Arizona Child Custody & Arizona Child Support

Like family courts in all states, when children are involved in a divorce situation, Arizona courts strongly promote a cooperative and amicable resolution among the parents as to how the child will be raised. When the parents are unable to agree, the court will intervene, and undoubtedly advocate for the best interests of the children when deciding issues of custody, visitation, and support. The following is Arizona law governing child custody and support.

Arizona Child Custody:

Arizona courts will do everything possible to lessen the emotional impact on children of divorcing parents. If the parents cannot agree on a plan for custody, the courts will decide what is best for the children. Among the factors the court will weigh are the willingness of one parent to encourage a relationship between the child and the other parent, as well as any history of violence or abusive conduct by either parent.

Arizona Child Support:

Child support in Arizona is determined in accordance with the Income Shares Model for child support, where each parent’s income is considered in relative proportion. The support amounts calculated from each parent then help decide which parent must pay the other in order to maintain the correct proportion and provide for the needs of the child.

These guidelines are not always followed, but a decision to follow a different standard will require supportive evidence showing 1) all the factors that affect the parties’ financial obligations differently, and 2) how applying a standard other than the Income Shares Model will more effectively preserve the best interests of the child.

The factors that can be considered here are numerous, including, but not limited to:

Monetary support provided for other family members, debts arising during the marriage for the child’s benefit, imputed income to a party who is voluntarily unemployed for the child’s benefit, court-ordered payments for health care and education, for the child’s benefit, children’s independent financial resources (if any), education, training, and/or career opportunities of the parties and/or ability to pursue those things, and/or a written agreement between the parties including the amount of child support (if one exists).

Support is paid to a child support agency and usually deducted by an employer. See Arizona Divorce Laws & Resourcesfor child support enforcement resources.

A lawyer can help you sort through your rights and responsibilities when it comes to childrearing after a divorce, and serve as your advocate and/or counsel when negotiating a parenting agreement. You can find a lawyer at:

Arizona Divorce/Child Support/Child Custody Lawyers:
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