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)

Udall Shumway

Arizona Family Law is not just about dividing property and debts when people make the decision to divorce. Family law is highly personal to each individual client and no two cases are exactly the same. Arizona law provides for certain rights and responsibilities for spouses and children and a thorough knowledge of those rights and responsibilities is critical to your successful navigation of the uncertainties of divorce. The attorneys and staff of the family law practice at Udall Shumway PLC are highly qualified professionals with a combined 200+ years of legal experience. We have four well qualified Family Law Divorce Attorneys, two of whom are certified specialists in family law who routinely provide continuing education seminars to other attorneys, are skilled litigators but also talented negotiators with an eye pointed towards settlement whenever possible. If you are contemplating a divorce, legal separation, or annulment, or you simply have questions about the process, please contact us for a consultation.

Especially in our current trying economic times, you may find yourself back in the family court due to modification of child support, spousal maintenance, or a potential relocation of your children out of state. Representation in such post-decree matters is included in the many services offered by our family law attorneys. It is important to understand your rights and options when faced with these perhaps drastic changes and the attorneys at Udall Shumway PLC are available to meet with you to discuss your questions and provide guidance on your next steps.