The Arizona State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization approved Mr. Hendricks’ Specialist Certification in their June 2022 meeting.
Board-Certified Specialists are Experienced. Respected. Tested. Certified.
“Being a State Bar of Arizona Board-Certified Specialist is a mark of excellence and a distinguished accomplishment. Board-Certified Specialists are lawyers who have substantial experience, the respect of their peers, and demonstrated special knowledge, skills and proficiency in their area of law.”
Eligibility.
You are eligible to apply to become Board certified as a Family Law legal specialist if you have been admitted to the practice of law continuously for at least 7 years, and during 5 of those years you have engaged in the practice of Family Law within the State of Arizona, 2 of which are immediately preceding your application. During each of such five years, you must have engaged in legal services in the field of Family Law equivalent to at least 70% of a full-time practice. Combine these qualifications with your high ethical standards, excellent peer reviews, specialized legal education, and tested knowledge to achieve the honorable distinction of Board-Certified Specialist.
Your experience will be measured by your substantial involvement in the field of Family Law matters, including issues from at least seven of these categories:
- DissolutionThis is the Court’s word for a divorce. It means the marriage is dissolved or terminated and each party is now a single person. Arizona treats dissolution and divorce synonymously (in some other jurisdictions, a dissolution is when marriage ends by mutual agreement, and a divorce…Read more about Dissolution of marriage, Legal SeparationA formal legal process that terminates the marital community, divides all the community property and liabilities, and determines custody if children are involved. Legal separation is almost identical to a divorce in every way except one: You are still married at the end of it.…Read more about Legal Separation, and annulment of marriage
- Matters relating to children
- Paternity
- Juvenile court matters including dependency, adoption, and termination of parental rights
- Child SupportBy law, every person has a duty to support their biological or adopted children. See A.R.S § 25-501(A). This applies without or without a court order. The term “child support,” though, generally refers the Court-ordered amount one parent is required to pay to the other parent.Read more about Child Support
- Spousal MaintenanceThese are payments made from one spouse to another when one spouse cannot financially meet their reasonable needs on their own. The law permits spousal maintenance (or alimony as it’s called in other states) for several reasons—to help maintain the lifestyle the parties enjoyed…Read more about Spousal Maintenance
- Modifications
- Identifying separate and Community PropertyThis is property that belongs equally to both spouses. It includes any property, asset, or liability either party acquires during the marriage with the exception of property acquired by gift or inheritance. Parties can opt out of community property laws with a prenuptial…Read more about Community Property, and division of community property
- Taxation issues
- ContemptAn action taken to punish someone for not complying with a Court order when they had means to do so. Frequently filed with a Petition to Enforce.Read more about Contempt and/or EnforcementAn action undertaken to get someone to comply with a court order. It is frequently combined with a Petition for Contempt.Read more about Enforcement proceedings
- MediationA common settlement method where the parties use a mediator, a neutral third party, to negotiate a settlement. Family law mediations usually involve the mediator meeting separately with each party and their attorneys. Mediation is often highly effective.Read more about Mediation or negotiation of family disputes, and resolution of Family Law matters through alternate dispute resolutions
- Special actions and appeals from Family Law matters
- Issues of non-matrimonial family
- Issues of Domestic ViolenceFor an action to be considered domestic violence, it must (1) be an act that meets the standard for the criminal offense of one of the following: homicide, attempted murder, assault, theft, criminal damage to property, trespassing, stalking, voyeurism, or harassment, and (2) the…Read more about Domestic Violence
- Family Law service as defined in Section III(C)(2)(a)-(k)
