Arizona Divorce Law May Punish Adulterers Again

By: Martha Chan

PHEONIX -- Last week, the media reported that conservative state lawmakers in West Virginia were pushing new legislation to deny spousal support to divorcing spouses who'd committed infidelity. Now, Arizona Family Law has jumped on the bandwagon too.

Republican state senator Linda Gray wants cheating and adultery to qualify as "misconduct" in a divorce. The proposed legislation SB1206,if passed, would allow evidence of "misconduct" that could potentiallyaffect issues such as property division, child support, and spousalsupport (known in the state as "spousal maintenance"). The law wouldn't stop judges from granting divorces in any way, as long as the marriages are considered "irretrievably broken".

There has been no date set yet for a hearing on the proposed legal change.

Senator Gray also feels that domestic violence, verbal abuse,abandonment, and financial irresponsibility (such as gambling away assets or spending money on an extramarital partner, for example) should count as misconduct as well. However, Divorce Law Arizona has not considered infidelity as a factor in divorce outcomes since the 1970s.

Sometimes in a relationship," Gray, who represents Glendale County, AZ, said to the East Valley Tribune, "people really have a good cause on why they are getting divorced. If there has been abuse, why not let the judge know that?"

The legislation was created in part by Cathi Herrod, the president of the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative organization
That promotes pro-family views. Herrod told the Tribune that her proposed change "would enable the judge to say to the party who wanted the divorce, 'You take the business and the debt,' [and to] the party who didn't want the divorce and still has a child at home, 'You get the house free and clear and you restart your life.'"
However, not everybody thinks the requested legislation will be of any benefit to divorcing couples, and some feel it may cause more harm than good.

"You're really inviting the parties to start bringing up who had the affair first and all these other issues. It's really going to expand the litigation," Judge Colleen McNally, who serves Maricopa County Superior Court, told the same paper. She added that such finger-pointing about infidelity and cheating in court "really has a negative effect on the kids." The Arizona Legislature makes divorcing parents go to special classes to help them diffuse conflict and focus on the children's needs, but Gray's and Herrod's legislation would detract from these positive efforts: "The whole focus of that class is[to help you] understand that something went wrong in your personal life, but you've got these kids. Let that go. Focus on [them]."

The legislation does not fully define "misconduct". Although Herrod reportedly intended it to imply adultery and spousal abuse, Judge McNally questioned the vague language, saying to the East Valley Tribune that it could very well mean, "'Who didn't pick up their socks?'"

Arizona family law currently doesn't guarantee spousal maintenance; spousal support usually goes to ex-spouses who have no means to support themselves, or who supported their exes through school, in longer marriages. In general, Arizona divorce law divides property equitably between divorcing spouses, with no consideration for marital misconduct.

About the Author

Jeff Cotrill is the staff writer of Divorce Magazine and www.DivorceMagazine.com which offers information on Arizona divorce lawyers, Arizona divorce law and Arizona family law.

Chocolate Mint eLiquid

Martian Mint™ Chocolate Mint E-Liquid is a delicate blend of Chocoalte and Mint flavors. Each crisp vape showers the user in subtle waves of rich chocolate and refreshing mint. If you are a chocolate lover or a mint lover, you will to enjoy the unique flavor of Martian Mint™ eLiquid. Martian Mint™ eLiquid is made in the USA.

Martian Mint™ eLiquid works in all models of electronic cigarettes. As with all VapeSafe® eLiquids, Martian Mint™ eLiquid is made in the USA using organic, hypoallergenic, USP and food grade vegetable glycerin.

E-Liquid Legal Disclaimers:

Always keep VapeSafe® eLiquids away from children!

VapeSafe Martian Mint™ eLiquid is for Adults Only! You must be of legal age in your state to use our products! Absolutely no sales to minors!

Always be sure to allow the Martian Mint™ eLiquid time to fully soak into the cartridge or cartomizer (cartridge with built in atomizer) before use. To stretch your dollar further, please note that these flavors are more concentrated than normal and can be diluted with small amounts of distilled water without compromising the flavor.

Tasty Chocolate Recipes:

Tasty Chocolate Fudge, Ice Cream, and more:

Icing can be formed into shapes such as flowers and leaves using a pastry bag. A pastry bag is an often cone- or triangular-shaped, hand-held bag made from cloth, paper, or plastic that is used to pipe semi-solid foods by pressing them through a narrow opening at one end. Aside from icings and frostings, pastry bags are commonly used to shape meringue and whipped cream, and to fill doughnuts with jelly or vanilla custard. Using icing to decorate cakes is commonly used with wedding cakes, anniversary cakes and birthday cakes.

Cracked Chocolate

To one-third a cup of Baker's Cracked Cocoa (sometimes called "Cocoa Nibs") use three cups of cold water; cook slowly at least one hour - the longer the better. Then strain the liquid and add one cup (or more if desired) of milk, and serve very hot. Do not allow the mixture to boil after milk has been added.

Tags: DWI Attorney, Law Office, Patent Law, Divorce Attorney, Lawyers and Attorneys