When two parents split up, a plan must be made for the care of the child and the parents' level of involvement in the child's life. In the state of Arizona, two terms come up regularly in conjunction with these types of situations: child custody and parenting time. Below is a brief introduction to these terms to better understand how they might apply to your family.

Child Custody

Custody is awarded to the party who will make all major decisions regarding the care and raising of the children. The parent endowed with this responsibility is often referred to as the custodial parent, and they are usually the parent with whom the child physically resides most of the time. A custodial parent can choose where and how a child is educated, where they receive medical care, what religious affiliations they pursue, what morals and values they learn, and the types of discipline used. Arizona courts grant custody based on whichever parent is most suited to this important role, and the gender of the parent does not figure into the decision.

Parenting Time

Arizona has something called parenting time; in other states, it is often referred to as visitation or access. Parenting time is the schedule that determines when the non-custodial parent or the parent without sole legal custody—the one with whom the child does not reside—gets to see and spend time with the child. The exact details of the parenting time arrangement will vary from family to family. Some situations, for example, might necessitate strict limits on the time and ways one parent can access the child. Other situations may be quite liberal, allowing ample parenting time that gives both parents more or less equal access to the child.

If you are facing a child custody matter, trust Bullhead City, AZ, family law attorney Paul Lenkowsky of the Law Offices of Paul Lenkowsky. Call (928) 758-4815, visit his firm's website, or connect with them on Facebook or Google+ to schedule a consultation. Child custody issues can be stressful and difficult to navigate; look out for the best interests of your children, and call Attorney Lenkowsky today.