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The following articles are reprints of Mr. O'Steen's legal advice columns which appeared in The Arizona Republic and other newspapers across the State. We hope that they are helpful in answering some of your legal questions. If you require more specific or personalized assistance, we encourage you to consult with an attorney. |
| Spouses Are Financial Equals | |
| Before 1973 in Arizona, the husband was in charge of the management and control of the community property of marriage. Generally speaking, community property includes most of the property acquired during marriage. Married women were not permitted to make contracts binding this property. | |
| Prenuptial Contracts Can Secure Assets, Debts of Each Partner | |
| A prenuptial agreement is a contract between two people who intend to marry. These agreements generally are valid in Arizona—if they are in writing, if both partners' assets are completely revealed and properly valued, and if the agreement is fair and its terms are clear. The signatures on these contracts must be notarized, too. | |
| Authorities, Courts Can Help Parents Deal With Incorrigible Children | |
| Parents in Arizona generally are required to be responsible for their children until they reach age 18. Sometimes, however, this is a burden too great for parents to shoulder alone. | |
| Third-Party Divorces Are Legal Relics | |
| Most people behave fairly predictably when tragedy strikes. For instance, we often look outside ourselves for the source of our trouble. When a divorce occurs, one spouse usually doesn't want it. He or she may place the blame on a third party, such as the person with whom the spouse seeking the divorce is having an extramarital relationship. |