Est. 1967 • Scottsdale, Arizona

When a Divorce Puts It All at Risk, Protect What You’ve Built.

Strategic divorce representation focused on protecting real estate, retirement accounts, investments, and business interests through high-stakes property division. For executives and entrepreneurs facing complex asset division, we identify what’s truly at stake and build the strategy to keep it.

59

Years Serving Arizona

4.8 ★

Google Rating (244 Reviews)

30+

Years — Michelle Perkins

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Common Matters We Handle

Complex Property DivisionHigh-Asset DivorceBusiness Owner DivorceExecutive / Professional Divorce

Martindale-Hubbell®

AVVO

TrustAnalytica

ThreeBestRated.com

Martindale-Hubbell®

SuperLawyers.com

Built to Protect High-Stakes Property Division

When a divorce involves real estate, retirement and investment accounts, and business interests, dividing it fairly is a different category of difficult — and the difference between a defended outcome and a costly one. This is the work this firm is built around.

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Identify Every Asset

Before the first filing, we map the full financial picture — real estate, retirement and pension accounts, investments, business interests — so nothing that’s yours is left on the table or quietly undervalued.

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Protect Your Separate Property

Assets you brought into the marriage or inherited can stay yours — but only with the right tracing and commingling analysis. We document the line between separate and community property before it’s contested.

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Discreet & Responsive

Same-day outreach. Consultations scheduled within days. Communications routed through experienced counsel — not surfaced through staff. Your matter stays confidential at every level.

Practice Depth for Complex Property Division

The asset classes Owens & Perkins divides and defends every week. If your situation includes any of the below, you're in the right place.

Real estate portfolios — primary residences, vacation homes, investment properties, and commercial holdings.
Retirement & pension division — 401(k)s, IRAs, pensions, and QDROs.
Business interests & valuations — operating companies and ownership stakes, coordinated with valuation experts.
Hidden asset discovery — coordinated with forensic accounting where the financial picture appears incomplete.

Separate-property tracing — proving what's yours — inheritances, pre-marital assets, gifts — through commingling analysis.
Investment & brokerage accounts — valuation and division of complex portfolios, including tracing and commingling.
Executive compensation — stock options, RSUs, deferred comp, and performance grants.
Pre- and post-nuptial agreements — drafting, enforcement, and challenges where validity is in dispute.

The Firm’s Senior Attorney

Meet Michelle J. Perkins, Esq.

Michelle co-founded Owens & Perkins in 1994 alongside her grandfather, C.D. Owens, who began practicing law in 1949. That decision fused decades of old-school values with modern legal expertise — and the firm has been serving Arizona families ever since.

Today, Michelle is recognized as one of the most accomplished family law attorneys in Arizona, with particular depth in divorce cases involving significant assets, complex property division, and business valuations. She personally directs the firm's strategic approach across every high-asset matter the firm takes on.

AV Preeminent Rated — Highest Possible Rating in Legal Ability & Ethics (2014–2026)
50 Most Influential Women in Arizona Business
America’s Top 100 Attorneys — Lifetime Achievement Award
Former Judge Pro Tem — Maricopa County Superior Court
Platinum Client Champion — Martindale-Hubbell (2019–2025)
0+ Years of Dedicated Family Law Practice

The Team Around Michelle

You’ll Likely Work With One of These Two Attorneys.

Michelle directs the firm's strategy on every high-asset matter, but the day-to-day work on most cases is handled by one of the firm's two senior associate attorneys. Both have been hand-selected for the firm's depth in complex divorce work.

Michael J. Crane, Esq.

Attorney

Known for courtroom precision and a working knowledge of the unwritten rules that govern Arizona family law procedure. Michael has served as Judge Pro Tempore for the Maricopa County Superior Court and is the firm's lead attorney on a significant share of contested high-asset matters.

Avvo Top Attorney Rating — 9.1
Judge Pro Tempore (2024–2025)
Peer Review Rated — Martindale-Hubbell (2021–2025)
Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2023–2024)

Scott C. Ghormley, Esq.

Attorney

Brings an unusually analytical approach to family law, rooted in a biochemistry and business background before law school. Scott focuses on the structured, evidence-driven work that complex divorce cases demand — particularly business valuations, executive compensation, and complex property division.

Juris Doctor — Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, ASU
B.S. Biological Sciences & Biochemistry, Summa Cum Laude — ASU
Admitted — Arizona State Bar (2021)
Minor in Business — ASU

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

4.8 out of 5 based on 241 Google reviews

★★★★★

"I interviewed 31 attorneys when my ex wanted to divorce. I'm an expert in hiring and it's what I have done professionally for 30 years. I reduced it down from 31 to 5 attorneys and then 3rd round interviews with 2... truly she was my pick from the beginning. Michelle is smart and she cares. She's always 3-4 chess moves ahead of the other attorney, and sees the whole board and how everything will play out."

Charles — Google Review, August 2024

★★★★★

“Michael Crane delivered nothing short of outstanding representation... Surgical precision, top-notch documents, and specialized jurisdictional understanding of the unwritten rules that are layered beneath the already complex Arizona Family Law Procedure.”

Lyle F. — Google Review, December 2025

★★★★★

“Michelle was a BLESSING to have by my side throughout my divorce process. She was able to diffuse several potentially disastrous situations with my ex. Her level of professionalism and integrity are hard to come by in the legal profession today.”

Sam — Google Review

★★★★★

“First-class legal talent. Owens & Perkins has a straightforward approach and it was comforting. Their ability to devise creative strategies to complicated legal problems is to be rivaled.”

Jackie M. — Client Review

★★★★★

“Michelle not only moved my divorce case along but... she stayed focused to my case, never showed her own emotions and continued to be the utmost stellar professionalism from beginning to end. If I were a teacher grading her paper, I would give her an A+ Excellence with stars.”

Donald H. — Google Review, January 2025

★★★★★

“No flashy advertisements or high rise offices. Just a really, really good law firm grounded in expert legal knowledge and representation. Look no further.”

Hans K. — Google Review, December 2024

Awards & Recognition

Recognized by peers, judges, and clients for over three decades.

Martindale-Hubbell®

AV Preeminent Rated—Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal ability and Ethical Standards by both peers and Judges / 2014 – 2026

Martindale-Hubbell®

2024 - 30 Year Anniversary - Admitted to the Bar - 1994

Martindale-Hubbell®

Michelle J. Perkins, Esq. – AV Preeminent Rated – Highest Possible Peer Review Rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards - 2014-2024

Republic Media

Attorney Michelle J. Perkins - Successful Women Owners Network Lifetime Achievement Award - 2016

Martindale-Hubbell®

Michelle J. Perkins, Esq. – AV Preeminent Rated – Highest Possible Rating in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards – Judge and peer reviewed

Arizona Business Magazine

Michelle J. Perkins, Esq. – 50 Most Influential Women in Arizona | 2013

Getting Started Is Simple

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Build Your Strategy

If we’re the right fit, we’ll create a litigation strategy designed to protect your interests and reach the best possible outcome.

Protect What You’ve Built. The First Call Matters.

Serving Arizona since 1967. Schedule a confidential consultation with the Owens & Perkins team and protect what’s yours.

Request a Consultation Call 480-994-8824

Attorney Advertising. The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.