Arizona Child Custody Laws

Parenting Coordinators | Arizona Family Law

Laurence B. Hirsch

 

What is a Parenting Coordinator?

Hi. My name is Larry Hirsch, and I practice exclusively in the domestic relations group at Jaburg & Wilk. Parenting coordinators are appointed by the court, and the main thing that they do is help parents make decisions when the parents can’t agree. Look, the parties are getting divorced. Clearly they’re not seeing eye to eye on everything, and more often than not they don’t see eye to eye on parental decisions, nor can they make even the most simplistic agreements on their own. And so a lot of times somebody needs some help, and that’s where parenting coordinators come into play.

Who are Parenting Coordinators?

Parenting coordinators are often either other family lawyers who are well-versed in custodial litigation, or they’re mental health professionals or medical doctors.

Appropriate Issues

What kinds of issues are appropriate for what we call a PC to oversee? They’re issues like school, vacations, the change of a parenting day, the right of first refusal, babysitters, caregivers, even medical arrangements, medical decisions, which doctors they’re going to see. In other words, these are often things that people shouldn’t be litigating about. They shouldn’t be spending $10,000 on the issue of should I be picking up the kid at 3:15 on Thursday or 3 o’clock on Thursday? So that’s where parenting coordinators come into play – highly beneficial for the parties, saves a ton of money, also helps everybody’s mental health because things are handled quickly by the parenting coordinator.

Non-Appropriate Issues

Now, what are parenting coordinators not for? The main thing that a parenting coordinator is not for is making decisions with regard to decision-making authority or custody. In other words, if you are already divorced and you want to change your custodial access schedule – let’s say it’s week on/week off – and you don’t think father should be seeing the children that much any longer, the parenting coordinator is not the right person to go to for that. Unfortunately, the court is.

By: Laurence Hirsch

What is a Parenting Coordinator?

Hi. My name is Larry Hirsch, and I practice exclusively in the domestic relations group at Jaburg & Wilk. Parenting coordinators are appointed by the court, and the main thing that they do is help parents make decisions when the parents can’t agree. Look, the parties are getting divorced. Clearly they’re not seeing eye to eye on everything, and more often than not they don’t see eye to eye on parental decisions, nor can they make even the most simplistic agreements on their own. And so a lot of times somebody needs some help, and that’s where parenting coordinators come into play.

Who are Parenting Coordinators?

Parenting coordinators are often either other family lawyers who are well-versed in custodial litigation, or they’re mental health professionals or medical doctors.

Appropriate Issues

What kinds of issues are appropriate for what we call a PC to oversee? They’re issues like school, vacations, the change of a parenting day, the right of first refusal, babysitters, caregivers, even medical arrangements, medical decisions, which doctors they’re going to see. In other words, these are often things that people shouldn’t be litigating about. They shouldn’t be spending $10,000 on the issue of should I be picking up the kid at 3:15 on Thursday or 3 o’clock on Thursday? So that’s where parenting coordinators come into play – highly beneficial for the parties, saves a ton of money, also helps everybody’s mental health because things are handled quickly by the parenting coordinator.

Non-Appropriate Issues

Now, what are parenting coordinators not for? The main thing that a parenting coordinator is not for is making decisions with regard to decision-making authority or custody. In other words, if you are already divorced and you want to change your custodial access schedule – let’s say it’s week on/week off – and you don’t think father should be seeing the children that much any longer, the parenting coordinator is not the right person to go to for that. Unfortunately, the court is.

By: Laurence Hirsch

How Do I Modify Child Custody in Arizona | Phoenix Family Law

Joel Hoffman

 

Modifying Child Custody in Arizona

Child custody, which is now called legal decision-making modifications, are controlled by Arizona Revised Statutes, title 25, section 411, and Arizona Revised Statutes, title 25, section 403. A parent cannot modify legal decision-making or parenting time earlier than one year after the initial determination. Unless the court permits the request, because there is reason to believe the child’s present environment may seriously endanger the child’s physical, mental, moral, or emotional health.

The first step is to file a Post-Decree Petition for modification with the court. In order to obtain the modification the court considers 11 factors, which are clearly outlined in Arizona Revised Statute, title 25, section 403. Please contact me at Warner Angle, 602-264-7101. I will schedule a complimentary consultation to review your options of obtaining a modification, and the factors that the court considers in making their determination. I’ll look forward to meeting with you.

By: Attorney Joel Hoffman

Modifying Child Custody in Arizona

Child custody, which is now called legal decision-making modifications, are controlled by Arizona Revised Statutes, title 25, section 411, and Arizona Revised Statutes, title 25, section 403. A parent cannot modify legal decision-making or parenting time earlier than one year after the initial determination. Unless the court permits the request, because there is reason to believe the child’s present environment may seriously endanger the child’s physical, mental, moral, or emotional health.

The first step is to file a Post-Decree Petition for modification with the court. In order to obtain the modification the court considers 11 factors, which are clearly outlined in Arizona Revised Statute, title 25, section 403. Please contact me at Warner Angle, 602-264-7101. I will schedule a complimentary consultation to review your options of obtaining a modification, and the factors that the court considers in making their determination. I’ll look forward to meeting with you.

By: Attorney Joel Hoffman

What is Sole Legal Decision Making Authority | Scottsdale Child Custody

Greg Davis

 

Legal Decision Making

In Arizona, we don’t use the word legal custody anymore. We now refer to legal custody as decision-making authority. Sole legal decision making authority refers to a situation where one parent makes all the major decisions for a child. It’s rare. Most of the time, legal decision-making is joint. For more information, contact me, Greg Davis at Davis Limited, (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

Legal Decision Making

In Arizona, we don’t use the word legal custody anymore. We now refer to legal custody as decision-making authority. Sole legal decision making authority refers to a situation where one parent makes all the major decisions for a child. It’s rare. Most of the time, legal decision-making is joint. For more information, contact me, Greg Davis at Davis Limited, (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

What are the Different Forms of Child Custody | Scottsdale Child Custody

Chris Hildebrand

 

Types of Child Custody

I want to speak to you today about the different forms of legal custody of a child in the state of Arizona. When we talk about custody, we are really talking about two different aspects of custody as it relates to children.

Physical Custody

The first of which is, how much time the child or children spend in the each parent’s home. We refer to that as physical custody.

Legal Decision Making

But, the other aspect of custody has to do with who gets to make the major decisions affecting the child. For example, the decisions regarding education, such as where the child goes to school, medical decisions, the children’s participation in extracurricular activities and even the child’s religious upbringing.

If a parent has sole legal custody, that parent gets to make all those decisions irrespective of the wishes of the other parent. If the parents share joint legal custody however, both parents must agree regarding those decisions for the child. If you have any other questions regarding custody or parenting time in the state of Arizona, please feel free to contact me.

By: Chris Hildebrand

Types of Child Custody

I want to speak to you today about the different forms of legal custody of a child in the state of Arizona. When we talk about custody, we are really talking about two different aspects of custody as it relates to children.

Physical Custody

The first of which is, how much time the child or children spend in the each parent’s home. We refer to that as physical custody.

Legal Decision Making

But, the other aspect of custody has to do with who gets to make the major decisions affecting the child. For example, the decisions regarding education, such as where the child goes to school, medical decisions, the children’s participation in extracurricular activities and even the child’s religious upbringing.

If a parent has sole legal custody, that parent gets to make all those decisions irrespective of the wishes of the other parent. If the parents share joint legal custody however, both parents must agree regarding those decisions for the child. If you have any other questions regarding custody or parenting time in the state of Arizona, please feel free to contact me.

By: Chris Hildebrand

What Should I Expect During the First Meeting With My Divorce Attorney | Arizona

Mitchell Reichman

 

Hi, I’m Mitch Reichman. I’m a board certified family law specialist and I practice at Jaburg and Wilk.

How can I make the most of my first meeting?

The way a client can make the most of their first meeting with me is to be organized and to bring me basic general information. So I want a simple statement of their assets and their liabilities. I’d like to see the most recent three years of tax returns. And I recommend the client bring notes. At least bullet points of the topics the client would like to cover in that first meeting.

Should I bring all of my records to the first meeting?

I don’t ask them to bring a lot of documents to the first meeting. We’re going to follow up and gather a lot of documents during the process. Certainly I would not want the to bring a box of records to the meeting. It would be very inefficient, very expensive for the client for me to be thumbing through a box of records in that first meeting.

What information are you looking for initially?

We’re looking for broad strokes of information. We want to identify in that first meeting what the assets are and what the liabilities are. To find out about their children. To know about income and expenses. To see if someone is going to be needing spousal maintenance for example. So just broadly identify the topics we’re going to need to address. We’re going to gather a lot of details along the way, but that wouldn’t be a useful way to spend our time the first meeting.

By: Mitchell Reichman

Hi, I’m Mitch Reichman. I’m a board certified family law specialist and I practice at Jaburg and Wilk.

How can I make the most of my first meeting?

The way a client can make the most of their first meeting with me is to be organized and to bring me basic general information. So I want a simple statement of their assets and their liabilities. I’d like to see the most recent three years of tax returns. And I recommend the client bring notes. At least bullet points of the topics the client would like to cover in that first meeting.

Should I bring all of my records to the first meeting?

I don’t ask them to bring a lot of documents to the first meeting. We’re going to follow up and gather a lot of documents during the process. Certainly I would not want the to bring a box of records to the meeting. It would be very inefficient, very expensive for the client for me to be thumbing through a box of records in that first meeting.

What information are you looking for initially?

We’re looking for broad strokes of information. We want to identify in that first meeting what the assets are and what the liabilities are. To find out about their children. To know about income and expenses. To see if someone is going to be needing spousal maintenance for example. So just broadly identify the topics we’re going to need to address. We’re going to gather a lot of details along the way, but that wouldn’t be a useful way to spend our time the first meeting.

By: Mitchell Reichman

How to Change a Child's Last Name in Arizona | Hildebrand Law, PC

 

Changing a Child’s Last Name in Arizona

Parents may decide they want to change a child’s last name. This typically occurs when a child is born to an unmarried couple. The father may want the child to have his last name while the mother may not want to change the name at all. A child’s last name is his or her identity. The child’s last name also reflects the identity of his or her parents. Learn more about changing a child’s last name in Arizona from Arizona child custody attorney, Michael Clancy, of Hildebrand Law, PC.

You can contact Michael Clancy at (480)305-8300 to schedule a consultation.

Changing a Child’s Last Name in Arizona

Parents may decide they want to change a child’s last name. This typically occurs when a child is born to an unmarried couple. The father may want the child to have his last name while the mother may not want to change the name at all. A child’s last name is his or her identity. The child’s last name also reflects the identity of his or her parents. Learn more about changing a child’s last name in Arizona from Arizona child custody attorney, Michael Clancy, of Hildebrand Law, PC.

You can contact Michael Clancy at (480)305-8300 to schedule a consultation.

What Courts Consider When Determining Child Custody | Phoenix Family Law

Erik Bergstrom

 

Determining Child Custody in Phoenix, Arizona

In Arizona, child custody is now called legal decision-making. The law establishes a preference for joint legal decision-making, and a parent seeking sole legal decision-making will have the burden to prove to the court why such an order is in the best interest of the minor children. Some acceptable reasons might include drug or alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse or mental illness.

11 Statutory Factors

In making it’s order, the court is required to consider all information that is relevant to the children’s best interest and in particular, the eleven statutory factors. I won’t describe all of those factors here, but they include the past, present and potential future relationship between the parent and the children; the children’s relationship with family members and their adjustment to home, school and community; the mental and physical health of the parents and the children; and if the children are of suitable age and maturity, the wishes of the children.

Age of Children Effects Child Custody

On this last point, there is no specific age at which a child gets to choose where to live. As the child gets closer to age 18, his or her wishes will carry more weight with the court. Typically, courts start giving significant weight to the child’s wishes around age 12 or 13. If you have more questions concerning legal decision-making or parenting time, please contact me.

By: Attorney Erik Bergstrom

Determining Child Custody in Phoenix, Arizona

In Arizona, child custody is now called legal decision-making. The law establishes a preference for joint legal decision-making, and a parent seeking sole legal decision-making will have the burden to prove to the court why such an order is in the best interest of the minor children. Some acceptable reasons might include drug or alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse or mental illness.

11 Statutory Factors

In making it’s order, the court is required to consider all information that is relevant to the children’s best interest and in particular, the eleven statutory factors. I won’t describe all of those factors here, but they include the past, present and potential future relationship between the parent and the children; the children’s relationship with family members and their adjustment to home, school and community; the mental and physical health of the parents and the children; and if the children are of suitable age and maturity, the wishes of the children.

Age of Children Effects Child Custody

On this last point, there is no specific age at which a child gets to choose where to live. As the child gets closer to age 18, his or her wishes will carry more weight with the court. Typically, courts start giving significant weight to the child’s wishes around age 12 or 13. If you have more questions concerning legal decision-making or parenting time, please contact me.

By: Attorney Erik Bergstrom

What is an Arizona Parenting Plan Document | Scottsdale Child Custody

Greg Davis

 

Scottsdale Parenting Plans

A parenting plan is a document, which a judge will make or parents can make themselves. It describes with whom a child will live and on what days of the week. It describes which parent, or both parents will make the decisions for the child. For details, contact me, Greg Davis at Davis Limited, (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

Scottsdale Parenting Plans

A parenting plan is a document, which a judge will make or parents can make themselves. It describes with whom a child will live and on what days of the week. It describes which parent, or both parents will make the decisions for the child. For details, contact me, Greg Davis at Davis Limited, (602) 279-1900.

By: Greg Davis

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