For nearly forty years, our family law practice has guided Mesa, Phoenix, Gilbert, Chandler, and Tempe families through the most consequential transitions of their lives. We approach every matter with the discretion it deserves and the rigor a courtroom demands.
Family law in Arizona is not a single body of rules — it is the intersection of a community-property statute, a parenting-time framework that has changed materially in the last decade, a child-support guideline updated by the Supreme Court on its own schedule, and a procedural code (the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure) that governs everything from initial disclosure to post-decree contempt. The cases that matter to our clients almost never involve only one of these areas. A typical Mesa dissolution will require us to value a closely held business, model spousal maintenance under the newly guideline-driven framework, draft a parenting plan that survives middle-school sports schedules, and account for a retirement account that has both pre-marital and community components — sometimes all in the same week. That is the reality of what a family-law file looks like once it is actually opened.
Our approach is to organize that complexity early. At the first consultation we draw a one-page map of the issues, identify which are pure negotiation, which require expert support, and which are likely to be decided by a judge. We then quote a realistic range — in writing — and recommend a path forward that may be flat-fee, hourly, hybrid, or, in narrow cases, unbundled. Clients tell us the single most useful thing we do in the first meeting is candor about cost. The second is candor about outcomes: we will tell you when the law is against you, when a settlement on the table is better than a trial, and when a judge is unlikely to give you what you want. Forty years in front of the same bench teaches you to read these things accurately.
We also recognize that family-law matters do not end at the decree. School-enrollment disputes, refinance triggers, relocation requests, a co-parent's job loss, a teenager who refuses to follow the parenting plan — each of these can pull a closed case back open. We keep every client file active, available, and indexed so that when the call comes two or three years later we can move quickly. Many of our long-term clients have had us draft a decree, modify it twice, handle an emancipation question, and then return for an estate plan once the children were grown. That continuity — one firm, one phone number, decades of context — is the practical benefit of a small office that does not chase volume.
At a glance
- Free, confidential initial consultation with M. Paul Fischer or a senior associate.
- Forty years of continuous Maricopa County family-court practice.
- Flat-fee and hybrid billing offered for predictable matters.
- Mediation-trained attorneys; trial-ready when settlement fails.
How we work
We begin with a private conversation. There is no charge for the first consultation, and nothing you tell us leaves our office. From there, M. Paul Fischer and our associates build a strategy that protects your children, your finances, and your future.
Matters we handle
Contested and uncontested divorce, legal separation, decree modification, sole and joint legal decision-making, parenting time, spousal maintenance, child support, paternity, relocation, grandparent rights, and orders of protection.
Why clients return
Most of our family-law clients come from referrals — from former clients, prior opposing counsel, and judges who have known M. Paul Fischer for decades. That reputation took forty years to earn. We protect it in every case.
Working with allied professionals
We coordinate with forensic accountants, business valuators, child specialists, and licensed therapists when a matter demands it — and we know the practitioners in the East Valley judges trust.
Discretion as policy
Pleadings can be sealed in appropriate circumstances. Settlement conferences are private. We do not issue press statements. Your matter remains yours.
Representative results
Past outcomes do not guarantee a future result. Details are generalized to preserve client confidentiality.
- Negotiated a parenting plan that restored equal time for a Mesa father after a six-month interim order.
- Settled a fifteen-year dissolution with closely held East Valley business interests without trial.
- Obtained a same-day ex parte order of protection for a Gilbert client and three minor children.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Posting on social media after filing — every screenshot becomes a potential exhibit.
- Moving out of the marital home before parenting time is on paper.
- Signing a quitclaim deed or transferring an account 'to simplify things' before the property division is final.
Fees
Hourly representation with a written engagement letter. Flat-fee and hybrid arrangements are offered where the scope allows. The first consultation is always free.
How a case moves through our office
- 01
Consultation
60–90 minute private meeting. We listen, identify issues, and outline realistic outcomes and fees.
- 02
Engagement
Written fee agreement, conflicts check, and a confidential intake packet — usually within 48 hours.
- 03
Filing or response
Petition, response, temporary-orders motions, and disclosure schedule under Rule 49.
- 04
Discovery & negotiation
Document exchange, depositions when needed, settlement conferences, and mediation.
- 05
Resolution
Consent decree, settlement, or trial — followed by entry of final orders and post-decree counsel as needed.
What to bring to the consultation
- Government-issued photo identification.
- Three most recent tax returns and current pay stubs.
- Any prior court orders involving you, your spouse, or your children.
- A list of major assets and debts, even if estimated.
- A short written timeline of the marriage and the issues you want addressed.
Governing law
- A.R.S. Title 25
- Marital and domestic relations — the controlling statutes for dissolution, custody, and support.
- Ariz. R. Fam. L. P. 49
- Mandatory disclosure rule governing financial and witness disclosure in family cases.
Citations are general references, not legal advice. Statutes are amended; consult counsel for the current text as it applies to your matter.
Family Law by city
Each page below covers the local court, ZIP codes, neighborhoods, and the issues that come up most in that city.
Common questions
- Is the first consultation really free?
- Yes. We meet in person or by phone, listen to your situation, and tell you candidly whether we can help and what it will cost.
- How long does an Arizona divorce take?
- An uncontested matter can resolve in roughly 60–90 days after filing. A contested case with custody or business assets typically runs six to eighteen months.
- Do you handle same-sex family matters?
- Yes. Arizona family law applies equally, and we have represented same-sex spouses and parents since the law allowed us to.
- What if my spouse already hired a lawyer?
- That is the most common reason new clients call us. We respond same-day and file a notice of appearance to even the field.
- Will we have to go to court?
- Most of our family matters settle before trial. We prepare each one as if it will not.
- Can I switch attorneys mid-case?
- Yes. We accept transfer cases regularly and can substitute in within days.