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Beginning January 1, 2013, some Arizona Child Custody Laws will be changing.
Here are the new “Definitions” section of A.R.S. 25-401 related to child custody:
1. “In loco parentis” means a person who has been treated as a parent by a child and who has formed a meaningful parental relationship with a child for a substantial period of time.
2. “Joint legal decision-making” means both parents share decision-making and neither parent’s rights or responsibilities are superior except with respect to specified decisions as set forth by the court or the parents in the final judgment or order.
3. “Legal decision-making” means the legal right and responsibility to make all nonemergency legal decisions for a child including those regarding education, health care, religious training and personal care decisions. For the purposes of interpreting or applying any international treaty, federal law, a uniform code or the statutes of other jurisdictions of the United States, legal decision-making means legal custody.
4. “Legal parent” means a biological or adoptive parent whose parental rights have not been terminated. Legal parent does not include a person whose paternity has not been established pursuant to section 25-812 or 25-814.
5. “Parenting time” means the schedule of time during which each parent has access to a child at specified times. Each parent during their scheduled parenting time is responsible for providing the child with food, clothing and shelter and may make routine decisions concerning the child’s care.
6. “Sole legal decision-making” means one parent has the legal right and responsibility to make major decisions for a child.
7. “Visitation” means a schedule of time that occurs with a child by someone other than a legal parent.
No matter your family law issue, the attorneys at Lasiter & Jackson are here to assist you with your needs. Please schedule a consultation with a Phoenix Divorce Attorney today and and start working towards a resolution immediately.
