Combine Legal Arizona Visitation Forms For Free

Go to the Clerk of Superior Court and ask to file a ?Petition to Establish Legal Decision-Making (legal custody), Parenting Time and Child Support.? They will give you a packet of forms which you need to fill out. (This packet is also downloadable online.) File your completed paperwork and pay the required filing fees.

When parents can't agree on a custody arrangement for their child, the court will decide for them. Arizona judges must consider several factors when determining custody, including each of the following: the past, present, and potential future relationship between each parent and the child.

A father is entitled to equal rights in custody, even if he was never married to the mother of the child. More often than not, this means Arizona Courts grant 50/50 custody to the parents of a child. However, there are certain circumstances when fathers may be barred from joint custody.

It is not easy to obtain a sole custody agreement. In most cases, there is a presumption that a child maintaining a relationship with both parents is what's best for the child, barring any circumstances that would suggest otherwise.

Under Arizona Family Law, fathers have the same rights as mothers when it comes to matters of custody and parenting time. No longer is there a default and automatic 'tender years doctrine' that grants primary custody to the mother.

For example, the judge may seek to determine whether children feel comfortable with parents or if they seem scared or frustrated in their presence. Additionally, courts will assess whether the child has a relationship with other children in the home and whether they wish to remain at the same school.