As parents going through a divorce, one major concern is how parenting time and decision-making will work once you begin living separate lives. Many assume a judge must decide everything, but it's not always the case. Arizona law encourages parents to cooperate when...
Child Custody
Can a teen choose which parent to live with?
When your child becomes a teenager, they may have strong opinions about where they want to live. You may wonder how much influence your teen has and what Arizona law allows. Teens cannot choose a parent in an Arizona divorce. But their opinions can matter in some...
Could your child request to live only with your ex?
Many child custody disputes arise because parents have different ideas of what child custody should look like. Say that both you and your ex want sole custody of your child. Since you want fundamentally different things, there is no way to compromise, so the court is...
Adjusting a parenting plan after one parent remarries
When one parent remarries, it does change family dynamics, but it does not automatically mean that a parenting plan must be adjusted. In many cases, remarriage does not affect custody, visitation or parenting time arrangements at all. Courts understand that parents...
Can both parents be there? 4 co-parenting tips for life events
Divorce changes family life, but it does not change your child’s need for support at big moments. From school plays to birthday parties to soccer finals, these occasions matter. For parents who share custody, the question often is: Can both of us be there without...
When to update your Arizona parenting plan
When you signed your divorce papers, your parenting time schedule reflected your life at that moment – your work hours, your children’s ages and where everyone lived. Fast forward a few years, and those arrangements you carefully crafted might feel like they belong to...
Do you need court approval to relocate with your child?
When you share custody of your child in Arizona, moving to a new city or state comes with important legal steps. While it could be tempting to just leave the state, it is crucial to understand that there is a legal process involved. You must follow the rules to avoid...
I’ve been accused of parental alienation. Now what?
As we’ve discussed previously on the blog, parental alienation is real, and it can be extraordinarily harmful to kids. Courts have become more receptive to parental alienation arguments, too, making them a key piece of child custody cases throughout Arizona. While you...
What are urgent custody requests?
Sometimes, situations change quickly, and when a child’s safety is at risk, the court may step in through an emergency custody motion. These are legal requests that ask a judge to temporarily change who has custody of a child, usually when there is a serious concern...
How to split weekends when kids prefer the “fun” parent
Navigating shared custody can be a delicate dance, especially when children begin to express a preference. The kids may prefer spending all their weekends with one parent, the so-called “fun” parent. While both parents may be loving, responsible and involved, kids...