questions & answers

Question: where are the laws ,rules,guidelines of parenting plans during a divorce?  Husband wont do mediation just wants trial.I want to start planning for daughter homeschooling during summer how do I plan ahead and enforce? we have no parenting plan agreed on.thnak you

Answer:

There are no fixed parenting plan "guidelines" in AZ. The Arizona Model Parenting Plan is helpful, but *not* binding on the court. It also should not be used in cases where family violence, neglect, drug addiction or criminal conduct has occurred. The smartest thing you can do is draft a selection of 3-4 different plans that would make your daughter happy, while serving her best interests, and then offer them during negotiations such as a parenting conference or ADR settlement conference. You can also suggest them informally to your husband if he refuses the formal mediation process. If he will not discuss it at all, then you will have to do a trial and ask the judge to force the issue. Don't forget to include some accommodation for major holidays (e.g. Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring/fall break and three-day weekends) when you draft your plans!