Child Abuse & Neglect Article


Where to Find an Attorney for Specific Legal Advice

Arizona has three legal aid organizations which cover different regions of the state.

  1. Community Legal Services (800) 852-9075 covers Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai, Yuma and LaPaz Counties.
  2. Southern Arizona Legal Aid (800) 640-9465 covers southern Arizona.
  3. DNA People’s Legal Services (800) 789-7287 covers northern Arizona.

All legal service programs in Arizona differ, and their criteria for accepting cases vary. The legal aid organizations above all have the same criteria of income restrictions and legal status requirements, but do have varying priorities.

To find out about more Arizona resources that may be able to assist you, you can contact LegalLEARN, Legal Information & Resources at (866) 637-5341.

Individuals may apply for free and reduced fee legal services by using the "Access To Justice Online Intake System" through AZLawHelp. 

If the legal services program in your area cannot assist you, you may be able to find a lawyer through lawyer referral services in Maricopa County (602) 257-4434 or Pima County (520) 623-4625.

The State Bar also maintains a listing of all Arizona attorneys on their website, and certifies “specialists” in eight legal areas. (Not all attorneys seek such certification, however.) Lists of specialists can also be found at the State Bar of Arizona’s website.


Comments:

QUESTIONS

  • Is this information up to date considering the major changes made by the legislature in 2014? For example, they stopped using the term "custody" and use only "parenting time now." What else has changed? What is the new statute number for reference?
  • What can I do if I feel my 9 year old is not being properly cared for in the other parent's home that I currently share joint custody with? For example, most recently the other parent left our child at a nearby apartment complex pool with another 9 year old completely alone and unsupervised or accompanied by any other adult (the kids were the only ones there) for over an hour while the other parent allegedly walked to a gas station to purchase alcohol. My child also complains that the other parent is using drugs in front of him. Is this considered neglect and what are my options?
  • What can I do if I feel my 9 year old is not being properly cared for in the other parent's home that I currently share joint custody with? For example, most recently the other parent left our child at a nearby apartment complex pool with another 9 year old completely alone and unsupervised or accompanied by any other adult (the kids were the only ones there) for over an hour while the other parent allegedly walked to a gas station to purchase alcohol. My child also complains that the other parent is using drugs in front of him. Is this considered neglect and what are my options?
  • I have been asked to appear in court in person during the month of September I am being charged with violation of ARS: 13-3619. Basically I left my son in a car for about 15 minutes with the windows rolled down because he absolutely REFUSED to get out of the car. Knowing I just had to pick up one item from the shoe store, I "ran in" to the store to get the item. I UNDERSTAND and take FULL responsibility for my lapse in judgement. My question...do you advise me to get a lawyer for this court appearance? What is the possible punishment for this violation?? Thank you!! PS: I have NO record!
  • I have three daughters 7,5 and 2 they was born in AZ. Me and the mother of my kids split up 2 years ago and I moved back home to WV last year. Since then I’ve been trying to talk/see(FaceTime) the kids and she has ignored me 95% of the time. I do pay her monthly($500-$700). Now when I don’t pay her daily for her drug use, she wants to file for abandonment on me. Can she do that?
  • What can I do if I feel my 9 year old is not being properly cared for in the other parent's home that I currently share joint custody with? For example, most recently the other parent left our child at a nearby apartment complex pool with another 9 year old completely alone and unsupervised or accompanied by any other adult (the kids were the only ones there) for over an hour while the other parent allegedly walked to a gas station to purchase alcohol. My child also complains that the other parent is using drugs in front of him. Is this considered neglect and what are my options?
  • My husband of 24 years have been abusing our 3 children for a long time. How can I file child abuse charges
  • My 17 year old sister in law is pregnant and would like my husband and I to adopt her baby. What do I need to do to make this legal? What do I do if the father is not able to care for the child....but still wants him, he will probably end up in foster care if the father takes him.
  • How can I prove child abandonment from my baby’s father in order to get sole custody? He does not help out in any way financially or physical care of the child, does not even ask about him so how would I go about proving that?
  • How do you prove neglect? my husband and myself are trying to get custody of his 9 year old son. He is the second oldest of 5 children. My husband was never married to this woman. We feel that she has not created a safe environment for him, let alone the rest of her children. How do I start the process?

STORIES

LegalLEARN

FIND LEGAL HELP

  • Please select your county of residence below.

    County:
     

OTHER LEGAL RESOURCES

  • State Bar of Arizona
    www.azbar.org
  • Maricopa County Bar
    www.maricopabar.org
    Referral number 602-257-4434
  • Pima County Bar
    www.pimacountybar.org
    Referral number 520-623-4625
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline
    800-799-7233
  • Bankruptcy Court Self Help Center
    866-553-0893
  • Certified Legal Document Preparer Program
    Link

ORGANIZATIONS