How to Make a Parenting Plan in Arizona

Every Arizona divorce or custody case involving children requires a written parenting plan. Under A.R.S. § 25-403.02, if parents can't agree on terms, each must submit a proposed plan to the court. The official form is the DRCVG11f — a multi-page document that covers everything from weekly schedules to dispute resolution procedures.

The court provides this form for free. But a blank form doesn't tell you what to write in each section, which clauses prevent future conflict, or how your choices affect child support calculations.

What Arizona Law Requires in Your Plan

A.R.S. § 25-403.02 mandates that every parenting plan address these specific elements:

Legal decision-making designation. You must specify joint or sole legal decision-making and the parents' rights and responsibilities for personal care and major decision areas. The statute separately requires a dispute-resolution procedure; that procedure may include mediation or another approach.

A detailed parenting time schedule. The court expects specific days and times, not general language. Your plan needs:

• Regular weekly rotation (e.g., 2-2-5-5, alternating weeks, every other weekend)
• Holiday and school break schedule with exact pickup and dropoff times
• Summer parenting time arrangements
• Birthday and special occasion provisions

Exchange protocols. Where do pickups and dropoffs happen? Who provides transportation? How are costs split? School-to-school transfers (Parent A drops off Monday morning, Parent B picks up after school) eliminate direct contact in high-conflict cases.

Communication rules. How will parents communicate about the child — text, email, a dedicated app like OurFamilyWizard? What about the child's contact with the off-duty parent (phone calls, video chats)?

Dispute resolution procedure. The plan must include a procedure for resolving disputes; it may include mediation through Conciliation Services or a private mediator before a court motion.

Periodic review. The plan must state a process for reviewing its terms as the child's needs and circumstances change.

Sex offender notification. Under A.R.S. § 25-403.05, the plan must include the required statement about written notice if a registered sex offender or a person convicted of a dangerous crime against children has contact with the child.

Equal access to records. Under A.R.S. § 25-403.06, both parents retain the right to access school, medical, dental, and law enforcement records unless a court order says otherwise.

Clauses That Prevent Future Conflict

The mandatory elements are a starting point. Parents who draft specific, self-executing clauses spend less time back in court. Three provisions are worth the extra effort:

Right of first refusal (ROFR). If the on-duty parent can't care for the child for a defined window (typically 4-6 hours), the other parent gets first option before a babysitter or relative steps in. Specify the notification method and response deadline — "24 hours' written notice via text or OurFamilyWizard; if no response within 2 hours, the requesting parent may arrange alternative care."

Extracurricular activity authorization. Define spending thresholds and sign-up procedures. Without this clause, one parent can enroll the child in expensive activities and demand the other parent pay half.

Relocation provisions. Arizona law requires 45 days' written notice before moving a child more than 100 miles within the state or out of state. Reference A.R.S. § 25-408 in your plan so both parents understand the statutory obligation.

Long-Distance Parenting Plans

If parents live more than 100 miles apart, the standard weekly rotation won't work. Long-distance plans typically use:

• School-year primary residence with one parent, extended time during summer and breaks with the other
• Transportation cost-sharing formulas — the most common split is the receiving parent pays for pickup, the sending parent pays for dropoff
• Virtual parenting time — scheduled video calls two to three times per week during off-schedule periods

The plan should specify which parent handles school enrollment and which address will be used for school purposes, consistent with the legal decision-making order and the child's practical schedule.

How Your Plan Affects Child Support

Arizona's Income Shares Model factors parenting time directly into the child support calculation. The guidelines use annual parenting-day counting and Table A for the parenting-time adjustment. If equal parenting time is 164 days or more and daily child-rearing costs are not shared equally, the primary residential parent may petition the court to apply Table B. This means the schedule you write into your parenting plan has a direct financial impact.

Filing Your Plan

Once both parents sign the parenting plan, it's filed with the court alongside the Decree of Dissolution or as part of a Petition to Establish Legal Decision-Making. In consent cases, the judge reviews the plan and signs it. In contested cases, the judge may modify terms that don't meet the statutory requirements.

The Arizona Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes a clause-by-clause parenting plan builder, schedule comparison worksheets, and a best-interests evidence organizer — everything you need to fill out Form DRCVG11f with precision.

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