McMurdie Law & Mediation

McMurdie Law & Mediation Cristi McMurdie is the sole partner for the Tempe-based McMurdie Law & Mediation which serves clients in family law, juvenile law and mediation.

Cristi McMurdie & McMurdie Law provides estate planning, family law, and mediation services. We will walk you through every step of the way when planning for the future of your estate, litigating family legal situations, and mediating for a mutual outcome. Cristi has specialized in family law for more than two decades. She also has substantial experience in estate planning. Cristi values sustainin

g and preserving family relationships and their assets. Her conservative approach to clients' legal needs often entails reviewing options that may include mediation first, www.whymediation.com. Opportunities for resolution out of court can occur at many junctures in a case. She can start and finish your case out of court, saving you money and time.

If making time for in-person sessions is difficult, virtual mediation offers a practical solution. McMurdie Law & Mediat...
08/28/2026

If making time for in-person sessions is difficult, virtual mediation offers a practical solution. McMurdie Law & Mediation has conducted professional virtual mediation sessions via Zoom, FaceTime, and other video platforms since well before it became standard practice.

Virtual mediation is equally effective for:
✔ Parenting plan updates and modifications
✔ Child support and spousal maintenance discussions
✔ Post-decree dispute resolution
✔ Holiday and back-to-school schedule planning

The confidentiality, neutrality, and legal effectiveness of a mediation session doesn't change based on whether it takes place in person or online.

📖 Learn more about virtual mediation:
👉 https://mcmurdielaw.com/no-contact-virtual-and-online-divorce-solutions-in-arizona/

📞 (480) 777-5500 | mcmurdielaw.com/contact-us/



For Arizona families pursuing stepparent adoption, the Decree of Adoption is the final legal milestoneThe steps leading ...
08/27/2026

For Arizona families pursuing stepparent adoption, the Decree of Adoption is the final legal milestone

The steps leading to that decree include:
✔ Obtaining consent from the biological parent (or court-ordered termination of parental rights)
✔ Filing the adoption petition with the correct court
✔ Background check of the adopting stepparent
✔ Court hearing, when required
✔ Issuance of the adoption decree

McMurdie Law & Mediation guides families through every step of this meaningful process.

Learn more: https://mcmurdielaw.com/understanding-stepparent-adoption-in-arizona/

📞 (480) 777-5500 · Tempe, AZ



No co-parenting relationship is conflict-free and the best parenting plans acknowledge that reality by building in a cle...
08/26/2026

No co-parenting relationship is conflict-free and the best parenting plans acknowledge that reality by building in a clear process for resolving disputes without immediately returning to court.

Common dispute resolution mechanisms Arizona parents can include in their parenting plans:

📋 Mediation first: Requiring both parties to attempt mediation before filing any court motion on a parenting dispute.
👤 Parenting coordinator: A neutral professional with the authority to make binding decisions on specific co-parenting disputes, without a court hearing.
📬 Decision-making protocols: For joint legal decision-making situations, specifying a clear process

📖 Read about parenting plans and modifications: 👉 https://mcmurdielaw.com/divorce-family-law-tempe-az/modifications/

📞 (480) 777-5500 | mcmurdielaw.com/contact-us/



In an Arizona divorce, both parties are required to exchange financial affidavits and supporting documentation — includi...
08/25/2026

In an Arizona divorce, both parties are required to exchange financial affidavits and supporting documentation — including bank statements, tax returns, retirement account statements, property records, and business documents.

This is not optional. And deliberately concealing assets or understating income carries serious legal consequences — including the court awarding the concealed asset to the other party entirely.

McMurdie Law & Mediation guides clients through the disclosure process efficiently and ensures they understand what is required.

Learn more: https://mcmurdielaw.com/divorce-family-law-tempe-az/property-division/

📞 (480) 777-5500 · Tempe, AZ



What makes collaborative divorce uniquely child-focused:👶 Child specialist participation: A trained child specialist ser...
08/24/2026

What makes collaborative divorce uniquely child-focused:

👶 Child specialist participation: A trained child specialist serves as a neutral voice for the children's needs and concerns
🤝 Cooperative structure: Both parents commit upfront to transparency and resolution.
📋 Customized parenting plans: Rather than generic court-ordered arrangements.

📖 Read more about collaborative divorce: 👉 https://mcmurdielaw.com/about-mcmurdie-law/collaborative-divorce/

📞 (480) 777-5500 | mcmurdielaw.com/contact-us/



Arizona's no-fault divorce law is one of the most significant but least understood aspects of the state's family law sys...
08/21/2026

Arizona's no-fault divorce law is one of the most significant but least understood aspects of the state's family law system. Here's what it actually means:
✔ You do not need your spouse's consent to get a divorce in Arizona
✔ You do not need to prove adultery, abuse, or any other wrongdoing to file
✔ Your spouse cannot legally prevent the divorce from proceeding
✔ The only grounds needed are that the marriage is "irretrievably broken"

📖 Read more about Arizona divorce law: 👉 https://mcmurdielaw.com/divorce-family-law-tempe-az/

📞 (480) 777-5500 | mcmurdielaw.com/contact-us/



One of the most common questions in Arizona divorce cases involving spousal maintenance is: how long will it last?The an...
08/20/2026

One of the most common questions in Arizona divorce cases involving spousal maintenance is: how long will it last?

The answer depends on several factors:
✔ Length of the marriage
✔ The recipient spouse's ability to become financially self-sufficient
✔ The standard of living established during the marriage
✔ Each party's financial resources, including property received in the divorce
✔ The contribution of either spouse to the other's career or education

Learn more: https://mcmurdielaw.com/divorce-family-law-tempe-az/alimony-spousal-support/

📞 (480) 777-5500 · Tempe, AZ



One of the most misunderstood benefits of family mediation is its confidentiality protection.Under Arizona law, communic...
08/19/2026

One of the most misunderstood benefits of family mediation is its confidentiality protection.

Under Arizona law, communications made in the course of mediation are generally confidential and inadmissible in court. This means:

✔ Offers you make during mediation cannot be presented in court as evidence against you
✔ Admissions or concessions discussed during sessions stay in the room
✔ Both parties can speak candidly about their priorities and concerns without those statements being weaponized later

📖 Learn more about how family mediation works: 👉 https://mcmurdielaw.com/family-mediation/

📞 (480) 777-5500 | mcmurdielaw.com/contact-us/



Court orders in Arizona family law cases are legally binding. Violating them has legal consequences.A contempt filing ma...
08/18/2026

Court orders in Arizona family law cases are legally binding. Violating them has legal consequences.

A contempt filing may be appropriate when:
✔ Child support or spousal maintenance payments are repeatedly missed
✔ Parenting time is being withheld or interfered with
✔ Property transfers ordered by the court have not been completed
✔ A party is violating specific terms of the divorce decree

McMurdie Law & Mediation handles both enforcement and contempt matters. Learn more: https://mcmurdielaw.com/divorced-but-not-done-what-to-know-about-post-decree-disputes/
📞 (480) 777-5500 · Tempe, AZ



A strong special-needs parenting plan in Arizona should address:✔ Participation rights in IEP meetings and school evalua...
08/17/2026

A strong special-needs parenting plan in Arizona should address:

✔ Participation rights in IEP meetings and school evaluations
✔ How therapy and medical appointments are coordinated across both households
✔ Consistency in routines and approaches between homes
✔ Communication protocols with specialized care providers
✔ How extraordinary care costs are shared
✔ Decision-making authority for educational and therapeutic interventions

McMurdie Law & Mediation has experience helping families with special-needs children craft detailed, workable plans that reflect the child's actual needs — not just a generic template.

📖 Learn about parenting plans and modifications: 👉 https://mcmurdielaw.com/divorce-family-law-tempe-az/modifications/

📞 (480) 777-5500 | mcmurdielaw.com/contact-us/



Address

64 E. Broadway Road Ste. 200
Tempe, AZ
85282

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14807775500

Website

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