Category : Child Custody

If your name is not on your child’s birth certificate, Arizona law provides a procedure to add it. Depending on the mother’s marital status and whether the parents agree on paternity, the process can be simple, or it can be more complex. If you are interested in learning how to establish your paternity or have […]

As the holidays approach, it can be challenging to want to share custody of your children. Disagreements over custody around the holidays are common, even when parents are able to co-parent effectively for most of the year. This is especially true if one parent plans a special trip or other activities with the child during […]

Concerns over the children’s last names are rather common. It’s a lot more common when the parents aren’t married and already have a child. Suppose the parents are divorced or legally separated at the time of the baby’s birth, and the mother chooses to give the infant her last name. In that case, the question […]

Arizona Prop 207, which allows adults over the age of 21 to legally possess and use marijuana for recreational purposes, was approved by voters in 2020. Now those over the age of 21 can possess and use marijuana without the fear of prosecution. Arizona residents are now allowed to visit a registered dispensary and buy […]

Child custody evaluations are a frequent occurrence. Nonetheless, despite their commonality, it may be a highly nerve-racking struggle for a parent. To alleviate those worries and provide sufficient preparation for the process, parents should gather information about custody evaluations and their impact on child custody proceedings. Child Custody Evaluation 101 In general, a child custody […]

Divorce can be a stressful and frustrating process. We understand that you may be concerned about what it means and how it will affect you, your children, and your connection with them. But you should be aware that, as a responsible and loving father, you have plenty of legal rights in Arizona. Is it true […]

Rule 69 agreement for joint legal decision-making and parenting time was approved and adopted by the court in this Arizona divorce. Once adopted, Rule 69 agreements are binding and must be included in the final decree. Specific findings of substantial domestic violence acts occurring after the agreement was adopted but before the decree is entered […]

Mother filed her petition to modify child custody in Arizona compliant with the state’s law. Father did not file a petition for modification, but motioned for temporary orders requesting he be awarded sole legal custody. The court granted father’s motion for sole legal decision-making. Affirmed on appeal, the mother’s interpretation of Arizona custody modification law […]

At what stage is your divorce? Whether you’re under temporary custody orders, an informal arrangement, seeking modified custody, or have been co-parenting for years, COVID-19 has probably thrown you for a loop. Have faith, fear not. We know from experience that parents are amazingly resourceful and kids are phenomenally resilient. You can do this. These […]

The Superior Court in Maricopa County has issued new Family Court Guidelines for Parenting Time of Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic. These new guidelines comply with Governor Ducey’s Executive Order 2020-18 (Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected), CDC recommendations, and applicable family law. If you have a parenting plan or parenting time order, then these […]

Hybrid child custody orders where parents are awarded joint legal decision-making with one parent granted final say in the event they cannot agree after consultation and good faith effort is common practice in Arizona. Awarding final say to one parent does not convert joint authority into sole legal decision-making as to child’s medical, mental health, […]

Arizona court had jurisdiction to modify Illinois child custody order on Nebraska father’s petition. Statute governing registration of foreign child support orders does not control registration of foreign child custody orders. With petition to modify out-of-state child support order, Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) requires prior registration. But Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement […]

Hospital employees used emergency hotline with Superior Court to obtain medical treatment orders after minor patient and parents refused blood transfusions on religious grounds. With two exceptions, Arizona subject matter jurisdiction attaches upon filed petition or complaint. In this special action, the Court of Appeals held that because Banner hospital failed to initiate legal action […]

Arizona Court of Appeals held the family court has statutory authority to modify an order of protection when terms may conflict with the court’s parenting orders in divorce or child custody proceedings. But only to the degree the family court is satisfied the modified order of protection and party’s request for parenting time will not […]

In this special action, the trial court entered temporary child custody orders granting grandparents sole legal decision-making and parenting time of the mother’s five minor children following ex-parte petition and hearing. Mother’s fitness as a parent was challenged and the trial court did not err in granting temporary third-party custody to the grandparents. Gia Chapman […]

Biological father filed paternity establishment petition in California where both parents resided. His parental rights were terminated on statutory ground he failed to file notice of claim of paternity with Arizona putative fathers registry. Mother’s fraud and adoption agency misrepresentations were punished by award of sanctions. No due process violation with service by publication because […]

Mother fraudulently acknowledged husband’s paternity in her Arizona petition for divorce. The husband was awarded joint custody, yet did not adopt the child and was not added to the birth certificate. Two years after divorcing, the former spouses were parties in Mr. Chao’ action to establish paternity. The Superior Court set aside that portion of […]

Modification of other state court’s child custody order for parenting time and legal decision-making was proper where Arizona court first asserted temporary emergency jurisdiction under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). After New York and Florida declined jurisdiction, Arizona asserted home state jurisdiction over a child who resided in Arizona with the father […]

Paternal grandparents’ visitation rights following Arizona divorce involved best interests of two grandchildren and mother’s refusal of access. Having properly accorded special weight to mother’s objection to grandparent visitation, having made findings on best interest of the child factors, the trial court found grandparents rebutted the fit-parent presumption and ordered visitation. Affirmed on appeal. Lisa […]

Arizona marital presumption of paternity statute is gender-specific, applies only to men, and cannot be rewritten by the court to apply to women; there is no legal presumption favoring a female spouse who is neither biologically connected nor the adoptive parent in women’s same-sex marriage. Turner v. Hon. R.K. Steiner/Oakley Temporary Child Custody Orders Are […]