Arizona legal guardianship

Forms, documents, and legal advice
Arizona


This plan covers you and your spouse for all legal forms, not JUST those dealing with legal guardianship

Plan Information:

The coverage details and the cost of a legal service plan is specific to Arizona. Please click "Enroll" below.  This will help you find out more about the specific legal guardianship form and other legal help available in Arizona.

Arizona legal guardianship help

 


 

Arizona flag and Arizona legal guardianship formsWhile you should always have all Arizona legal guardianship form(s) you sign reviewed by a lawyer, it takes time and money to:
 

  • find a lawyer
  • make an appointment
  • Meet with the attorney
  • Try to understand the paperwork
  • Actually prepare the legal form
  • deliver the form

Here's the Problem...

It can really be a challenge to really know what it is that you're looking for when it comes to getting the guardianship help you need in Arizona.

THEN…you have to pay the lawyer for the services given.

  • What if you have guardianship questions the lawyer doesn't answer?
  • What if you don't know how to file the paperwork properly?
  • What if your Arizona guardianship issue crosses county, state, or international borders?  Will the Arizona attorney know the laws there?
  • What if you just need a little help, but the attorney wants to bill you for multiple hours of service?
  • What if you can't afford the attorney's hourly rate?
  • Will you have to pay for the lawyer’s time...?

...Chances are, you will.

There’s a better way to get quality Arizona legal guardianship legal forms, and to also receive legal help in Arizona.

Wouldn’t you like to have the assurance that you understand what you’re signing and that it complies with the laws in Arizona?

Here's what most people do...

  • Buy legal guardianship form(s) online
  • Find the disclaimer stating "...you should definitely have a Arizona lawyer review your Arizona guardianship paperwork"
  • Take a chance and use the Arizona forms without review
  • Without review, they risk potential legal errors in the preparation and filing of any Arizona legal guardianship paperwork
  • Then, when they have a legal question about the situation, they have to find, call, and pay a lawyer (OR maybe you’ll simply guess, cross your fingers, and hope you’re right).

Why should you do "what most people do," when "what most people do" only works 50% of the time?

There’s a better way!

  • Get access to a qualified Arizona law firm (or law firm in the state of the custody issue) for legal telephone consultation about the legal guardianship forms you need.
  • Buy ALL forms at a 25% discount from the already competitively priced selections of forms.  This includes discounts on all forms, not just those relating to legal guardianship.
  • Legal review by your provider law firm of contracts and documents 10 pages or less on which you are a contracting party.
  • Also, at no additional charge, the plan provides telephone consultations on an unlimited number of personal legal matters as well as initial incorporation consultation.

What does it cost?

For only $89.40 annually (a $7.45 monthly credit card draft) you and your spouse will receive:

  • A 25% discount on already competitively priced legal forms!
  • Legal review by your provider law firm of any contracts and documents you personally are involved with
  • Access to hundreds of Public Domain forms and legal information for you to print and use.
  • Access to legal audio guides and FAQs at no added charge
  • Also, at no additional charge, the plan provides telephone consultations on an unlimited number of personal legal matters as well as initial consultation on incorporation.

If you were to ask a law firm to prepare and review a legal document for you, the cost could be substantial. In fact, on average, one hour of a lawyer’s time may cost more than your annual membership fee with the Forms Service Center*!

“Bargain” internet forms and do-it-yourself kits suggest that you consult with a lawyer before executing the document you’ve purchased. As a member you can send your completed document to be reviewed by a lawyer before you sign it!

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* 2002 Survey of Law Firm Economics: National Individual Status Codes, Altman Weil ® Publications, Inc.

form - legal guardianship in Arizona
 

 

Other legal guardianship help resources are coming soon.

How does custody get decided as between a parent and a third party?
A third party non-parent such as a grandparent, stepparent, or an adult who has a significant relationship with the child can establish legal rights to custody and access. A grandparent can file an action or join a divorce action between the parents under the Arizona grandparent rights statutes. Typically a grandparent will be able to see the children on the days that their child has access and no special terms are required in the custody orders to insure this. Third parties can establish legal rights by filing a legal action known as in loco parentis, under the Arizona in loco parentis statutes. This in essence legally establishes the party to “be standing in the shoes” of a natural parent.

How does custody get decided as between parents?
In Arizona custody is established either by agreement of the parents or if the parents are unable to agree, the decisions of the court. In either way the court uses a “best interest of the child” standard to determine the final custody and access (visitation) arrangements. If the parties are unable to reach agreements regarding custody the court usually orders the parents to a custody evaluation by which a psychologist or counselor will meet with the parents and children, evaluate the circumstances and inform the judge what arrangements are in the best interest of the children. The judge will make his decision after a review of the evaluator’s report, the testimony of the parties and any relevant witnesses and evidence.

Is there a presumption in favor of not changing custody arrangements?
Not necessarily, under Arizona law custody can be changed. However, there is a one-year waiting period from the date of the last custody/visitation orders, before a party can request a change. However, like most laws, there are exceptions and if it was an emergency situation, the court will modify custody at any time. Of course what a parent considers and emergency may not be considered an emergency by the court. To change a custody order the parent needs to file a petition for modification of custody with the court and show some significant change in circumstance warranting a change. The court will then set a hearing to hear the circumstances alleged to warrant a change and make the appropriate modifications if necessary in accordance with the best interest of the children. It is rare that the court will make a drastic change and usually just make minor changes to the custody orders.

Is there such a thing as "standard visitation"? If so, what is it?
In Arizona the court has established Model Parenting Plan Guidelines. The Model Parenting Plan is broken down by the age of the child and provides several different arrangements per age bracket.

Because each families’ situation is unique it is hard to apply a “one-size-fits-all” approach to visitation and the court will look at each family on a case-by-case basis. However a typical nominal access schedule should be every other weekend, one weekday night, a block of time for summer vacation, and alternating holidays. This should roughly come to about one-third of the year, or approximately 120 days. Parents should be flexible and allow deviation within their schedules, however some parents wish to maintain a strict schedule with little deviation. Of course it is presumed that a more consistent and regular schedule is better for children, especially younger children.

What rules govern cases where the custodial parent wants to move away with the children?
Arizona law requires that if a parent wants to move the children over one hundred miles from their current residence that they most provide written notice to the other parent. If the other parent objects to the relocation the objecting parent must file an objection with the court. The court will set a hearing to determine whether the relocation is in the best interest of the child. In essence custody and visitation is being re-litigated.

What visitation rights do grandparents have, if any?
Grandparents do have rights and Arizona law provides specific rights for grandparents although limited. Typically a grandparent will be able to see the grandchildren during the visitation days of the parent. A grandparent can join a divorce or paternity action to enforce their rights, this is called joinder. A grandparent can obtain visitation rights when the parent (the grandparent’s child) does not assert his or her own visitation rights. Again the court will use a best interest of the children standard when entering orders regarding the grandparents.



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clicking the enroll button below for help with your legal forms
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Arizona form for legal guardianship

 

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