Glendale, AZ Family Lawyers
At our Glendale family law office, we provide quality legal services in the areas of family law, civil law, and bankruptcy. Our experienced lawyers will guide you. No matter what type of case you bring to us, you can be certain your attorney will work hard to understand what is important to you and help you achieve your goals. The initial consultation is free, giving you a chance to present your situation and find out what the best course of action may be for your particular legal matter.
Arizona Child Custody Laws
If you find yourself in a situation where you are wondering what the Arizona child custody laws are, you may want to soon contact an experienced family law attorney to take a look at your case and evaluate your situation. Its better to be safe and protect your rights than do nothing and be sorry down the road.
Like all other states, the State of Arizona has laws governing what happens when the child custody is contested. The Arizona State law lays out how the courts determine matters of both custody (the ability to make decisions about the child or children) and with whom the child or children reside. In general, Arizona family law courts, like many other states, make custody determinations in light of what is best for the children.
Arizona family courts apply the “best interests” test when determining matters of custody. This means that the family law court will take into consideration all factors relevant to determining what is in the best interest of the children in question. These factors can include, but are not limited to: the parent’s desires, the child’s desires, the relationship between the parents and the children, the child’s adjustment to their school or home environments, the health of the child, the ability of one parent to allow the child more frequent contact with the other parent, whether or not a parent is the primary caregiver, the existence of coercion used by any parent and the parent’s following of Arizona laws for the education program regarding children and divorce.
Arizona family law requires that a parenting plan be signed by both parents, the parenting plan will be signed if both parents agree to joint legal custody. The signed parenting plan is then reviewed by the Arizona family 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. Any parenting plan in an Arizona family law court must include the following:
• Provisions for how the parents will be involved in caring for the child and how the big decisions–such as education, religion, and health care–will be made (usually, but not always these decisions will be made jointly).
• A residential plan (schedule of physical custody). A plan as to who has the children when and where.
• A method of mediating or resolving disputes. No particular method is required. It is common to provide the parties will work with a mediator, counselor, or member of the clergy before taking problems back to court. An experienced Arizona family law attorney can help you prepare methods of mediation regarding custody. It is important to have representation to protect your and your childrens’ interest.
• A provision for periodic review of the parenting plan. The frequency of the reviews is not specified in the Arizona family court, however, every one or two years is common for individuals seeking custody through the family court in Arizona. The Arizona family court does not require any particular type of review, and the review required by the parenting plan could range from a single discussion between the parents to a series of formal sessions with a mediator. Once again, legal representation is highly recommended to protect your interest.
• A statement that the parties realize joint custody does not necessarily mean equal parenting time. Our Glendale family law attorneys can help guide you through the child custody process and other family law related aspects of your life. Contact our office.
Accountable Family Law and Divorce Lawyers: Our Glendale, AZ family law and divorce attorneys live and work in the same communities as our clients. We are responsive and accountable to our clients because quite often our Arizona family law firm has been referred to our clients by friends and relatives who recommend our services. Our Glendale, Arizona divorce and family law firm specializes in and can handle all divorce and family law matters. We are focused on zealous divorce representation and compassionate family law solutions.
From our family law offices in Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, and Tucson our experienced Arizona family law attorneys have helped thousands of clients throughout Arizona through legal matters of the family. We are happy to meet with you to discuss your family law situation. Our Arizona family law lawyers offer a free consultation and will answer all your questions regarding child custody, divorce, and all other family law issues. For more information or to set up an appointment on-line, visit us at https://legalhelp-az.com . Call us today at (623) 640-4945. Our Glendale family law attorneys, lawyers, and staff look forward to assisting you.
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