Family law cases are often highly sensitive in nature, especially when there are children involved. If you are faced with a family law issue, you need a legal advocate who will listen to what you have to say with compassion and guidance, and will work hard to achieve your needs and goals.

As a dedicated Yuma Family Law Attorney for over 30 years, I provide efficient and cost-effective legal services to men, women, and children throughout Arizona. I am a well-seasoned lawyer who is very familiar with local judges and other attorneys. I have an excellent working knowledge with the procedures of all courts in Yuma and surrounding areas.

My firm is highly competent, responsible, ethical, and results-oriented. We will work with you personally to ensure that your future interests are taken care of. We truly care about every client we serve, and are here to help you with your family's unique legal needs. My staff is also bilingual in Spanish, and can provide legal services in the language that you are most comfortable with.

My firm strives to achieve practical and cost-effective solutions to the challenging and often emotionally-charged issues facing our clients. Call us today, and let us show you how we can help.

Contact my firm today if you or a loved one needs legal assistance with any of the following:

• Divorce
• Divorce Decree Modification
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Child Visitation
• Adoption
• Divorce Mediation
• Paternity
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Spousal Support (Alimony)
• Property and Debt Division
• Other Modifications
• Out-of-State clients with matters in Yuma
• Military Friendly

My firm maintains a comfortable, relaxed office environment in an area of law which can be quite stressful. We adhere rigorously to deadlines and court appearances, and will always keep you informed of all developments in your case. We recently moved to a larger, newer office across the street from Yuma City Hall on First Avenue, and have a large conference room for private meetings with clients, as client confidentiality is always a top priority.

We are extremely client-oriented, and our guidelines are that we will charge the lowest fee possible. We pay for all out-of-pocket expenses and work on a flat rate basis, as hourly rates are usually more costly to clients.

I have extensive expertise with family law matters, and I always try to think outside the box in situations that would benefit my client and their unique situation. Whatever your legal needs; from child custody disputes, to property division, modifications, and everything in between, my firm will work with you to find the best solutions for you and your family.

If you or a loved one needs the help of an experienced Yuma, Arizona Family Law Attorney, call Richard Geller today at 928-202-4686, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION. HABLAMOS ESPANOL.

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Divorce:
A court of law is the only way one can obtain a divorce decree, dissolution, legal separation, nullity or other form of terminating a marriage. Other than the termination of the marital estate, the court also has jurisdiction to resolve other issues that are intertwined in the existing marriage which include, but are not limited to: custody and visitation rights, division of property of the marital estate, spousal support, child support, restraining orders, and the like.

Child Custody:
Custody is the charge and control of a child, including the right to make all major decisions such as education, religious upbringing, training, health and welfare. Custody usually refers to a combination of physical custody and legal custody. Many factors influence an award of custody and the way a case is presented in court can have a large impact on the result for you and your children. If you are awarded the children as a primary custodial parent, it has far reaching consequences both to you and to their well-being and development.

Child Support:
Child support is a periodic payment made to a custodial parent from a non-custodial parent to help compensate a child's living expenses, i.e. food, clothes, etc., and any other related debts. When one parent is awarded sole custody, as in the event of a divorce, the non-custodial parent is required to fulfill his or her child support obligation by making set payments, whereas the custodial parent meets his or her support obligation through the custody itself. When parents are awarded joint custody in a divorce, however, the support obligation is shared and is based on a ratio of each parent's income and the amount of time the child spends with each parent.

The obligation to support minor children cannot be waived by either parent and is a right enjoyed by the child, not the parent. Each state has guidelines that factor the amount of child support, such as the amount of time spent with the child, the income of both parents and the standard of living the child is accustomed to. The court may allow deductions for items such as catastrophic medical expenses and travel expenses for visitation.

Spousal Support (Alimony):
Alimony is temporary or permanent financial support paid from one separated spouse to the other, either in one lump sum or in installments. Alimony is designed to provide the lower-income spouse with money for living expenses over and above the money provided by child support.  Alimony differs from child support because it is at the discretion of the judge. Child support is usually determined by state-sanctioned guidelines.

There are several factors a judge considers when deciding whether to grant alimony. These differ from state to state, of course, but they usually involve things like the parties' relative ability to earn money, both now and in the future; their respective age and health; the length of the marriage; the kind of property involved; and the conduct of the parties. In general a judge will award alimony in most states is where one spouse has been economically dependent on the other spouse for most of a lengthy marriage.

Adoption:
Adoption is the legal process by which a person becomes a lawful member of a family different from their birth family.  Once a final order of adoption has been ruled by a court of law, the adoptive parents gain the same rights and responsibilities as parents whose children are born to them; subsequently, an adopted child gains the same rights as birth children in regard to inheritance, child support and other legal matters.  In most U.S. jurisdictions, at the time the adoption is finalized, the adopted child's name is legally changed and the court orders the issuance of a new, amended birth certificate.

Divorce Mediation:
The basic attitude marking divorce mediation is a focus on solving problems, not fighting the fight. Family mediation is a voluntary process which gives a divorcing or separating couple the opportunity to make their own arrangements for their financial and personal future, while protecting themselves and their children from distress and the needless expense of litigation. The strength of a mediated agreement is that it is built by both parties together in an open process that requires all participants to recognize and make accommodation for the needs of the other participants, often without having to compromise one’s own.

While no two situations are alike, the emphasis in a mediated approach is to achieve a satisfactory settlement in an efficient, cooperative manner. This might include "four-way" settlement conferences where the parties meet along with their divorce mediation lawyers to work on a settlement. The philosophy of Divorce Mediation is that as much effort should be exerted toward settlement as is traditionally spent in preparation for and conducting a trial.

Paternity:
Paternity covers all the matters related to proving the parentage of a child or children. For married couples, paternity of a child is assumed to be the spouse, unless there is a court order or judgment stating otherwise. For unwed parents, paternity can be established by signing an Affidavit of Parentage or by filing a paternity action with the court.

Legally establishing paternity or determining that someone is not the parent of child can have a significant impact on divorce settlements, property division, child custody, child support and the ability to move out of state. Determinations of paternity can also have a significant impact on interstate conflict between unwed parents.

Property and Debt Division:
Marital property attained during marriage, regardless of whose name it is under, can be divided. Marital property can include real estate (including a home bought in contemplation of marriage), pension plans, vehicles, bank accounts, income tax refunds and/or household furnishings. However, property that is inherited by one spouse is not considered marital property, i.e. a family business or estate. If you are contractually bound with your ex-spouse on a debt, the creditor can require the entire payment of that debt from your share of the community property even though the divorce decree assigns the debt to your ex-spouse. Depending on the terms of your divorce decree, you may be able to have certain support obligations under the divorce decree determined to be non-dischargeable by the bankruptcy court or in state court.

Prenuptial Agreements:
A prenuptial, or premarital agreement (often referred to as a "pre-nup") is a written contract created by two individuals who plan to be married. This agreement lists all individually owned property, such as homes and businesses, family assets, stocks and bonds, savings accounts as well as debts, and specifies what will and will not remain individually owned property after the legalization of marriage. Prenuptial agreements also specify whether spousal support will be paid in the event of a divorce, and the intentions regarding distribution of individually owned property upon death.

A factor that cannot be stipulated in a prenuptial agreement is child support. A couple cannot lawfully agree in a prenuptial agreement that either part will in no way be responsible for child support. Also, a few states do not allow prenuptial agreements to modify or eliminate the right of a spouse to receive court-ordered alimony at divorce, although a prenuptial agreement can facilitate in the degree of compensation.

If you or a loved one needs the help of an experienced Yuma, Arizona Family Law Attorney, call Richard Geller today at 928-202-4686, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule a free consultation. Hablamos Español.

If you or someone you know needs the legal representation of an experienced Yuma, Arizona Family Law Attorney, call Richard B. Geller today at 928-202-4686, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION. HABLAMOS ESPANOL.

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Law Office of Richard B. Geller
244 S. First Ave.
Yuma, AZ 85364
Phone: 928-202-4686
Hours: M-F, 8:00AM-5:00PM
Services provided after-hours

Richard B. Geller is a well-seasoned attorney who has practiced law for over thirty years. He is Ivy League educated, having received his Bachelor's Degree from Cornell University and his Law Degree from Columbia University.

Mr. Geller's successful legal career has included Litigation Attorney for the United States Attorney's Office, San Francisco, California; General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Sandoz, LTD, an international pharmaceutical corporation based in Basil, Switzerland; Corporate Counsel for Digital Equipment Corporation, a national computer and software company; and Regional Counsel for the United States Small Business Administration. Mr. Geller began his legal career as a trial attorney for the Public Defender's Office in Manhattan, New York.

Richard is a member in good standing with the State Bar of Arizona and the State Bar of New York. He also practices in the Federal Courts of Arizona, New York and California. He is admitted to practice in the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, which includes the Federal District Courts of Arizona and California, and the Second Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, which includes the Southern and Eastern Federal District Courts of New York. He is also a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the Yuma County Bar.

Mr. Geller currently is a lawyer based in Yuma Arizona, where he has his own legal practice.