Child Custody

questions & answers

Question: Does military service put you at a disadvantage for custody disputes?

Answer: Not necessarily.  In custody cases, everything depends on the specific facts of the case, the willingness of each parent to include the other in the child's life, and the fitness of each parent to care for the children.  The predominate consideration is the best interests of the child (A.R.S. Section 25-403).  If you have a stable home life and are able to provide a good plan that allows for visitation with the other parent, those factors will weigh in your favor.  You must also have a good plan to cover situations when you are deployed or sent on a TDY assignment.  Get some information from your local JAG office.  You may also want to talk to a local lawyer to figure out your best course of action. There are three programs in Arizona that you can use to get inexpensive legal advice and guidance.  One is the modest means program.  You will need to apply for the program and meet the financial qualifications.  Once you are qualified, Modest Means will send you a list of attorneys whose practice covers your area of concern.  You select a lawyer from the list and will be entitled to a one hour consultation for $75.  If you need additional help and if the lawyer agrees to take your case, the most you will be charged is $75 per hours.  the telephone number is (866) 637-5341.  Both Maricopa County and Pima County have lawyer referral programs that offer a 30 minute consult with an attorney.  Maricopa County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute consult with an experienced attorney for $40.  The telephone number is  (602) 257-4434.  Pima County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute attorney consult for $35.  The telephone number is (520) 623-4625.