How do the courts decide custody cases?
The best interests of the child are the standard under which the Court determines all matters relating to the child. To assist the Court in this function, the Legislature has enacted the 11 Best Interest FactorsThese are a set of factors that a Court must consider whenever determining legal decision-making or parenting time. The Court must make written findings. The factors are found in A.R.S. § 25-403.Read more about Best Interest Factors listed in A.R.S.A.R.S. is an abbreviation for Arizona Revised Statutes. It is most commonly used as a reference. For example, if one types in, ARS 25-403 into Google or Bing, they'll likely be returned with links to Arizona's statute on the best interests factors and articles, web sites, and…Read more about A.R.S. § 25-403. Parties should address these factors in their Pretrial Statement and at TrialA court hearing in which evidence and testimony are taken, and the Court makes a final determination of the issues raised in a petition. Trials and evidentiary hearings are somewhat synonymous, but the difference is one of scope: Evidentiary hearings are more limited in scope…Read more about Trial. The Court must make written findings on the 11 factors at trial.
