{"id":4122,"date":"2019-03-18T10:04:07","date_gmt":"2019-03-18T17:04:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/arizona-family-law\/?p=4122"},"modified":"2024-10-30T16:32:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T23:32:20","slug":"parenting-time-pick-up-drop-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/arizona-family-law\/blog\/parenting-time-pick-up-drop-off\/","title":{"rendered":"Child Visitation Pick-Up and Drop-Off Responsibility in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

In Arizona, parents are equally responsible for transportation unless the parenting plan<\/a> says otherwise. The easiest way to share the responsibility equally is to require each parent to pick up the child from the other parent\u2019s home at the conclusion of each parenting time period. This is an optimal solution because it avoids the problems and arguments that inevitably come with a parent who drops off the child late, which cuts into the other parent\u2019s time with the child.<\/p>\n

There may be an exception to this rule when shorter visits are involved. If the visiting parent only has a few hours with the child, it would be unfair to expect the visiting parent to spend a significant amount of his or her parenting time in the car. Issues like this should be addressed in the parenting plan, as they are unenforceable without a written agreement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another exception might be when the parents live far away from each other. For example, if the parents live two hours apart, it may be a fair solution to meet at a halfway point for the pickup and drop off. However, as the actual miles driven is the same with this solution as it would be if each parent simply handled their pickup, most attorneys would still recommend sticking with the standard curbside pickup plan to avoid any issues.<\/p>\n

If you are in the process of negotiating a parenting plan as part of your divorce or legal separation, you should clearly address transportation in the parenting plan. Leaving this part out of the plan may feel like you’re avoiding a fight today, but it will undoubtedly lead to arguments and conflict with your ex-spouse down the road if you don\u2019t reach an agreement now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have a parenting plan and your ex-spouse refuses to honor their end of the transportation agreement, or if you neglected to include transportation in the agreement, you should consult with a family law attorney. You may need to amend the parenting plan to address the transportation issue.<\/p>\n

Parenting Plans<\/h2>\n

In Arizona, the term \u201cchild custody<\/a>\u201d has been replaced by parenting time and legal decision-making<\/a>. One of the goals of this terminology change was to shift the focus towards joint-parenting solutions<\/a>, and the initiative has been largely successful. There will still be one parent who primarily houses and cares for the child (formerly the custodial parent), but the visiting parent (formerly the non-custodial parent) no longer has \u201cvisitation\u201d with the child. Instead, each parent\u2019s time with the child is referred to as parenting time.<\/p>\n

Barring any special circumstances, it\u2019s typically in the child\u2019s best interests to have a healthy and ongoing relationship with both parents after a divorce<\/a> or legal separation<\/a>. Studies have repeatedly confirmed that positive involvement with both parents improves a child\u2019s emotional well-being, academic achievement, and social development. To this end, having a written parenting plan is essential to provide both parents and children with predictability and consistency (it certainly helps to avoid future conflicts, too).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As you are deliberating and negotiating a parenting plan that preserves your child\u2019s best interests, be sure to address transportation issues such as:<\/p>\n