Arizona family courts prioritize a child’s best interests in all their decisions, including when to appoint a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) during a divorce. The court appoints a GAL as a neutral third party to represent the best interests of a child or incapacitated adult.
In the past, family courts in Arizona and elsewhere routinely decided in favor of mothers having primary custody of children after a divorce while fathers were relegated to every other weekend visitation.
Arizona judges prioritize the best interests of children in all family court rulings and begin child custody battles in Arizona with the presumption that continued close contact with both parents is what is in a child’s best interest.
After a divorce, many women revert to their previous last name, or “maiden name.” Most include this stipulation as part of their divorce order to facilitate the change; however, changing a child’s last name isn’t as simple.
