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School Choice and Child Custody in Arizona | Hildebrand Law, PC

Sat 23rd Jan, 2016 Arizona Child Custody Laws

We want to talk to you about school choice and child custody in Arizona. In Arizona, the decision of the court regarding modification of a parenting plan as pertaining to school choice requires that certain factors be considered, such as the parents’ wishes regarding school placement, the child’s wishes regarding school placement, the child’s adjustment to the current school placement, and the interaction and interrelationship of the child with persons at the school who may have a significant impact on the child’s best interests.

The Arizona Court of Appeals addressed whether the factors a court must consider are different when the school in question is out of state. In the Baker v. Meyer case, Matthew M. Meyer (“Father”) requested a modification to the original parenting plan in order for two of the minor children to attend an out of state boarding school (one re-enrolling and one enrolling for the first year).

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Deborah C. Baker (“Mother”) originally objected to both boys going to school out of state, but later agreed that the older child should re-enroll for his junior year of high school as he expressed the strong desire to complete high school out of state.

Baker objected to the enrollment of the younger son at the out of state school due to the resulting decrease in parenting time that would result. Meyer argued that it was a good school, the children wanted to attend, and attendance at the school was a “family tradition.”  The trial court found in Meyer’s favor solely upon the factors pertaining to which school placement would be in the children’s best interest.

According to the original parenting plan, the children were to spend seven days at each of their parents’ homes on an alternating basis. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the parent whose home they were not at in the current week would pick them up at school and drop them off at the other parent’s home in the evening.

It was also agreed that both parents would share in key decisions regarding education, health care, religious upbringing, etc. The trial court viewed the issue as one of school placement only and did not, correspondingly, consider factors pertaining to the impact that out of state school placement would have upon each parent’s parenting time with the children.

School Choice May Impact Child Custody Orders in Arizona

School Choice Child Custody in Arizona.

The Arizona Court of Appeals found the trial court’s findings were erroneous because the out of state school results in a drastic decrease in the amount of parenting time allowed. The approval of attendance at the out of state school at the request of Father decreased Mother’s parenting time by at least 121 days per year.

The trial court dismissed this argument, as the Father would also experience a decrease in parenting time.

The Arizona Court of Appeals held that Father’s desire to send the children to a certain school should not circumvent the agreed-upon court-ordered parenting time for Mother.

The court of appeals ruled the issue was not simply one of the choices of school for the children but, instead, should be addressed as a request to modify parenting time.

The Arizona Court of Appeals concluded that the trial court erred as a matter of law in determining the issue in this case as one of school choice.  The Arizona Court of Appeals concluded that pertinent factors relating to the effect of decreased parenting time should have been, but were not, considered by the trial court.

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When addressing a request for a modification of parenting time, the court must consider the relationship between the parents and the children, the interaction between the child and others who may significantly affect the children’s best interest, the children’s adjustment to home, school and community, the wishes of the children, and the mental and physical health of everyone involved in the children’s lives.

According to Arizona law, unless evidence is provided to the contrary, it is generally in the best interests of the children to maintain “substantial, frequent, meaningful, and continuing parenting time with both parents.”

If you need information about school choice and child custody in Arizona, you should seriously consider contacting the attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. Our Arizona child custody attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully representing clients in child custody and school choice cases for children 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 child custody and school choice case around today.

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