How to Get Sole Custody in Arizona

Getting Sole Custody in AZ

It is not unusual for a client to ask us how to get sole custody in Arizona. The Arizona legislature has made major changes to child custody laws.

These new statutes were placed into law effective January 1, 2013, and changed from the word “child custody”, such as “sole custody” or “joint custody” to “sole legal decision making” or “joint legal decision making”.

The law also changed from the term “child visitation” to “parenting time”.

So, parents will now receive either “sole legal decision making” with “parenting time” rights or they will receive “joint legal decision making” and “parenting time”.

A court may also give one parent “sole legal decision making” over, let’s say, major medical decisions while granting the other parent “sole legal decision making” authority over educational decisions. Let’s talk a little bit more about child custody in Arizona.

Many who are considering divorce in Arizona procrastinate filing because they are worried about child custody issues. Arizona custody laws are applied by a judge to determine if sole custody or joint custody will be awarded to the parents.

If you find yourself in this category, you’ve probably asked yourself so many questions they’ve started to blur together.

Will I get custody in Arizona?
How do I get full custody in Arizona?
Is joint custody the best option?
What if I don’t feel my kids are safe with my ex?
Can I get sole custody of my child?
How do I file for sole custody in AZ?

The first step in becoming comfortable with filing for divorce or responding to a petition for dissolution of marriage is to know what types of child custody scenarios are possible and understanding the Arizona child custody laws.

You then need to determine how you can win full custody of your children in Arizona by knowing how to prepare for a child custody case.

Getting Full Custody in Arizona

What is sole custody? Sole custody according to child custody laws in Arizona, now referred to as sole legal decision making, means that one person has sole legal custody of the child.

This one person is responsible for making the major decisions regarding the child’s care.

Under Arizona child custody laws, both parents may discuss the matters as they arise, but the single parent designed as the sole legal decision-maker by the court has the authority to make the final decisions in any situation when both parents do not agree.

Sole custody and child support in Arizona are not directly related and having sole custody will not change your child support obligation, which is decided, in part, by how much time you spend with your children.

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What is joint custody versus sole custody?

In Arizona, no legal presumption favors one parent over the other, so the Court many times concludes the parents should have both make decisions.

Joint legal decision making means both parents share the responsibility for major decision-making for the children equally.

Physical custody and control of the child/children are also shared equally between both parents holding joint physical parenting time, if appropriate, or on some other parenting schedule that suits the best interests of the child/children.

It’s not uncommon for individuals considering divorce or in the midst of a divorce to be worried about the outcome of their case.

In many divorce cases, the primary contention is child custody.

Once you know what types of custody the court might consider, you need to remember that the law does not prefer one form of custody over another and that the court does not prefer one parent over another because of the parent’s sex.

What You Need to Prove to Get Sole Custody

How to Fight for Sole Custody in Arizona.

Will the Arizona Divorce Court consider sole legal custody?

Yes, sole legal custody sometimes referred to as full custody AZ, will be considered when appropriate.

If you believe joint custody is an inappropriate solution to your situation, you can file for sole custody in Arizona.

This would provide you with sole decision making authority in regards to all medical, education and religious matters that may impact the child or children.

Reasons the Court May Agree Sole Custody is Appropriate:

Drug or Alcohol Abuse
Child Abuse
Criminal History
Domestic Violence
Mental Health Problems

If your spouse has any of the above issues, it is probably appropriate for you to consider requesting sole custody of your child.

The court will consider your request and come to a decision based on the best interests of the child.

If you need information about getting sole custody in Arizona, you should seriously consider contacting the attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. Our Arizona divorce attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully representing clients in sole custody cases in Arizona.

Our family law firm has earned numerous awards such as US News and World Reports Best Arizona Family Law Firm, US News and World Report Best Divorce Attorneys, “Best of the Valley” by Arizona Foothills readers, and “Best Arizona Divorce Law Firms” by North Scottsdale Magazine.

Call us today at (480)305-8300 or reach out to us through our appointment scheduling form to schedule your personalized consultation and turn your Arizona sole custody case around today.

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Child Custody Laws in Arizona | Hildebrand Law, PC