Robert E. Siesco

A Certified Family Law Specialist, Robert Siesco has over 40 years of legal experience in all aspects of divorce and family law, as an advocate and as a mediator and arbitrator.

Having been admitted to practice in 1978, Robert became a Board Certified Family Law Specialist in 1992 and was granted fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 1998, a distinction currently shared with just 33 other Arizona attorneys. Robert has served as a Judge Pro Tempore and as an advocate, mediator and arbitrator.

Robert emphasizes and represents family law clients on appeals and special actions to the Arizona Court of Appeals and his 40 years of experience have encompassed divorces, legal separations and annulments which involved:

• Business and real property valuations.
• Equitable division of community property and debt.
• Tax issues related to divorce.
• Spousal maintenance and child support.
• Attorney fees and court costs.
• Parenting rights and time-sharing schedules.
• Third-party visitation.
• The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.
• Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial contracts.
• Paternity.
• Post-decree enforcement, contempt and modification cases.
• Family law pppeals and special actions to the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Robert moved to Arizona from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1955. He graduated as an All-State football player from St. Mary’s High School and played football and ran track at Glendale Community College. Robert earned his undergraduate degree with High Distinction at the University of Arizona and his law degree from Arizona State University, in 1977. 

Robert has enjoyed an outdoor life in Arizona. His activities have included:

• White-water rafting the Salt River.
• Rappelling.
• Spelunking (Agua Caliente in southern Arizona).
• Orienteering with 7.5 maps.
• Fishing the Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry.
• Trail riding his thoroughbred horses (“Galileo” and “Duck”) throughout the state.
• Shooting sporting clays at the Ben Avery Range.
• Hiking the Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon.
• Hunting antelope at Estancia, New Mexico.
• Snow skiing at Sunrise and Taos.
• A one-day try at hang-gliding.
• Hiking and camping at the Pajarita Wilderness, Aztec Peak (Reynolds and Workman Creeks), the Mt. Kendrick Wilderness, West Clear Creek, the Bear Wallow Wilderness, Wet Beaver Creek and the Aravaipa Wilderness. 

Robert has been married for 40 years and has three grown children: two attorneys and a court reporter trainee. Robert’s personal library exceeds 3,000 books in literature, history, science, politics, poetry, painting and biography. His areas of special interest include the American novel, Hollywood, Vaudeville and Broadway, hypnosis, ham radio (.- - -. --… -. …. .), dogs and horses, firearms, maps and map-making, plants and botany, big-game hunting in Africa, professional boxing and world history.

Practice Areas

Appellate Law

Family Law

Mediation

Arbitration

Certifications

Certified Family Law Specialist: Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Arizona

Honors & Awards

Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

Super Lawyers: Family Law, 2010-2016

AV Preminent™ Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®

Professional Memberships

State Bar of Arizona

Professional Activities

Former Judge Pro Tempore, Maricopa County Superior Court

Bar and Court Admissions

Arizona, 1978

U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1981

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1981

Selected Published Opinions

Chang v. Siu, 234 Ariz. 442, 323 P.3d 725 (2014)

Rinegar v. Rinegar, 231 Ariz. 85, 290 P.3d 1208 (App. 2012)

Sanborn v. Brooker and Wake Property Management, Inc., 178 Ariz. 425, 874 P.2d 982 (App. 1994)

Robarge v. Bechtel Power Corp., 131 Ariz. 280, 640 P.2d 211 (App. 1982)

Kirby v. Rosell, 133 Ariz. 42, 648 P.2d 1048 (App. 1982)

City of Scottsdale v. Church of the Holy Cross Lutheran, 132 Ariz. 416, 646 P.2d 301 (App. 1982)

Associated Grocers v. Industrial Commission of Arizona, 126 Ariz. 412, 616 P.2d 87 (App. 1980)

Selected Memorandum Decisions

Thompson v. Vaughn, 2015 WL 8168318

Pachtman v. Pachtman, 2014 WL 4104185

Goldstein v. Goldstein, 2012 WL 3020076

Boncoskey v. Boncoskey, 2010 WL 475872

Naseman v. Naseman, 2010 WL 286810)

Kelledy v. Cockerham, 2010 WL 3211906

Presentations

“The Appeal Process,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2012

Education

J.D., Arizona State University College of Law, 1977

B.A., with High Distinction, University of Arizona, 1973

A.A., Glendale Community College, 1971