Standard Parenting Time Schedules and Court Guidelines in Arizona
Arizona has no single mandatory parenting time schedule. Every parenting plan must include a practical schedule with holidays and vacations, and the Arizona Supreme Court publishes suggested plans by age that are guides, not requirements.
Does Arizona have a standard parenting time schedule?
No single mandatory one. The statute requires each parenting plan to include a practical schedule of parenting time, including holidays and school vacations, along with exchange procedures, a way to resolve disputes and a review procedure, and if the parents cannot agree the court determines the element (A.R.S. 25-403.02(C)-(D)). The Arizona Supreme Court’s court-help site publishes suggested plans by child age; they are guides, not required methods (Arizona court help: parenting plans).
What are the Arizona court’s suggested plans?
The site lists numbered schedules for children from birth to 18. A few examples, with our overnight counts for the repeating pattern and the Parenting Time Table adjustment at that count (before holidays and summer):
| Suggested plan | Pattern | Nights in 14 | Days a year | Table adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 3 (ages 0 to 5) | Three short visits a week, no overnights | 0 of 14 | 0 | 0% |
| Plan 7 (ages 2 to 5) | One 3 to 6 hour visit and two consecutive overnights each week | 4 of 14 | 104 | 17.5% |
| Plan 9 (ages 3 to 18) | Two consecutive overnights every other week, with an optional extra | 2 of 14 | 52 | 7.5% |
| Plan 11 (ages 3 to 18) | Four consecutive nights one week and one night the next | 5 of 14 | 130 | 25% |
| Plan 12 (ages 3 to 18) | Split each week and each weekend | 7 of 14 | 183 | 50% |
| Plan 14 (ages 6 to 18) | Alternating 7-day periods | 7 of 14 | 183 | 50% |
The plans themselves say who they fit, such as plans for parents who have cared for the child about equally and live close enough to avoid long trips between homes (see Plan 12).
How does an Arizona schedule turn into support?
The Arizona child support calculator uses the table. The guidelines convert the days of parenting time to an adjustment percentage in the Parenting Time Table, apply it to the basic obligation and subtract it from the share of the parent who exercises the time; a parent with 164 or more days gets 50% (Child Support Guidelines). The Arizona parenting time calculator reads the table for you.
How are exchanges and holidays handled?
The parenting plan must set a procedure for exchanges of the child, including location and responsibility for transportation, and the exchange must take place at a safe exchange location when the statute requires it (25-403.02(C)). Holidays and school vacations belong in the practical schedule. The suggested plans say parents may divide holidays in time blocks similar to their regular schedule.
What if Arizona parents cannot agree on a schedule?
Each parent submits a proposed parenting plan, the court shall not prefer a plan because of the parent’s or child’s gender, and the court decides the disputed elements in the child’s best interests (25-403.02(A), (B), (D)).
How can an Arizona parenting plan change later?
The plan must contain a procedure for proposed changes, relocation under the relocation statute, disputes and alleged breaches to be mediated or resolved, and a procedure for periodic review (25-403.02(C)). A court motion to modify generally waits one year after the decree (25-411).
What should a written schedule cover?
- The regular pattern, with exchange days, times and a safe place.
- Holidays, school breaks and summer, and how they replace the regular pattern.
- The day count, so child support uses the right table row.
- Communication between the parents and with the child.
- How changes, disputes and reviews are handled.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one standard parenting schedule in Arizona?
No. The statute requires a practical schedule in each plan, and the Supreme Court publishes suggested plans by age.
Are the Arizona court’s suggested parenting plans required?
No. They are guides, not required methods.
What must an Arizona parenting plan include?
A decision-making designation, each parent’s rights, a practical schedule with holidays, exchange procedures, a dispute process and a review procedure.
How many overnights is Plan 12 in Arizona?
Seven in each 14-day cycle, about 183 days a year, which reaches the table’s 50% adjustment.
Who sets the schedule if Arizona parents cannot agree?
The court determines the element in the child’s best interests.
Official sources
- A.R.S. 25-103: purposes of title; best interest policy
- A.R.S. 25-401: definitions
- A.R.S. 25-403: legal decision-making; best interests of child
- A.R.S. 25-403.02: parenting plans
- A.R.S. 25-408: rights of each parent; relocation
- Arizona Child Support Guidelines (Administrative Order 2022-116): Parenting Time Table
- Arizona court help: suggested parenting time plans
- Arizona court help: Plan 12
- A.R.S. 25-411: modification
A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Arizona statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Arizona attorney.