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More Resources Helping Children Cope with Divorce Founding attorney and name partner Judith A. Morse authored an article published by Best Legal Choices outlining the need-to-know's for when you are going through a divorce and have children , included below : What you need to know about a divorce with kids You are juggling your family, a career, and a divorce with kids. It can be overwhelming, as you strive to maintain a balance. Children can often be the most important concern. Some divorcing parents overcompensate while others undercompensate. The conflict of an in-court divorce can make some parents practically forget the kids completely amid the chaos of making huge changes to their lives and lifestyle. It’s completely normal. But collaborative law allows you to opt out of this chaos and put your children front and center in your divorce. What Your Kids Would Like You to Know Growing up with divorced parents has its challenges for children before, during, and after the divorce process. What do they wish their parents had known? Here are six: Don’t give up on me. Even if your partner has complete custody, even if there’s a step-parent in the picture, don’t sacrifice your time with me. No matter how difficult it seems to overcome obstacles, I need you. I’m worth the effort. Don’t lie to me to make it easier. Be just as respectful of me and my feelings as you would an adult’s. Speaking in clichés is another way you tell me my feelings are trivial. I don’t care if “it’s darkest before the dawn,” or if “life is like a box of chocolates.” Please be open, honest, and earnest. I deserve your respect. I need my grandparents and my extended family. I know it’s hard to manage time for everything, including visits with my other parent’s family, but it’s important to them. It’s important to me. I’ll be okay. You haven’t wrecked my life and ruined my future! Just because we’re a divorced family doesn’t mean we have to be a dysfunctional family. Or at least, no more dysfunctional than most families. Relax. Don’t worry. Please don’t trash-talk my other parent. I hear everything you say and I’m watching everything you do, and all of it impacts the way I feel. When you run-down and criticize my other parent, it hurts. I need you both. You’re not a failure as a parent. The fact that you struggled to keep it together for me while you felt like your world was falling apart lets me know I’m important to you. I love you. Partners Divorce But Families Stay Together A collaborative divorce with kids is a choice, and it may appear to be the best choice for your family. Okay, it’s not a perfect world. When your ex isn’t on the same page with you about anything, including what’s best for the children, litigation may be your only option. But damage control can minimize the stress and uncertainty your children may be experiencing when your ex is less than considerate: Don’t make excuses for the other parent – Enabling your ex is almost as problematic as criticizing. Give your child a chance to express her or his feelings before you rush in to defend your ex. Have a Plan B – You should make a backup plan if/when your ex is a no-show. Make sure your ex knows how long you will wait before putting Plan B into effect. Say to the kids, “Let’s wait one more hour, and if Mom isn’t here or hasn’t called by then, we’ll see that movie you wanted to see.” Reinforce the other parent’s love – When your ex disappoints the kids by not showing up for an important activity (including quality time), it’s tempting to make yourself look good by bashing your ex. It doesn’t help your kids; it hurts them even more. Reassure them that dad/mom loves them very much but sometimes adults make mistakes. You Have Choices in a Divorce with Kids You can find legal, financial, and coping support for divorce with kids with Best Legal Choice , Arizona’s directory of divorce professionals. When it comes to divorce and your children’s welfare, we believe there’s no such thing as too much information. If you have any questions about collaborative vs. conventional divorce with kids, check our resources and links to some Arizona-specific websites that may help. Or take your first step and call 602-277-6900 to learn more about the divorce process. Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children. -Tatanka Iyotake (1831-1890) More Resources For more information and resources on helping children cope with divorce, visit Custody X Change, a co-parenting app and website specifically designed to help parents and children with the divorce and separation process. Or view their Guide on Helping Children Cope With Divorce here . Helping Children Cope with Divorce For more information and resources to help you navigate your new co-parenting relationship, visit the Center for Divorce Education, which provides online evidence-based co-parenting education programs for people going through a separation or divorce. Some of the programs they offer include: Children in Between Online (4-hour Level I online course) High Conflict Solutions (8-hour Level II online course) Children in Between For Kids (90-minute online course for kids ages 7-14) Co-Parenting Education Let’s Work Together Our experienced team of legal professionals are ready to listen, and ready to help First Name Last Name Email Message Send Lets get started

Morse Law Group is one of the best family law firms in Phoenix, Arizona, offering family-focused legal solutions from experienced attorneys with over 40 years of experience, founded by Judith A. Morse MORSE LAW GROUP Family Focused Family Law WE ARE READY TO LISTEN TO YOU Phoenix Family Law Attorneys Phoenix Family Law Attorneys Custody, Divorce, Separation Family Law Firm PRACTICE AREAS PRACTICE AREAS FAMILY LAW Morse Law Group is a family law firm which means we handle cases involving family relationships, divorce, custody, child support, parenting time, etc. CHILD SUPPORT & CHILD CUSTODY In Arizona Child Support is calculated pursuant to Arizona Child Support Guidelines. In Arizona "custody" is broken into two parts: legal decision making and parenting time. If you need child support, are paying child support, or want to know more, contact us. COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE Collaborative Divorce is a unique procedure which allows couples to go through the divorce process with a team of specialized lawyers, legal professionals, financial professionals, and mental health professionals to achieve a peaceful resolution. DEPENDENCY Dependency occurs when the state determines that a parent is unfit or unable to care for their child or children. If you have questions, or need help with a dependency case, give us a call. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE If you are a victim of domestic violence there are unique challenges and concerns that you may have when it comes to getting a divorce. But once you hire a law firm, you are not alone anymore. You have help fighting your battles. GRANDPARENT & NONPARENTAL CUSTODY If you are a grandparent or a nonparent and want to know more about your rights and your options, we can talk you through it. GUARDIANSHIP & CONSERVATORSHIP Many life changes leave you in need of assistance. You may find your elderly parents can no longer make reasonable decisions for themselves, or you need someone to take custody of your child. MEDIATION With a focus on non-adversarial resolution, mediation gives you the opportunity to control the outcome of your discussions, and allows you to better maintain relationships. PRENUPTUAL/POSTNUPTIAL AGREEMENTS If you are planning on getting married or are already married, we can walk you through your options to protect your property. CREATING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR OVER 30 YEARS Morse Law Group is a focused family law firm with decades of experience. We believe every family deserves a quality attorney who will work tirelessly on their clients’ behalf. We combine years of excellence and creative thinking to bring you the best possible results. How Will You Achieve Your Family's Best Possible Future? At Morse Law Group, our legal team brings focused attention to your case. Whether you need a divorce or are working to find a stable co-parenting situation, our firm has the skills, experience and adaptability to find a solution that fits your family’s unique situation. Our attorneys work with you to: Identify clear and reasonable goals that accurately reflect your needs Evaluate your options, including courtroom litigation, mediation, and collaborative law Execute a strategy that works quickly to bring a stable solution to you and your loved ones Our firm has helped families and residents find solutions that reflect their needs and wishes since 1996. You can trust us to guide you forward. OUR VISION A Family Law Firm Focused on Peaceful Dispute Resolution When families experience changes, compassionate and dedicated representation can help minimize stress, providing thoughtful decision-making about the future. Since our inception in 1996, that is the type of legal representation Morse Law Group has provided to the residents of Phoenix and the surrounding communities. Arizona families can entrust their delicate situations to our boutique law firm. Our attorneys possess a psychological understanding of conflict. Meanwhile, the combination of alternative dispute resolution methods and litigation enables us to provide comprehensive approaches to contentious, emotionally wrought family matters. ATTORNEYS OUR ATTORNEYS JUDITH A. MORSE PARTNER Tel: 602-277-6900 jmorse@morselawgroup.org KAELA N. GRAY ASSOCIATE Tel: 602-277-6900 kaela@morselawgroup.org CONTACT OUR ADDRESS 7220 N 16th Street Bldg D Email: admin@morselawgroup.org Tel: 602-277-6900 Click Here to Find Us For any general inquiries, please fill in the following contact form: First Name Last Name Email Phone Brief Description of Your Legal Issue Case Number (if applicable) How Would You Like To Be Contacted? Phone Email Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Submit Someone from our firm will be in touch. If your matter is urgent, please give us a call at 602-277-6900. By clicking "Submit", you agree to the Morse Law Group Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You consent to receive phone calls and SMS messages from Morse Law Group to provide updates on your inquiry. Message frequency depends on your activity. Reply HELP for more information. You may opt-out by texting "STOP". Message and data rates may apply. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. BACK TO TOP

Morse Law Group is located at 7220 North 16th Street, Bldg. D in Phoenix, Arizona 85020 OUR ADDRESS 7220 N 16th Street, Unit D Email: admin@morselawgroup.org Tel: 602-277-6900

< Back Legal Assistant Apply Now Phoenix, AZ, USA Job Type Full Time About the Role Legal Assistant applicants are expected to be able to communicate with clients, coordinate consultations and meetings, distribute incoming and outgoing mail, answer phone calls, send documents to clients, and file documents, amongst other tasks. To be successful in this position, you should have a pleasant and outgoing personality, work well as a member of a team, and also be able to work independently when necessary. Strong candidates will also have good time management and organization skills. Morse Law Group provides employees with the opportunity to experience different roles within a firm, and the legal assistant role is a great opportunity to gain exposure to different legal tasks which vary from simple document review to more difficult and engaging projects. Legal Assistants work closely with the firm's paralegals as well as the attorney(s) and should know, or will learn, court procedures, how to prepare correspondence to the court, opposing counsel and the client. Legal Assistants work with process servers to get documents served, efile documents with the court, prepare shells of documents, review discovery and disclosure for completion, etc. The ideal candidate must have a strong work ethic, and take pride in helping our firm provide excellent legal representation to our clients. Requirements Excellent communication skills (written, verbal and telephone) Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with a high level of accuracy Ability to effectively prioritize work under deadline pressure and multi-task in a fast-paced environment Strong computer and document production skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and Time Matters

< Back Paralegal Apply Now Phoenix, AZ, USA Job Type Full Time About the Role We only consider experienced family law paralegals. Paralegal applicants are expected to be able to communicate with clients, coordinate consultations and meetings, work on disclosure and discovery, draft pleadings, communicate with opposing counsel, know family law filing deadlines, docket pertinent dates, and work with clients and attorneys to find amicable resolutions to family law issues. Requirements Family Law Paralegal Experience Knowledge of Family Law filing deadlines Knowledge of the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure Excellent communication skills (written, and verbal) Strong writing skills Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with a high level of accuracy Exceptional time management Ability to effectively prioritize work under deadline pressure and multi-task in a fast-paced environment Strong computer and document production skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and Time Matters

Meet your team - experienced lawyers, paralegals, and legal assistants, ready to help you with your family law case LEGAL TEAM In addition to your attorney, you will have a number of other members of our staff on your legal team, including at least one paralegal, and legal assistant. Paralegals Our paralegals take a hands-on approach to client service through prompt, clear communication and attention to detail. Meet the Team Support Staff Our legal team includes a legal secretary, file clerk, and legal assistants whose meticulous organizational skills ensure our attorneys have everything they need to work on your case. Meet the Team Contact Us At Morse Law Group, we listen intently to each client’s story. The direction our counsel takes depends on the unique goals at hand. admin@morselawgroup.org 602-277-6900

Careers To express your interest in joining Morse Law Group, please complete the intake form below. Apply Today Phone 602-277-6900 Email frontdesk@morselawgroup.org Social Media First Name Last Name Email Role Role Current Position Cover Letter Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Resume Upload supported file (Max 15MB) What should we know about you? Submit Application Thank you for your interest

Reach out today if you have any questions about your family law matters Bringing Collaborative and Peaceable Family Law Solution To Families Throughout Phoenix and the Surrounding Communities WHAT IS COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE? HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR KIDS? WILL YOUR LOVED ONE BENEFIT FROM GUARDIANSHIP? CAN YOU SOLVE YOUR ISSUES OUTSIDE OF COURT? DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER FAMILY LAW ISSUE? HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR KIDS? Is Alternative Dispute Resolution An Option For You? We find that, in many cases, mediation and collaborative options provide a more personalized, resilient and less costly alternative to traditional litigation options. When we work with you and your ex to find a custom solution, we bring other benefits to the table, including: 01 The ability to fine-tune your custody agreement so that each parent has flexibility and clear expectations. Access to emotional support systems, including mental health professionals who can help bring a sense of closure to your life. 03 Access to emotional support systems, including mental health professionals who can help bring a sense of closure to your life. 02 Thousands of families will go to family of court this year. Many will walk away feeling unseen and like they had no control over their future. Our attorneys can help you avoid the courtroom when possible and have decades of trial experience if needed. FAMILY LAW Collaborative Problem-Solving Approaches To Family Disputes Families often come together to provide support during life’s most difficult times. However, when your challenges relate to family disputes, you deserve to work with a lawyer who has experience handling multiple facets of Arizona’s family laws. The seasoned attorneys at Morse Law Group rely on our understanding of the human psyche as we come alongside you to resolve contentious family disputes. During the past three decades, our collaborative approach to reaching agreeable terms has earned the respect of our colleagues and the families our Phoenix-based firm represented. We recognize that children’s well-being is a primary concern in many situations and support those who wish to become a nonparental custodian for a child. No matter your situation, you can talk with us about your family’s needs. Resolution In The Midst Of Difficult Situations When unexpected events alter the course of your family’s future, we listen to your goals and provide solutions that minimize the psychological and financial impact on your children. Though we encourage the utilization of a peaceful mediation process, we will not back down from fighting for your best interests in court. Our dedicated alternative dispute resolution firm facilitates agreements in matters such as: Divorce, both contested cases and collaborative cases Child custody, including legal and physical custody issues and cases involving DCS Child support Adoption Guardianship and conservatorship If you are engaged, we will also help you protect your premarital assets. Our firm also helps victims of domestic violence and assault through appropriate protective orders. A detailed case review will allow our firm to effectively provide favorable solutions geared toward your specific needs and goals. call 602-277-6900 to begin a collaborative approach to addressing your family’s challenges. Do Not Hesitate to Call Us One of our most proud moments as a law firm is when our clients walk away with a long-lasting solution to their issues. When you choose to work with Morse Law Group, you are choosing to take control over your life. Call us at 602-277-6900 to schedule an appointment.

At Morse Law Group your case will be managed by a team of experienced legal staff, including at least one paralegal Paralegals Here to listen, here to help. In addition to your attorney, you will have a paralegal working on your case. Our paralegals are experienced professionals in family law, who will help walk you through different areas of your case, and facilitate communication between you and your attorney. Meet The Team Meagghi Cleary Paralegal Miranda Mitchell Paralegal

Morse Law Group works with clients to create long term sustainable solutions, with a focus on non-adversarial resolution, including collaborative divorce and mediation Acerca de COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE Collaborative Divorce Is Designed To Be Faster And Better At Morse Law Group, we have seen firsthand how collaborative divorce can not only improve the overall experience of the legal process, but leave all parties and their children in a better post-divorce relationship in the long run. Traditionally, divorce can be a combative and destructive experience that not only dissolves a marriage, but also often poisons an already strained relationship. Especially in families where children are involved, a divorce does not spell the end of your relationship with your ex-spouse, but adversarial divorces are notorious for creating toxic relationships. While any divorce is likely to be a painful experience, the collaborative divorce process puts the focus on negotiation and the preservation of dignity for both parties. Collaborative divorce encourages parties to resolve their differences justly and equitably. The entire collaborative divorce team relies upon an atmosphere of honesty, cooperation, integrity and professionalism. The Benefits Of Collaborative Divorce Collaborative divorce is not a viable option for every couple, particularly when abuse or violence has taken place leading up to the dissolution, but particularly for parents, collaborative divorce is a beneficial option for a variety of reasons. It Attempts To Minimize The Negative Economic And Emotional Consequences Of Divorce Without having to take a constant adversarial stance, issues such as child custody, spousal maintenance, property division and discovery of financial information, which can drag on in court for months, can sometimes be settled in a few private collaboration sessions. You Are In Control In a collaborative divorce, Morse Law Group will help you make informed choices for your future and your children. The goal is to help the divorcing couple work successfully within the collaborative divorce structure. Our goal is to achieve a positive resolution that minimizes the negative economic, social and emotional consequences that families often experience in traditional adversarial divorce processes. You Still Have Legal Counsel While you are in control of your decisions, you will be represented by an attorney who will advise you of the legal ramifications of your decisions. Both sides still have attorneys, they just agree to be open, have full disclosure and agree to resolve the conflict outside of the courtroom. It Is A Private Process Litigation is a matter of public record that can expose the personal details of your divorce to the public. Not so with collaborative divorce. It Is Often Better For Children Adversarial divorces can encourage parents to attack one another in an effort to “win.” Unfortunately, this approach can profoundly impact your children. Couples who work collaboratively on the terms of their parenting plan are more likely to have a more positive, workable post-divorce relationship within which to parent their children. Let’s Work Together Whether you want to negotiate a reasonable settlement through a collaborative divorce process, or need to pursue a traditional adversarial divorce, Judith Morse and her team have the experience and ability to provide reliable and effective representation. Contact our office today online or call us at 602-277-6900 to schedule an appointment. First Name Last Name Email Lets stay family focused! Message Send

As the founding attorney of Morse Law Group, Judy has been practicing law in and out of the courtroom since 1986. Her experience has given her an ability to immediately understand different kinds of approaches that work in particular cases. Judy Morse As your attorney I will listen to you, and advocate for you. You can relax and hand over the reigns, knowing that I will address your case from a rational perspective, with your best interests in mind. Biography The founder of Judith A. Morse, P.C., now known as Morse Law Group, Judith A. Morse has been practicing law for more than 34 years. Judy graduated from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, with a degree in Psychology. After working as an Adult Probation Officer in Maricopa County, Arizona, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame Law School. During law school, she earned several honors, including being named as a Kiley Fellow and being selected for the Notre Dame Law Review. After law school, Judy worked for Gallagher & Kennedy, a large Phoenix law firm, specializing in insurance defense, highway design litigation, Indian Gaming law, and general commercial litigation. The partners at Gallagher & Kennedy recognized her skills and dedication by electing her partner/shareholder only five years after she joined the firm, making her the first elected female partner of the firm. The extensive training provided at Gallagher & Kennedy, along with the emphasis on strong writing skills and courtroom experience prepared Judy well to branch out and start her own firm. In 1996, Judy formed Judith A. Morse, P.C., a small boutique firm specializing in collaborative divorce, mediation, general family law litigation, complex divorce property issues, adoption, and guardianships. Over the past twenty years, Judy has represented her clients in a variety of cases with issues such as grandparents' rights, in loco parentis rights, child support modifications, spousal maintenance, business valuations, property valuations, custody valuations, parenting time issues, step parent adoptions, open adoptions, dependency cases with the Department of Child Safety, termination of parental rights, enforcement of divorce decree, and relocation cases. Judy's background and work experience in the field of psychology and mental health gives her an advantage in complex child custody and parenting time cases. She often involves mental health professionals in the process, especially when children are showing signs of being negatively impacted by the divorce, when one parent is alienating the other parent, or when the level of conflict has become so high that intervention is necessary. For her legal knowledge, experience and strong adherence to the Arizona Supreme Court professional standards of conduct and ethics, Judy has earned the AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating* through Martindale-Hubbell and an Avvo rating of 8.2. She is also recognized by her peers for the quality of her work by the numerous referrals from prior clients, parties against whom she has litigated, and attorneys practicing in family law as well as other areas. In order to serve the legal community, Judy serves as Judge Pro Tem for the Maricopa County Superior Court. She volunteers her time conducting ADR Settlement Conferences for parties wanting to resolve their disputes out of the courtroom. She is a member of the Arizona State Bar and its family law section, the Maricopa County Bar and its family law section. As part of her ongoing commitment to making the divorce process better for families, she is a member of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) and member as well as former president of Collaborative Divorce Professionals of Arizona. Judy is a also a member of Arizona Association of Family Law Attorneys and both the National and Arizona Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Education Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana J.D. - 1986 Honors: magna cum laude Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts A.B. - 1980 Published Works Treble Damages Under RICO: Characterization and Computation 61 Notre Dame Law Review 526, 1986 Professional Associations State Bar of Arizona, Member Maricopa County Bar Association, Member American Bar Association, Member Collaborative Divorce Professionals of Arizona, President Contact I'm here to listen, and to help. Divorce and family law issues can be very emotional, let me be your advocate. jmorse@morselawgroup.org 602-277-6900

Kaela Gray is an associate attorney at Morse Law Group, originally from Calgary, AB. Her family-focused dispute resolution methods help clients navigate what can be a very difficult or emotional period in their lives with clear goals and detailed explanations Kaela N. Gray Family law is an area of law that involves people, and people problems. Oftentimes, it can be very emotional. The lawyers involved can either exacerbate the issues, or can make a tough situation a little bit better. I work hard to do the latter. As your attorney I will listen to you, and advocate for you. I am here to be your rational brain during what can be a very emotional time, so that you can feel and experience everything you need to, and know that someone is looking out for your and your children's best interests. Biography Born and raised in Calgary, AB, Canada, to a family of engineers, Kaela's childhood was a combination of hard work and time management. Her family valued togetherness, and often created memories by traveling and doing exciting activities. Even her extended family shares the same passion for family fellowship, and large dinners were often a nightly event. Her wholesome family upbringing imbued her with an enthusiasm to provide a shared happiness to families of all shapes and sizes throughout family law. After graduating from high school in Canada, she moved internationally to Oregon and finished her undergrad at Willamette, a small liberal arts college in Salem. She graduated from Penn State Law in May of 2021 and moved to Arizona to be closer to family, and to be able to hike in her free time. Kaela's balance of empathy and positivity is her professional superpower. The emotional aspects of family law can be intense and difficult to deal with. With a full heart and your best interests in mind, Kaela wants her clients to know that she can empathize, understand, and support their situations so they can feel better about the transition period, and moving on to the next stages of their life. Education Pennsylvania State Law School, State College, Pennsylvania J.D. - 2021 William C. Vis Moot Oralist Willamette University, Salem, Oregon B.A. - 2018 Honors Professional Associations AzAFCC Board Member State Bar of Texas State Bar of Arizona Maricopa County Bar Association YLD Member Contact I'm here to listen, and to help. Divorce and family law issues can be very emotional, let me be your advocate. kaela@morselawgroup.org 602-277-6900