Child Custody and Access

Phoenix - Tempe - Arizona Child Custody Attorneys

Family court judges in Arizona strongly prefer that parents involved in divorce cases resolve any issues concerning child custody by negotiated agreement rather than by litigation. The ability of the divorcing spouses to set aside their own differences out of respect for their children's needs and for one another's interests as parents indicates by itself a good likelihood that each parent will continue to enjoy a strong relationship with each child.

In some situations, however, questions of custody and parenting time access cannot be resolved so smoothly. If you need help with visitation or access, or if a change of circumstances after your divorce means that your parenting time arrangements need adjustment, contact the Tempe child custody attorneys at the Weingart Law Firm.

In general, most divorces involve an award of joint legal custody to both parents, which means that the parents will need to agree about the major decisions that affect their children's upbringing, education, religious training, and medical treatment. The parents are usually able to agree that one will be the primary residential custodian of the children, with the other parent granted regular visitation rights, or parenting time access. Situations requiring the service of a child custody lawyer to negotiate or litigate child custody questions either during or after the divorce can include:

• Medical problems of either parent
• Either parent's problem with drug or alcohol abuse
• Problems with domestic violence--including false accusations by one parent against the other
• One parent's desire to move out of state while retaining his or her original physical custody or parenting time rights
• Enforcing rights to parenting time or child custody after relocation of a parent
• Child custody enforcement if the primary residential custodian refuses to recognize your rights

If your divorce case is likely to involve difficult negotiations and potential litigation on child custody issues, or if you need advice about your rights to parenting time access under Arizona law in an otherwise uncontested divorce, the child custody attorneys at the Weingart Law Firm can assist you. Contact us in Tempe for an initial consultation.