Arizona Child Custody and Parenting Time Resources

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Custody in Arizona is decided in the Superior Court, usually in the Family Court Department. Most states split the question in two: who makes the big decisions for the child, and what the day to day schedule looks like. Both usually end up written into one order or parenting plan the judge approves.

The wording differs from state to state, so read the official Arizona documents below rather than assuming a term you heard elsewhere means the same thing here. Courts decide these cases on the best interests of the child, and the official forms are written to collect the facts a judge needs.

Official Arizona custody resources

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Arizona family law forms (official index) (Arizona judicial branch): The official statewide collection of Arizona family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.azcourts.gov/familylaw/Forms

Arizona court self-help resources (Arizona courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Arizona family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter

Arizona mediation and dispute resolution (Arizona judicial branch): Official information on mediation and other ways to settle a Arizona family case without a trial. https://www.azcourts.gov/adr

AZTurboCourt (Arizona Supreme Court): AZTurboCourt asks you questions, builds the right court forms, and e-files them where the court accepts online filing. Superior Court e-filing covers most counties, including Maricopa and Pima, but a few rural counties still take paper only. https://www.azturbocourt.gov/

Arizona rules of procedure (Arizona judicial branch): The court rules that control deadlines, service, and how family cases move in Arizona. https://www.azcourts.gov/rules

Verified official Arizona custody documents

These official documents cover asking for custody, setting a schedule, and putting a parenting plan in front of the judge.

Parenting Plan (Yavapai), form DRDC72f (Child Custody / Parenting), official document: https://courts.yavapaiaz.gov/files/sharedassets/courts/v/1/self-service-center/documents/drdc72f.pdf

Official link data for Arizona was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

Which court hears family cases in Arizona?

Family cases in Arizona are heard in the Superior Court, usually in the Family Court Department. Every county's Superior Court hears family cases; big counties run a dedicated Family Court department. There is one Superior Court per county - 15 in all.

Does Arizona favor one parent over the other?

Custody decisions are made on the best interests of the child, not on which parent asks first. Judges look at things like stability, each parent's involvement, the child's needs, and whether a parent supports the child's relationship with the other parent. Read the official Arizona forms and self-help material for the factors this state asks about.

Do we have to go to mediation first?

Many courts send custody disputes to mediation before a hearing, and some require it. The official Arizona mediation page linked above explains what this state offers and when it applies.