Parenting Plans in Arizona | Divorce and Child Custody Cases
Jun 9
/
Jenifer Marks, Esq.
Parenting Plans in Arizona | Divorce and Child Custody Cases
If you're dealing with parenting plans in Arizona, you're probably discovering that there is more to it than deciding where the kids sleep on Tuesday nights. Parenting plans cover everything from school decisions and medical care to holidays, vacations, transportation, extracurricular activities, and even who gets to hold the passports.
A well-written parenting plan can save parents thousands of dollars in future legal fees and prevent countless arguments before they ever happen. Most attorneys don’t take the time to really explain how this works. We will walk you through the basics in this article. You can also take our FREE class, Parenting Plans & Custody Agreements, for a video lesson on parenting plans.
What Is a Parenting Plan?
In Arizona, a parenting plan is the legal document that governs your kids' time. Arizona provides official parenting plan forms through the Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center, which parents can access online here, before filing their divorce or child custody case.
Think of a parenting plan as a traffic control system.
Without traffic lights, stop signs, and lane markers, drivers would constantly crash into each other. Parenting plans serve a similar purpose. They create rules and expectations so parents know what happens before a disagreement arises.
Rather than leaving important decisions to chance, a parenting plan answers questions such as:
- Where will the children live?
- When will each parent have parenting time?
- Who makes the big decisions for the child?
- Who makes the small decisions for the child?
- How will disagreements be resolved?
The more questions the plan answers today, the fewer reasons parents have to return to court tomorrow. Arizona state provides a guide to help you understand how Parenting Plans in Arizona work, here.
In Class 1, Parenting Plans & Custody Agreements, we discuss how clarity, protection, and price are the three most important things to remember when creating a parenting plan. Start Class 1 FREE!
Arizona Doesn't Actually Use the Word "Custody"
One thing that surprises many parents is that Arizona doesn't focus heavily on the word "custody."
Instead, Arizona courts use terms like:
Legal Decision-Making – Who makes major decisions for the children.
Parenting Time – When the children are with each parent.
The change in language may seem minor, but it reflects Arizona's goal of encouraging both parents to remain involved in their children's lives whenever appropriate. The goal of most parenting plans in Arizona is to create a clear framework for raising children after separation while reducing future conflict between parents.
Parenting Time: There Is No Magic Schedule
One of the biggest misconceptions in family court is that there is a "standard" parenting schedule.
There isn't.
Some families thrive with a week-on/week-off arrangement.
Others prefer a 2-2-5-5 schedule.
Some children do better spending more time in one home because of school, distance, special needs, or extracurricular commitments.
A parenting schedule should fit the family—not the other way around. The goal isn't to force every family into the same box. The goal is to create a schedule that works for the children involved. In Parenting Plan 101, we walk you through different schedule options in an understandable way. Try the first class FREE!
The Real Arguments Usually Aren't About Tuesday
Most parents enter custody negotiations focused on the weekly schedule. Ironically, many future conflicts come from issues that receive very little attention during the divorce.
Things such as:
- Holidays
- School breaks
- Summer vacations
- Passport possession
- Transportation
- Sports schedules
- Cell phones
- New romantic partners
- Teen driving privileges
These are often the disputes that lead parents back into court years later, and they are easy to overlook when creating a parenting plan. The difference between a good parenting plan and a great parenting plan is often found in the details and really thinking through the issues that are important to you when it comes to your child. We help you do that in our FREE Class 1, Parenting Plans & Custody Agreements.
Family court is full of phrases that sound reasonable but create chaos.
Consider this language:
"The parties shall reasonably cooperate regarding parenting time."
Sounds great.
Until one parent thinks "reasonable" means a two-day response time and the other parent thinks it means two weeks.
Now imagine paying attorneys hundreds of dollars per hour to argue over what "reasonable" means.
Clear parenting plans reduce conflict because they replace assumptions with answers. Instead of "reasonable notice," specify the number of days.
Instead of "holiday time shall be shared," specify exact dates and times. Specific language prevents expensive interpretations.
Your Parenting Plan Should Grow With Your Children
A parenting plan for a toddler may look completely different from a parenting plan for a teenager.
Young children may need frequent transitions and shorter periods away from either parent.
Teenagers bring new challenges, including jobs, dating, expensive sports, and prom.
A strong parenting plan anticipates future issues rather than waiting for them to become future lawsuits. In Parenting Plan 101, we walk you through how to create a plan that grows with your child. First class is FREE!
The Goal Isn't Winning
Parenting plans aren't really about winning. They're about planning.
The best parenting plans are often the ones that reduce future conflict, provide consistency for children, and give parents enough flexibility to handle real life.
Children generally benefit when parents spend less time fighting over technicalities and more time focusing on the actual job of parenting. A well-written parenting plan will help you get along better with the other parent. We can help you with that. Start FREE with Class 1, Parenting Plans & Custody Agreements.
