When parents live apart, co-parenting can be extremely challenging. Providing a stable home life at the end of the parents’ relationship is everyone’s primary concern.
Many parents are left to question how decisions will be made regarding their child’s health care and school, how they will set up a workable parenting time schedule, and how they will effectively communicate with the other parent. McMurdie Law & Mediation will help you find answers to all these questions and many more.
The term custody in Arizona, now referred to as “Legal Decision Making,” has been grossly misunderstood and misused. Child custody in Arizona used to be divided and defined as “legal custody” and “physical custody.” Now, they are referred to as “Legal Decision Making” and “Parenting Time.”
Legal Decision Making consists of 4 primary areas of major decisions for the children that include 1) health and medical care; 2) religion; 3) schooling; 4) activities. If these are agreed between you, then you already have an agreement that the court does not need to be involved in deciding for you. However, if one parent is making decisions for the children that are not in their best interest, the court may need to be involved to ensure the children are protected in the best way possible. Disagreements between the parents regarding these decisions are often resolved through mediation or through a third person professional, referred to as a Parenting Coordinator, who will investigate the dispute and issue a recommendation to the court that resolves the disagreement between the parents.
At McMurdie Law & Mediation we can often help you with these decisions through mediation and keep you from having to place these personal decisions in the hands of the court or Parenting Coordinator. When the court is needed in your case, we can go to court with you through full representation, or help you with advice, counsel and guidance to represent yourself at a lesser cost. We have found that many clients find this limited scope representation helpful and affordable.
Parenting Time, previously referred to as visitation, pertains to the parenting time schedule the parents share with their child. A parenting time schedule may vary considerably from case to case based upon a myriad of factors and can be the most difficult decision for a separating family. Visitation is now reserved for grandparents and third parties, like step-parents or extended relatives. Even if one parent has far less time than the other parent, it is still described as Parenting Time.
Parenting time is decided by many factors, including but not limited to the following:
- Ages of the children
- Wishes of the children
- Best interests of the children
- Where the children attend school
- Mental and physical health of the parents
- Mental and physical health of the children
- Whether a parent is attempting to alienate the other
- Whether there is a history of domestic violence, criminal activity, or alcohol or substance abuse.
In some cases a behavioral or mental health professional may be brought in to perform an assessment of your family including both parents and sometimes the children, which the court will later review to assist in making their decision.
McMurdie Law and Mediation can help the parties in a custody case to navigate to an amicable resolution that provides a stable schedule for the children and helps to cultivate healthy communication between co-parents that will continue into the future. Contact McMurdie Law & Mediation to find out how we can help your family work together to create parenting plan in your custody matter.
March 2024 – Divorce & Child Custody
Cristi McMurdie excels at developing the best outcomes for her clients. She is active in the community and engages in collaborative networking with other professionals to stay at the top of her game. She helped me navigate my divorce, which ended with me having desired sole custody of my daughter. I rely on her for professional guidance to date. Cristi is honest and holds herself to the highest ethical standards. I commend her for her integrity. Thank you.
May 2023 – Custody
Cristi is both attentive and knowledgeable. She went out of her way to help me through a family custody issue with the most reasonable solution for everyone involved and the safest solution for the child involved. Her experience in Arizona family law and tenacious follow up, communication, and follow-through is second to none. Thank you Cristi! You have been an amazing ally.
March 2022 – Child Custody
Cristi is a wonderful attorney! She is pleasant and kind as a person and a pit bull in the courtroom. Her knowledge pertaining to child custody cases is extensive. This was a long process but Cristi was vital in getting our grandchildren awarded to us…we couldn’t be happier.
March 2022 – Divorce and Custody
February 2020 – Custody
Cristi is an incredible resource. I needed to alter my existing custody arrangement and had a lot of questions. Cristi listened closely, asked insightful questions, and provided guidance based on her experience. She brought up scenarios and suggestions that I never would have thought of on my own and I am so grateful that I reached out to her instead of attempting this by myself.
August 2015 – Custody
July 2015 – Custody
Cristi has helped me through some of the toughest times of my life. As a young new mother going through a divorce I was petrified about court proceedings. Cristi’s compassion and knowledge put me at ease. Cristi fought hard for my case and we secured everything we wanted! Years later Cristi still reaches out to me asking for updates. I whole heartedly recommend Cristi! Her work is unmatched by any other attorney in the area! She is honest, caring, and hardworking!
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(480) 777-5500
64 E. Broadway Rd. Ste.200 Tempe, AZ 85282
In an accident? McMurdie Law & Mediation works with Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice as Wrongful Death Specialists for 40+ years to bring you the best possible representation.
McMurdie Law & Mediation is associated with the Davis Miles McGuire Gardner Law Firm (DMMG), a full service law firm with many in the top 10 according to Ranking Arizona.
Please call us to discuss your case and the right attorney for you.
