Your children are your number one priority - and ours, too. At Nirenstein Garnice Soderquist PLC, our Arizona child custody lawyers realize the impact divorce can have on them, regardless of their age. We're mindful that you can never lose sight of the need to maintain your ability to collaborate with the other parent - now and throughout your lives.
Our Arizona child custody lawyers work with you to protect your children and to ensure that their needs remain at the forefront - and that their lives are disrupted as little as possible by the legal process of divorce. There are many issues to consider and our attorney's provide the counsel you need to make informed decisions.
Further detailed information regarding Arizona child custody law follows. This information is intended for parents who are engaged in an Arizona court case that involves determining custody and access (visitation) issues between a child's natural or adoptive parents.
Arizona Legal Custody
Legal custody has to do with decision making. The phrase "joint custody" usually refers to legal custody. With joint legal custody, the parents typically make the major decisions jointly, such as whether the child will be a practising Catholic or Jew or whether the child is old enough to have elective surgery or drive a car. Then each parent is supposed to make the day-to-day decisions in a way consistent with the jointly agreed-upon major decisions. It is possible, though not common, for making the major decisions on a particular topic to lie in the sole discretion of only one parent.
Arizona Parenting Time - Visitation
Arizona law requires that a parenting plan be signed by both parents, if they agree to joint legal custody. The parenting plan is reviewed by the court and made part of the decree of dissolution of marriage or custody order. A parenting plan must be prepared by the court, if joint legal custody is ordered by the court without the parents having agreed.
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For more information about our services, we invite you to contact us or call the firm at (480) 556-5800.