unpaid support can lead to actions that affect your driver’s license or other licenses. For someone who needs to drive to work, losing a license can create another problem while trying to catch up on payments.
When can Arizona suspend a license?
Arizona law permits the Arizona Department of Economic Security, through its child support enforcement program, to begin a license-enforcement process when a parent falls substantially behind on court-ordered support. For a driver or recreational license, the matter may go to court after required notice.For a driver’s or recreational license, the law generally requires six months or more of unpaid court-ordered support, proper notice and a court finding that the parent deliberately failed to make the required payments. Reaching six months of unpaid support does not, by itself, result in an automatic suspension.Professional and occupational licenses follow a different process. The notice should explain the alleged noncompliance and the available ways to respond. Depending on the license, the process may involve a court proceeding or an administrative hearing. For professional and occupational licenses, a person generally has 14 days after the determination of noncompliance to request an administrative hearing.
What happens after a suspension?
A suspension can affect your ability to drive legally and may make getting to work or school harder. Depending on your license and case, several options or requirements may apply:
Payment plans: An approved or court-ordered plan may help address unpaid support.
Court review: You may seek a review hearing after complying with the support order or a court-ordered arrears plan.
Certificate of compliance: A court may issue this certificate after finding that you complied with the order or payment plan.
Reinstatement: You may apply for reinstatement and pay applicable fees after receiving the certificate.
Limited driving: A court may restrict a noncommercial driver’s license instead of fully suspending it when specific legal conditions apply.
A limited license is not available simply because losing your license creates a hardship. Conditions can include working at least 30 hours each week, having qualifying work or school more than one mile from home and entering a DES payment plan for the arrears.Legal assistance can help you review the support order, arrears and enforcement process to determine which options may apply to your case.
Keeping your license in motion
Unpaid child support can lead to consequences beyond a growing balance. Knowing how Arizona handles license enforcement can help you recognize what may happen when payments fall behind.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[False domestic violence allegations can impact family law cases]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489842026-08-30T18:49:45Z2026-08-30T18:49:45ZHow courts evaluate evidence
In a divorce or child-related matter, courts in Arizona review all available information to determine whether domestic violence occurred. Judges consider the nature of the allegation, the timing of the report and whether the evidence aligns with statutory definitions of domestic violence. Examples of evidence include:
Police reports
Medical records
Witness statements
Digital messages
Recorded communications
Photos of injuries or property damage
Courts also examine whether the evidence was preserved properly and whether any details appear altered or incomplete.
Credibility factors courts consider
Credibility plays a significant role when allegations are disputed. Judges look at the accuracy of statements, the presence of conflicting accounts and whether the reporting timeline appears reasonable. They also assess whether the allegation aligns with prior conduct or whether it appears retaliatory during a custody or divorce dispute.
The court will weigh these factors carefully because credibility can influence findings related to whether a parent is allowed to have legal decision-making and parenting time and, if so, what limitations may be placed on those rights.
Protective strategies when facing a false claim
Responding to a false allegation requires organized documentation and a careful presentation. Helpful steps may include:
Preserving all communications
Gathering witness information
Securing digital backups
Collecting records showing your location or activities
Maintaining a detailed timeline
Adopting a structured approach allows the court to receive accurate information that helps the judge evaluate the claim fairly. A representative experienced in Arizona family law and domestic violence cases can help reveal what really happened to protect your rights.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[Does a promotion affect custody arrangements in Arizona?]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489822026-08-13T10:19:56Z2026-08-14T08:00:36ZA career promotion can reflect years of hard work and can also bring more financial stability to a family. But professional growth can create changes that a parent did not expect when a custody arrangement was established.
For parents who share custody, that tension can feel especially difficult. A promotion may help a child financially while making an existing parenting schedule harder to follow. In Arizona, a promotion does not automatically change a parenting arrangement. However, major changes at work may affect a parent's ability to follow the current schedule. When that happens, the family may need to consider whether the arrangement still serves the child's best interests.
The promotion may not be the real issue
Consider a parent who accepts a management position after years of predictable work hours. The promotion itself may not create a custody dispute. The problem may start when the new job requires late meetings on nights set aside for parenting time.That difference can matter. Arizona courts consider the child's relationship with each parent. They also consider the child's adjustment to home, school and community. The court may also look at each parent's ability to support frequent and meaningful contact with the other parent.As a result, the court may focus on how the new work demands affect the child's daily life. The job title or higher salary may matter less than the practical changes that come with the position.The timing may also matter. A short period of longer hours may call for a different solution than a permanent change in a parent's work schedule.
When a new job changes the family routine
A promotion can affect parenting arrangements in several ways. The impact may depend on the details of the new position:
A changed workday: Earlier starts or later shifts may interfere with exchanges, school pickups or overnight parenting time.
Increased travel: Regular business trips may make some parenting days difficult to exercise.
A new location: A promotion that requires a move may create more distance between a parent and child.
Child care needs: A parent may need more help from relatives, sitters or other caregivers during parenting time.
Financial changes: Higher income may improve a child's financial situation without changing the appropriate parenting schedule.
These issues can overlap. A promotion may increase income while also reducing a parent's availability. That can create competing concerns rather than a simple answer.
Balancing career growth with parenting responsibilities
A career opportunity does not have to weaken a parent's role in a child's life. Still, major changes at work can affect how a parenting plan works in practice. Parents may need to look at the new schedule and consider whether it still meets the child's needs.A promotion does not automatically justify a change in parenting time. When employment changes create a significant shift in a parent's availability, however, legal guidance can help clarify the options. An Arizona family law attorney can explain whether a modification may be available and help address the child's best interests.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[A single focus can help during child custody mediation]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489802026-08-11T15:25:08Z2026-08-11T15:25:08ZWhen parents are trying to resolve a child custody situation, they sometimes turn to mediation, rather than seeking a direct court ruling. Some reports indicate that the use of mediation has been on the rise. Parents see it as a way to work together to find a resolution, instead of turning the power over to the court to directly issue a custody order.That said, mediation can be difficult. Parents may have very different goals or perspectives. Communication is very important during the mediation process, and parents do need to work together to find applicable solutions. One thing that can help them do so is having a singular focus during the mediation process.
The child’s best interests
What often helps is for parents to simply focus on what will be best for the child. If the court has to issue a custody order, they are going to use the standard of considering the child’s best interests. Parents can do the same.This may mean that parents have to put their own desires or preferences on the back burner. For instance, one parent may ideally want to get sole custody of their child. But if it is actually best for the child to have a relationship with both parents, they may need to consider a joint custody solution. If both parents are focusing on doing what is best for their children, rather than specifically trying to get what they want, the mediation process can be useful and will go more smoothly.That does not mean there will not be any complications, and this is a very important legal process. Parents who are going through it need to know exactly what steps they can take and what options they have.
]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Michael A. Johnson, P.C.<![CDATA[Where should you live during your divorce?]]>https://www.michaeljohnsonesq.com/?p=489762026-08-01T13:54:10Z2026-08-01T13:54:10Zwhere you’ll live before your divorce is finalized.
The most suitable arrangement for you, uniquely, will depend on several factors, including finances, safety and any children you may have.
Remaining in your marital home
Many spouses stay in their family home during divorce. They typically operate from different parts of the house - one may move into the guest bedroom or basement. Remaining in one’s marital home saves money and maintains stability children.
If you choose this option, it’s vital to set ground rules to avoid conflicts. For instance, respecting each other’s personal spaces, agreeing on how to use communal areas, deciding how to handle household expenses and creating a temporary parenting plan may all be wise.
Moving out
In some cases, one spouse usually moves out, and the other remains in the family home or moves out simultaneously. This allows them to start emotional healing and building their new lives earlier. It’s also a safe option in cases involving violence. Yet, buying a new home before your divorce is finalized may not be the best option. A new house may be considered community property.
The living arrangement you choose during divorce may prove to be crucial when it comes to your overall well-being. Get more information today to avoid potentially costly mistakes.]]>