What is sole or joint legal decision-making?

Legal decision-making is a legal term referring to the right and responsibility of a person to make all nonemergency legal decisions for a child including those regarding education, health care, religious training and personal care decisions. A parent may be awarded sole or joint legal decision-making.

Joint legal decision-making means that both parents share decision-making and neither parent’s rights nor responsibilities are superior except with respect to specified decisions as set forth by the court or the parents in the final judgment or order. 

Sole legal decision-making means that the court orders one parent to have the legal right and responsibility to make major decisions regarding the child’s care or welfare. Although both parents may discuss these matters, the parent designated by the court as the sole legal decision-maker has authority to make final decisions in the event the parents do not agree. An order for sole legal decision-making does not allow the parent designated as the sole legal decision-maker to unilaterally change a court-ordered parenting time plan.

Resources:
•    Definitions A.R.S. § 25-401