05/28/2026
DID YOU KNOW? 👀
Joint legal decision-making does NOT automatically mean equal parenting time in Arizona.
In Arizona, there are two separate issues parents need to understand:
Legal decision-making refers to who has authority to make major decisions for the child, such as education, medical care, and religious upbringing.
Parenting time refers to the actual schedule - when the child is with each parent.
So, even if parents share joint legal decision-making, that does not automatically mean the parenting schedule will be 50/50.
The Court still looks at what parenting time arrangement is in the child’s best interests, including things like the child’s needs, each parent’s availability, the distance between homes, school schedules, the parents’ ability to communicate, and the overall stability of the proposed plan.
📍Arizona Family Law Tip from M&M Law Group, PLLC
Serving families in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, Phoenix, and throughout Arizona.
&MLawGroup