Steven H. Everts
Steve Everts has practiced law for over 44 years and represented and counseled thousands of clients in family law matters. He averages over 60 court appearances and dozens of contested hearings and trials each year. He has been lead counsel in all family law trials and 12 jury trials. He has also been retained as an expert witness to testify regarding the performance of other lawyers. He has attended over 100 continuing legal education seminars and 11 parenting courses in the field of family law. He has been a presenter at many Family Law seminars, including 14 straight years at the prestigious Arizona Family Law Institute, the Arizona and Southwest Divorce Conferences, the National Business Institute, and the Maricopa County Bar Association. He recently authored the article, “Rule 69 and Family Law Settlement Agreements: When is a Deal a Deal?” published by the Arizona Summit Law Review, 6 Accord, Prac. Legal J. 147 (2017). He has also written the briefs and/or handled the appeals in over 60 appellate cases.
Steve is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a Board-Certified Specialist in Family Law by the Arizona State Bar, and a Board Certified Advocate in Family Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is asked to serve frequently as Judge and Commissioner pro-tem for the Family Law section of the Maricopa County Superior Court where he has served for 20 years. He has been rated AV Preeminent (highest competency/ethical standard) by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory for many years. Steve has been selected for inclusion in Southwest Super Lawyers every year from 2010 to present and Best Lawyers in America. He is licensed to practice in both Arizona and Utah in both Federal and State courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California.
Practice Areas
- Appeals
- Divorce and Family Law
- Expert Witness
- Special Master
Education
- J. D., University of Utah College of Law, 1976
- B.A., (English), University of Utah, 1973 (Cum Laude)
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Arizona State and Federal Courts (1977)
- Utah State and Federal Courts (1976)
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (1986)
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
- Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2005-present)
- Judge Pro-tem Maricopa County Superior Court (1998-except 3 years)
- State Bar of Arizona (1977-present)
- Utah State Bar Association (1976-present)
- Member of the Arizona Supreme Court Child Support Guidelines Review Subcommittee – Income Issues Workgroup (2020-2021)
- Assistant, Supreme Court Committee on Examinations (1977-1985)
- Phoenix Association of Defense Counsel (1977-1988)
Awards and Special Recognition
- State Bar Certified Family Law Specialist (1998 – present)
- Board Certified Advocate in Family Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy website (2016 – present)
- Best Lawyers in America (2017 – present)
- Southwest Super Lawyers (2010 – present)
- Top Attorneys in the Southwest
- Phoenix Magazine, Top Attorneys in Arizona
- American Registry of Top Attorneys in Arizona
- Arizona’s Finest Lawyers
- Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating AV® (Preeminent 5.0 out of 5) (highest ranking available)
- AVVO Rating 10.0
Presentations
- Custody Evaluations: Understanding the Tools and Challenging the Report/Legal Ethics (NBI, June 2022)
- Arizona Family Law Trial College (Maricopa County), Demonstration of Direct-Examination and Cross-Examination of parents at Temporary Orders Hearing (February 2022)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or Worse), Hot Tips Panel/Three Hot Tips: Where Family Court Meets Probate Court (January 2022)
- Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information/Arizona Family Law Practice for Paralegals (December 2021)
- Maricopa County Bar Association, Rule 69 Enforcement presentation; PowerPoint (March 2021)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Dividing Retirement and Related Benefits in Divorce: A Panel Discussion (January 2021)
- Domestic Violence: The Intersection of Family Law and Psychology (Arizona Psychological Association, September 2020)
- Financial Affidavits in Divorce: Obtaining, Reading and Interpreting Key Financial Disclosures in Divorce (NBI, May 2020) (Rating 4.85 out of 5)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Special Actions 101 (January 2020) (Rating 4.73 presentation, 4.7 materials out of 5.0 with a 4.62 overall score of the program)
- AAML Trial College (Maricopa County) (October 2019) (Critiquing, judging, cross-examination demonstration)
- Ethical Questions for Paralegals, Divorce Cases from Start to Finish for Paralegals (NBI, October 2019) (Rating 5.0 out of 5)
- AAML Trial College (Pima County) (March 2019) (Critiquing, judging)
- Family Law Institute (For Better of For Worse), Presenting the Domestic Violence Case in Court (January 2019) (Rating 4.65 presentation, 4.72 materials out of 5.0 with 4.38 overall score of the program)
- Maricopa County Bar Association, Rule 69 Updates on Enforcement and Challenges (March 2018)
- Enforcement and Modification of Family Law Orders and Decrees, Arizona Family Practice for Paralegals (Half Moon Education Inc.) (February 2018)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Using Demonstrative Evidence in Custody Cases (January 2018) (Rating 4.76 presentation, 4.83 materials out of 5.0 with 4.69 overall score for the program)
- Southwest Divorce Conference, Critiquing and Challenging Commercial and Residential Appraisals in Divorce (October 2017)
- Advanced Custody and Support Issues (Alienation, Abuse, Relocation) (NBI, June 2017)(Rating 4.89 out of 5)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Enforcement/Contempt: It’s One Thing to Win; It’s Another to Collect (January 2017) (Rating 4.89 presentation, 4.95 material out of 5.0 with 4.71 overall score of the program)
- Firm In-House Family Law Seminar on Child Support/Spousal Maintenance (May 2016)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Ethics and the Internet: Issues Involving Devices and Social Media (January 2016) (Rating 4.80 speaker, 4.65 materials out of 5.0 with 4.56 overall score of the program)
- Arizona Divorce Conference, Trusts and Related Issues (Jurisdiction, Joinder, Disbursement) in Family Law Cases (October 2015)
- Firm In-House Family Law Seminar on Child Relocation (August 2015)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Rule 69 and Settlement Issues (January 2015)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Family Law Considerations Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) (January 2014)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Rule 10: Child’s Attorney, Best Interests Attorney (BIA), Court Appointed Advisor (CAA), Guardian (January 2013)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Family Law Trials: “A Minute to Win It” (January 2012)
- Mock Trial Presentation, Maricopa County Bar Association (June 2011)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), The Right of Privacy in Marriage (January 2011)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Dissipation of Community Assets (January 2010)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Spousal Maintenance (January 2009)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), File Management (January 2008)
- Custody Issues in Arizona, Mental Health Professional and the Court System, Divorce, Paternity, UCCJA, PKPA, Grandparent Issues, Domestic Violence, and Orders of Protection (Lorman Education Services, August 2000)
- 15 Symptoms of an Unhealthy Marriage, PowerPoint Class for Married Couples (1996, 2001, 2009, 2012, 2017)
- Marriage and Family classes (periodically from 2000 to present)
Publications
- Domestic Violence: The Intersection of Family Law and Psychology (2020)
- Financial Affidavits in Divorce: Obtaining Reading and Interpreting Financial Disclosures in Divorce (2020)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Special Actions 101 (2020)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Presenting the Domestic Violence Case in Court (2019)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Using Demonstrative Evidence in Custody Cases (2018)
- “Rule 69 and Family Law Settlement Agreements: When is a Deal a Deal?”, Arizona Summit Law Review, 6 Accord, Prac. Legal J. 147 (2017)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Enforcement/Contempt: It’s One Thing to Win; It’s Another to Collect (2017)
- Family Law Institute (For Better or For Worse), Ethics and the Internet: Issues Involving Devices and Social Media (PowerPoint and printed materials) (2016)
- “15 Symptoms of an Unhealthy Marriage” (2017)
- “10 Myths About Legal Fees”
- “Strict Liability: Recovery for Damage to the Defective Product Itself,” 18 Arizona Bar Journal 18 (Oct. 1982)
Divorce and Parenting Courses Completed
- Parenting Skills Program (10 weeks)
- Parenting Magic (Let’s Fix the Kids!) (James D. Jones, Ph.D.)
- Growing Through Divorce (Jim Smoke) (six weeks)
- Discipline Workshop (Limits With Love) (Margo Dunatov)
- Single Parent Seminar (Valeta Wright)
- Parenting Assistance Program (Diana Baysinger) (seven weeks)
- The Dynamics of The Adult Child (Ann Wagner) (five weeks)
- Effective Step-Parenting (Joanne Hagman)
- Divorce and the Trauma to Children (John A. Moran, Ph.D.)
- Alone Again Lecture (JoceLynn Turley-Bartlett)
- Parenting Skills Program (Fran Harris) (10 weeks)
Firm Administration
- Managing Partner (7 years)
- Management Committee (16 years)
- Trustee of Firm Retirement Plan (35 years)
- Family Law Section Chair (12 years)
- Hiring and Recruiting Committee (2 years)
Appeals/Special Actions
- Twenty or more appellate Briefs and Habeas Corpus Petitions while Law Clerk at Utah State Attorney General’s Office (1974-76)
- Custom Roofing Co., Inc. v. Transamerica Ins. Co., 120 Ariz. 196, 584 P.2d 1187 (App. 1978)
- Tenney v. Home and Garden Rental Centers of America, Inc.
- Correa v. Curbey, 124 Ariz. 480, 605 P.2d 458 (App. 1979)
- In re Marriage of Foster, 125 Ariz. 208, 608 P.2d 785 (App. 1980)
- Lowman v. City of Mesa, 125 Ariz. 590, 611 P.2d 943 (App. 1980)
- Rocky Mountain Fire & Casualty Co. v. Biddulph Oldsmobile, 131 Ariz. 289, 640 P.2d 851 (1982)
- Pruitt v. Pavelin, 141 Ariz. 195, 685 P.2d 1347 (App.1984)
- Sarge v. Bentson Contracting Co., 1 CA-CIV 6859, Memorandum Decision (3/7/85)
- Preferred Risk Mut. Ins. Co. v. Tank, 146 Ariz. 33, 703 P.2d 580 (App. 1985)
- Hoffman v. First American Title Ins. Co. of Arizona, 1 CA-CIV 7248, Memorandum Decision (7/16/85)
- Gyurko v. A. J. Bayless Markets, Inc., 1 CA-CIV 7611, Memorandum Decision (1/9/86)
- Schultz v. Eslick, 788 F.2d 558 (9th Cir. 1986)
- Exceptional Realty, Inc. v. Performance Auto Rebuilders, 1 CA-CIV 9528, Memorandum Decision (4/18/88)
- Parra v. Parra, 1 CA-CIV 97-0434, Memorandum Decision
- Patton v. Patton, 1 CA-CIV 98-0320, Memorandum Decision
- Thompson v. Thompson, 1 CA-CV 98-0653, Memorandum Decision
- Ludeman v. Superior Court in and for the County of Maricopa, 1 CA-SA 99-0208
- Kasten v. Kasten, 1 CA-CV 00-0166, Memorandum Decision
- Robertson v. Blanchard, 1CA-CV 00-0283, Memorandum Decision (8/28/01)
- Harvell v. Harvell, 1 CA-CV 00-0458, Memorandum Decision (9/11/01)
- Zimmerman v. Zimmerman, 1 CA-CV 02-0240 (Involuntary Dismissal)
- Klus v. Klus, 1 CA-CV 02-0287, Memorandum Decision
- Antonelli v. Benden, 1 CA-CV 02-0535, Memorandum Decision
- Lundstrom v. Lundstrom, 1 CA-CV 02-0653, Memorandum Decision
- Kaiser-Kasten v. Kasten, 1 CA-CV 03-0066, Memorandum Decision
- Carroll v. Superior Court in and for the County of Yuma, 1 CA-SA 03-0102
- Blanchard v. Blanchard, 1 CA-CV 03-0247 (Settled)
- Kay S. v. Mark S., 213 Ariz. 373, 142 P.3d 249 (App. 2006)
- Given v. Given, 1 CA-CV 04-0800, Memorandum Decision
- Newberry v. Weinstein, 1 CA-CV 05-0424, Memorandum Decision
- Cooper v. Dahlhauser, 1 CA-CV 05-0772, Memorandum Decision
- Hawkins v. Hawkins, 1 CA-CV 08-0833, Memorandum Decision
- Navarre v. Garalczyk, 1 CA-CV 10-0817, Memorandum Decision (12/6/11)
- Warfield v. Smith, 1 CA-CV 10-0526, Memorandum Decision (12/29/11)
- Large v. Schmidt, 1 CA-CV 11-0073, Memorandum Decision (3/27/12)
- Burk v. Teufel, 1 CA-CV 11-0317, Memorandum Decision (7/3/12)
- Burk v. Teufel, 1 CA-CV 15-0117, Memorandum Decision (4/4/16)
- Lawellin v Gomez-Wilson, 1 CA-CV 16-0547, Memorandum Decision (7/11/17)
- Amadore v. Lifgren, 802 Ariz. Adv. Rep 10, 431 P.3d 579 (App. 2018)
- Barroso v. Barroso 1 CA-CV 17-0347, Memorandum Decision (8/23/18)
- Wilson v. Wilson, 1CA-CV 17-0704, Memorandum Decision (11/29/18)
- Buckholtz v. Buckholtz, 246 Ariz. 126, 435 P.3d 1032 (App.2019)
- Farr v Kendrick, Case No. 19-16297 , 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Memorandum Decision (8/20/20)
- Daniel P. v. Lori R., E.P., 1 CA-JV 19-0419, Memorandum Decision (5/19/20) (full trial w/appeal assistance)
- Priddy v. Moore, 1 CA-CV 20-0272, Memorandum Decision (2/18/21)
- Caver v. Caver, 1 CA-SA 21-0008 (Special Action/Order Accepting Jurisdiction and Granting Relief) (3/25/21)
- Cormier v. Cormier, 1 CA-CV 21-0604 FC (pending)
- Staker v. Staker, 1 CA-CV 21-0766 FC (pending)
- Sowards v. Sowards, CV-22-0065-PR (Supreme Court Petition for Review pending)