questions & answers

Question: I have been accepted to job corps a program that pays for everything for me to study and on the job training. the only state that allows me to take my 7 month child with me is North Dakota. The father of my child hasnt been in her life these last three months even when i call him and text him he just ignores me. He is on the birth certificate but isnt helping me with any child expenses and doesnt even want to see her. He said it was okay for me to take her before but he got mad one day and said i couldnt. Their is no papers set down in court either.

Answer: What is custody?

Custody is a legal term referring to the right of a person to make decisions about the care and welfare of a child (for example, decisions about education, health care and religious training). The parent with custody is often called the "custodial parent." In many cases, the child lives with the custodial parent most of the time. The law does not favor one form of custody over another, nor do they base their decisions on the sex of the parent.

What is parenting time?

Parenting time (also sometimes called "access," "contact," "residential time," or "visitation") is a legal term referring to the opportunity for the child to spend time with the parent who does not have sole legal custody. This parent is often called the "non-custodial parent."

Custody and parenting time problems arise most often when parents ask the court for a dissolution of the marriage (divorce) or a legal separation. However, custody problems  may also arise between parents who have never been married or who no longer live together. Custody and parenting time problems do not go away after the divorce is final. In these situations, parents sometimes disagree about who makes decisions affecting the child's health, welfare and education, where the child lives and how much parenting time a non-custodial parent has.

Who decides custody and parenting time?

Parents may agree between themselves about custody or parenting time; however, if the parents cannot agree and if the Arizona legal system becomes involved (for example, when a parent asks the court for a divorce), only the Superior Court may decide these issues.
For more information on parenting time click here: http://www.azlawhelp.org/documents/Planningforparentingtime.pdf and click here: http://www.azlawhelp.org/articles_info.cfm?sc=11&mc=1&articleid=68