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FAQ - Legal Decision Making and Parenting Time (Custody)

Arizona Civil Legal Needs Community Survey

Civil legal organizations in Arizona are seeking your input to increase their ability to meet the civil legal needs of Arizona's lower income residents. Please complete this survey to assist in improving civil legal services in Arizona.

Encuesta de Necesidades Legales Civiles de Arizona

Las organizaciones legales civiles en Arizona buscan su opinión para aumentar su capacidad de satisfacer las necesidades legales civiles de los residentes de bajos ingresos de Arizona. Por favor complete esta encuesta para ayudar a mejorar los servicios legales civiles en Arizona.

Can a person other than a parent have legal decision making?

Yes. The law provides that a person who stands in loco parentis to a child may ask the court for legal decision making or visitation. To be in loco parentis a person must have been treated as a parent by the child and have formed a meaningful parental relationship with the child for a substantial period of time. There are other requirements that must be met before a request may be made to the court. For the child, one of the parents must be deceased, the legal parents must be unmarried, or a court case for divorce or legal separation between the legal parents is pending.

Resources:

A.R.S. § 25-409

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