Child Custody

questions & answers

Question: I have a one year old daughter. When her mother was pregnant she moved from California to Arizona. I want to file for joint custody but I don't know where to start. Do I need to go to Arizona to file?

Answer:

You may want to consult with an attorney to find out how the law applies to your specific situation and which state law applies to your specific situation. The following offers general legal information only.

Arizona laws pertaining to marriage and children are located in Title 25 of the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.).  The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (starting at A.R.S. § 25-1001) determines which state decides child custody; but it depends on numerous factors, such as whether there was already a child custody determination from a certain state. Article 2 (beginning with A.R.S. § 25-1031) deals with jurisdiction (which court can hear the case) and A.R.S. § 25-1002 contains definitions of terms used in these statutes.