Issues involving children pertain to the charge and control of a child, including the right to make all major decisions such as education, religious upbringing, training, health, and welfare. Many parents in Arizona put issues pertaining to their children above any other obligation. Important matters such as these should be handled by a knowledgeable family law attorney.
The court shall determine legal decision-making and parenting time, either originally or on petition for modification, in accordance with the best interests of the child. The court shall consider all factors that are relevant to the child’s physical and emotional well-being.
“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.
“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.
The purpose of child support is to meet the reasonable needs of the child, and try to, as much as is possible, keep him or her in the same position he or she would have been had the parents not separated. We are also available to assist in circumstances:
- where a child support obligation is not being paid
- to work with the other party to get back payments
- to reduce or increase child support where financial circumstances have changed dramatically.
Under certain circumstances legal decision making, parenting time and/ or child support orders are subject to modifications. Please contact us to discuss whether your situation qualifies for modification.
