Jason has over 20 years of unique expertise in high conflict divorce and custody cases in Arizona, many of which involve allegations of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. He is also well-versed in family law matters involving complicated assets including large businesses and complex estates.
Before becoming a family lawyer, Jason was a social worker for ‘at-risk’ children; an experience that solidified a comprehensive understanding of child development, laying the foundation for his specialty in high conflict divorce and custody matters, and powerfully informing Jason’s practice as a family law attorney.
He began his legal career working for the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office, trying criminal cases before juries and judges, honing his skills in litigation and legal strategy. In 2005, Jason pivoted into family law and has since worked to resolve a wide variety of family law cases, from simple & amicable to complex & demanding.
With extensive experience as a court-appointed adviser, a judge pro tempore, and a parenting coordinator for family law court, Jason has both collected and considered evidence for a myriad of child-related issues, including conducting formal interviews with children whose well-being is in question. His findings and recommendations have been presented in court to determine and support the best interests of minors in the most difficult family law cases.
Outside of legal practice, Jason enjoys spending time with his family and always has a home improvement project in the works.
Parenting Coordinator, Maricopa County Superior Court (since 2016)
Arizona Chapter President, Association of Family & Conciliation Court (2012 – 2014)
Judge pro tempore, Maricopa County Superior Court (2011 – 2014)
Chair, Family Law Section, Maricopa County Bar Association (2010 – 2011)
Court Appointed Advisor, Maricopa County Superior Court (2008 – 2013)
Helping Hands for Single Moms, Board member (since 2019)
Association of Family & Conciliation Court, Current member (since 2008), Former president of the Arizona chapter president (2012 – 2014)
Maricopa County Superior Court, Court Advisor (2008 – 2013), Judge Pro Tempore (2011 – 2014), Parenting Coordinator (since 2016)
Sandra Day O’Conner, Inn of Court, Member (2005 – 2009)
State Bar of Arizona, Member (since 2004)
Maricopa County Bar Association, Current member (since 2003), Former chair of the Family Law section (2013), Former Chair of the Family Law Legislative Committee (2015)
OUTCOME: Good property equalization result
Jason represented Wife, who owned a successful business throughout the marriage. After 12 years of marriage, Husband filed for divorce whereby he asserted a claim for community interest and wanted Wife to sell the business to obtain his interest. Jason successfully utilized a forensic accountant and business valuator to illustrate that the business interest of Husband had been fairly compensated during the marriage and therefore was not entitled to additional compensation. Jason was also able to successfully have the business awarded to Wife for a favorable value, which allowed for a good property equalization result.
OUTCOME: Successful preservation of sole property
Jason was retained by Wife, who had accumulated significant RSU and shares in the company. Jason was able to successfully present evidence of the allocation between separate and community property to give Wife a significant award as separate thereby avoiding the necessity to divide said shares in the community property division.
OUTCOME: Child Custody Matter – Successfully moved the matter to trial whereby the Court reversed the temporary orders and awarded Father equal access and joint custody
Jason represented Husband in a post decree custody dispute that Mother had alleged that Father had abused Mother and their non-common child. As a result of the allegations, Father’s parenting time access was reduced to four (4) hours, supervised, per week. When Father came to Jason his parenting time had been reduced for almost 18 months. Jason successfully moved the matter to trial whereby the Court reversed the temporary orders and awarded Father equal access and joint custody. Jason was also successful in getting Father sole custody with limited access for mother over the next 12 months. As a result, the child went from having several behavioral and emotional problems to thriving at home, school and in the community.
OUTCOME: Paternity Matter – Preserved Father’s rights
Jason was retained by Father in a paternity matter whereby Mother wanted to relocate to California. Jason immediately filed a paternity action in Arizona and contemporaneously Mother filed in California. Jason challenged California’s jurisdiction and requested a hearing under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (“UCCJEA”). After briefing and two hearings that included a joint hearing between the Arizona and California Court, Jason successfully kept the case in Arizona and preserved Father’s rights in the process. As a result, Father obtained a very favorable result that allowed him to retain his children.
OUTCOME: Obtained reversal of a bad ruling
Jason was retained by Husband after trial where the Court had ruled against Father in just about every category including depriving Husband of his sole and separate property. Jason was successful in obtaining a new trial. During the new trial the Court amended the prior order to grant Father two homes and property he had obtained to build a marital residence. This resulted in Husband obtaining significant property value that he would have been deprived of receiving otherwise.
OUTCOME: Obtained positive outcome for children
Jason represented Father, alleged to have committed sexual abuse on small children that not only had family law implications, but criminal charges as well. Through dedicated work and a strong team commitment the allegations were definitively proven to be false, and Mother was proven to be engaging in coaching and manipulation of the children that developmentally harmful to the children. Father was ultimately given sole legal decision making and Mother’s access to the children was restricted.
