how to file for custody without a lawyer in surprise az

by Rashad Davis MD 9 min read

Submit your forms to your county's Superior Court. In most counties, you can submit your forms online through Arizona's e-filing system. Otherwise, submit at least two paper copies (in addition to the originals) at the court clerk's office.

Full Answer

How to get custody of an unmarried child in Arizona?

Child Custody to Unmarried Parents in Arizona If the parents are unmarried, in Arizona, in order to have a court-ordered parenting plan you will need to petition to establish one. This process is the same as discussed above in Establishing Child Custody. This is particularly important for fathers.

When to file for emergency custody without notice in Arizona?

Under Rule 48, Arizona law clearly states that emergency custody may be granted without notice to the other party only if two conditions are met: It is clear that the person requesting emergency custody or the child will be harmed by giving notice to the other person To file for temporary custody, follow these steps.

Where can I get Legal Aid for emergency custody in Arizona?

At Arizona Legal Center, we offer free legal aid to people who need it. If you need advice and support regarding emergency custody, get in touch today. Disclaimer: The Arizona Legal Center provides free legal aid and consultations in Arizona only.

How do I file a family law action in Arizona?

Family Law actions must be filed in the Superior Court of the county in which one of the spouses resides provided that at least one of the spouses has lived in Arizona for at least 90 days. If the action involves a minor child, that child must have lived in Arizona for at least 6 months prior to filing.

How much does it cost to file for custody in Arizona?

Expect to pay between $100 and $200 when you file. Your county may have additional costs, including fees for motions (e.g., a request for temporary orders), notary services and copying forms. If you can't afford the fees, you may be eligible for a deferral or waiver.

How can I get full custody of my child without going to court in Arizona?

A divorcing couple, or parents who were never married, can make their own custody agreement without Arizona court intervention and are urged to do so. Amicably arranging access and custody concerns is the best solution as long as the agreement is in the child's best interest.

How do I file for emergency custody in Arizona?

It is not easy to get emergency custody. The burden of proof lies with the person making the petition for a temporary order. This means that a person asking for it must present substantial evidence to document the emergency situation. Typically, it's best to work with a family law attorney during this process.

Does Arizona favor mothers in custody cases?

No, courts do not favor mothers in child custody cases in Arizona. Arizona Revised Statute Section 403.02(B) provides that “the court shall not prefer a parent's proposed [parenting] plan because of the parent's or child's gender.

What can be used against you in a custody battle?

The Reigning King of What Can Be Used Against You in a Custody Battle: Verbal or Physical Altercations. We wanted to start with the most simple pitfall to avoid: When tempers get high, it's quite alluring to get into a verbal sparring match with your ex-spouse.

On what grounds can a father get full custody?

There are therefore usually two situations in which a father would seek custody, the first being if the parties have separated and the father just wants to have the children with him, and the second being if the father has a genuine concern about the children's welfare when living with their mother.

How long does temporary custody last in AZ?

The temporary custody authorized by the order will expire 72 hours after the execution of the order, excluding weekends and holidays, unless a dependency petition is filed or the parent or guardian enters into a Voluntary Placement Agreement with the Department.

What are the custody laws in Arizona?

In Arizona, there is no legal presumption favoring one parent over the other. Meaning that the Court starts with the presumption that parents should have joint custody. With joint custody, both parents share the responsibility of major decision-making, as well as physical custody and control of the child.

How long does a temporary custody order last?

Can I Revoke It? Temporary custody generally lasts until there is another order by the family court addressing custody matters. The judge awards temporary custody to one parent pending the outcome of a divorce case, a paternity case, or custody battle.

What is an unfit parent in Arizona?

The legal definition of an unfit parent is when the parent through their conduct fails to provide proper guidance, care, or support. Also, if there is abuse, neglect, or substance abuse issues, that parent will be deemed unfit.

How is custody determined in AZ?

How is custody defined in Arizona? Arizona no longer uses the term custody, effective Jan. 1, 2013; the term is now legal decision-making. Therefore, Arizona courts will no longer determine who will receive custody but rather who will have legal decision-making authority over the children.

What rights does a father have in AZ?

The biological father has no legal rights. Paternity must be established before he can acquire parental rights and obligations. Under Arizona law, until paternity has been established, the mother can make all plans and decisions for the child without having to consult the biological father.

Who Can File for Emergency Custody?

Not just anyone can file an emergency custody petition, so who can file?. The most obvious is that the other parent has legal authority to do so.

The Safety and Well-Being of the Child is Most Important

There is an axiom in the court where they will always err on the side of protecting the child. However, that does not mean that they are going to grant an order to remove the children from one parent, especially in a situation where they are to be forcefully taken from the home, creating a traumatizing situation.

Contact a Family Law Attorney

If you suspect that your child, grandchild, niece/nephew is in a dangerous situation that requires an emergency custody petition, you will want to consult an attorney immediately. You want to make sure you are following the proper procedures that can best ensure the safety of the child/children, and a lawyer will help you to do just that.

Prove Your Claim

At some point, the court will ask you to prove your claim. This may occur even prior to the court ruling on whether the children should be taken away from the other parent or not.

How to file for temporary custody in Maricopa County?

To file for temporary custody, follow these steps. 1. Fill out the paperwork. You can find the required forms and detailed instructions online for Maricopa County if you are in the process of separating, divorcing, or establishing custody or if you are requesting to modify custody.

How long does it take for an Arizona child custody order to be issued?

In some cases, this can be in as few as two weeks, though the timeline depends on the court’s calendar.

What is an emergency custody order?

An emergency custody order is also called a temporary order. This temporarily grants one parent or another party sole physical and legal custody of the child in question. In some cases, the State may even get custody (as per Title 25-1034 ). This order gives all decision-making power to the person or party with physical custody for ...

How many copies of the original paperwork are needed for a divorce?

Make copies of the paperwork. You must make three copies. In total, you will have four versions, your original and your three copies. 3. File the papers at the court. Take your original paperwork and your three copies to the court clerk for filing.

What happens if a judge believes there is enough evidence?

If the judge believes there is enough evidence, they will issue an emergency order. This order will remain in place until a second hearing is scheduled where the other party can be present to defend against the allegations. The timeframe until the hearing varies from court to court based on the court’s calendar.

Can you get emergency custody?

It is not easy to get emergency custody. The burden of proof lies with the person making the petition for a temporary order. This means that a person asking for it must present substantial evidence to document the emergency situation. Typically, it’s best to work with a family law attorney during this process.

Can you file for emergency custody in Arizona?

Under Rule 48, Arizona law clearly states that emergency custody may be granted without notice to the other party only if two conditions are met: It is clear that the person requesting emergency custody or the child will be harmed by giving notice to the other person.

What does "sole custody" mean in Arizona?

For many, when they use the term “sole custody” they mean both sole legal decision-making authority and some form of unequal—and/or supervised—parenting time schedule.

What is equal custody in Arizona?

The court opts for Arizona parents to exercise what is commonly referred to as “equal custody,” if it’s in the best interests of the child. The court actually prefers that parents work together and create a workable parenting time schedule that is in the best interests of the child.

What is a parenting schedule in Arizona?

A parenting schedule outlines when each parent will have physical custody of their child. Arizona law allows parents to have very flexible parenting plans, of the utmost concern is that the plan is in the best interests of the child.

How to establish paternity in Arizona?

Establishing Child Custody. Paternity in Arizona is usually established by either the child being born during a marriage or one parent petitioning the court to establish paternity. When a parent petitions the court to establish paternity, they essentially provide proof of paternity by either submitting a birth certificate or other voluntary ...

What is legal decision making in Arizona?

Legal Decision-Making relates to how nonemergency child custody decisions about religion, education, medical and personal care issues will be made.

What to do when a child dissolution?

During a dissolution, when children are involved, you will also need to resolve issues like parenting time, legal decision-making, holiday parenting time, child support, and other financial issues related to the children. You can reach a resolution between yourselves or with the assistance of a mediator.

What is legal custody?

Parenting Time simply refers to what parenting time schedule the parents will be exercising, or who has the child at specific times. During a parent’s parenting time, they are responsible for providing food, clothing, and shelter for the child.

Where to file a family law action in Arizona?

Family Law actions must be filed in the Superior Court of the county in which one of the spouses resides provided that at least one of the spouses has lived in Arizona for at least 90 days. If the action involves a minor child, that child must have lived in Arizona for at least 6 months prior to filing. To prepare a Family Law action ...

What is a family law action?

An action filed in Family Law case may be filed to seek a divorce or legal separation or to create a Parenting Plan. A divorce is the legal termination of a marriage that results in a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage. A legal separation is the process of determining the legal rights and responsibilities of spouses without terminating ...

What is legal separation?

A legal separation is the process of determining the legal rights and responsibilities of spouses without terminating the marriage and results in a Decree of Legal Separation. If filing for a divorce or legal separation, filers should be prepared to provide information about the following: child custody, parenting time, child support, ...