Parents involved in a divorce, legal separation, paternity or maternity proceeding must agree on allocation of parenting time and decision-making for their children. The two issues are completely separate and decided independently. For example, one person can be the sole decision-maker, even if the parents share equal parenting time. This article addresses only the legal decision-making process, not allocation of parenting time.

In Arizona, parents must share joint legal decision-making unless the court finds a compelling reason for them not to.  What does joint-legal decision making mean? And what happens when parents cannot agree on a decision?  Some recent Arizona court decisions offer answers. Read more