How to Prepare an Arizona Parenting Plan Without Paying for an Attorney

You can prepare a complete Arizona parenting plan without an attorney by combining the court's free forms with a structured preparation process. Arizona's Superior Court provides the DRCVG11f parenting plan form at no cost, and the Maricopa County Law Library Resource Center offers in-person self-help assistance. What the court doesn't provide is the decision framework for what to put in those blank fields — and that's where most self-represented parents get stuck.

Here's the complete process, step by step.

Step 1: Understand What Arizona Requires in a Parenting Plan

Arizona law under A.R.S. § 25-403.02 requires every parenting plan to address specific provisions. Missing any of them can result in the court rejecting your plan or filling in the gaps with arrangements you didn't choose.

Your plan must include:

• Legal decision-making authority — Joint or sole, and whether decisions about education, healthcare, religious training, and personal care are shared or allocated
• Parenting time schedule — The regular schedule, plus holiday, vacation, and school break arrangements
• Exchange logistics — Where, when, and how children transfer between households
• Communication protocols — How parents communicate with each other and how each parent communicates with the child during the other's parenting time
• Right of first refusal — Whether the other parent gets priority over a babysitter when you're unavailable during your parenting time
• Dispute resolution — Mediation, arbitration, or court as the escalation path for disagreements
• Relocation provisions — Notice requirements and procedures under A.R.S. § 25-408
• Access to records — Both parents' rights to medical, dental, school, and law enforcement records

The DRCVG11f form structures these into checkboxes and fill-in fields. But checking a box for "joint legal decision-making" without specifying how deadlocked decisions get resolved is the kind of gap that produces enforcement problems later.

Step 2: Evaluate Your Custody Arrangement

Before you fill in any forms, you need to make decisions about two separate things that Arizona law treats independently:

Legal decision-making — This is about authority over major decisions (education, healthcare, religious training, personal care). Arizona starts from a presumption that joint legal decision-making serves the child's best interests, unless domestic violence, substance abuse, or other factors under A.R.S. § 25-403.03 apply. The Alec and Lydia Act (HB 2995, effective June 2026) strengthens this by creating a presumption against joint decision-making when domestic violence is found.

Parenting time — This is about where the child physically lives and the schedule for time with each parent. Arizona has no presumption of equal parenting time, but courts increasingly favor arrangements that maximize both parents' involvement when doing so serves the child's best interests.

Work through all 11 best-interests factors under A.R.S. § 25-403(A) for your own situation. Document specific evidence for each factor — not opinions, but facts. Which parent handles school pickup, medical appointments, extracurricular activities? What's the child's current routine? How do the parents communicate about the child? A structured worksheet helps organize this evidence so it's ready for court or mediation.

Step 3: Choose a Parenting Schedule

Arizona courts see several standard schedule patterns. Each has different implications for child support because overnight counts directly affect the calculation under the Income Shares Model.

5-2-2-5 rotation — Each parent gets the same two weekday nights every week (consistency for school routines) and alternates weekends. Produces equal overnights (182.5 each). Works well for parents who live relatively close and want predictability.

2-2-5-5 rotation — Similar to 5-2-2-5 but with a different alternation pattern. Also produces equal overnights. Some parents prefer this because it never goes more than 5 days without seeing the child.

2-2-3 rotation — Shorter blocks, more frequent transitions. Children never go more than 3 days without seeing either parent. Best for younger children who struggle with longer separations.

Alternating weeks — Simplest schedule but creates 7-day gaps. Generally works better for older children and teenagers. Can be combined with a midweek dinner or overnight.

Every-other-weekend plus one weeknight — The traditional "non-custodial" schedule (4 overnights out of 14). Results in roughly 104 overnights per year. Courts still order this when distance, work schedules, or other factors make equal time impractical.

Map your preferred schedule against your child's age, school calendar, both parents' work schedules, and the distance between homes. Then calculate the overnight count — it directly feeds into the child support formula.

Step 4: Run the Child Support Calculation

Arizona uses the Income Shares Model, and the state provides a free online calculator through ezCourtForms. You'll need:

• Both parents' gross income from all sources (wages, self-employment, rental income, disability, investments)
• The parenting time overnight count from your chosen schedule
• Childcare costs attributable to employment or job training
• Health insurance premium costs for the child
• Any extraordinary child-related expenses (special education, ongoing medical needs)

Run the calculation before you finalize your schedule. Many parents are surprised by how significantly overnight counts affect the support obligation — the difference between 140 and 182.5 overnights can shift monthly support by hundreds of dollars.

Step 5: Draft Your Parenting Plan

With your decisions made and documented, fill in the DRCVG11f form. For each section, write specific, enforceable language rather than vague agreements:

Weak: "Parents will share holiday time." Strong: "Thanksgiving: Mother in even-numbered years, Father in odd-numbered years, from Wednesday at 6:00 PM to Sunday at 6:00 PM. Christmas: the non-Thanksgiving parent gets December 23 at 10:00 AM through December 26 at 10:00 AM."

Weak: "Parents will communicate about the children." Strong: "Non-emergency communication about the children will occur via the OurFamilyWizard app. Emergency communication may occur by phone call or text. The receiving parent will respond within 24 hours for non-emergency matters."

Specificity is what makes a parenting plan enforceable. Vague language creates loopholes that feed conflict.

Step 6: Complete the Parent Information Program

Both parents must complete a court-approved parenting class within 45 days of filing or being served. This is mandatory under Arizona law, and the deadline is rigid — failing to complete PIP on time can result in the court striking your pleadings.

Several approved providers offer online courses ranging from $35 to $75. Complete it early and file your certificate of completion with the court. Don't wait until the deadline.

Step 7: File and Prepare for Conferences

File your petition and proposed parenting plan with the Superior Court clerk. Arizona charges a filing fee (approximately $349 in Maricopa County, with fee waiver available for qualifying low-income parents).

Prepare for the Early Resolution Conference by organizing your evidence around the 11 best-interests factors, bringing your proposed parenting schedule with overnight calculations, and having your child support calculation printout ready. Judges and conference officers assess preparation — arriving organized signals that your proposals are reasoned, not reactive.

The Arizona Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide provides worksheets and templates for every step above, organized in the sequence the court process follows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the custody process take in Arizona without a lawyer?

An uncontested case where both parents agree on terms typically takes 60 to 90 days from filing to final decree. Contested cases average 6 to 12 months. The timeline depends more on whether the parties agree than on whether either has an attorney.

Can the other parent's attorney intimidate me in court?

Arizona courts hold attorneys to ethical standards that prohibit intimidation of self-represented parties. Judges often make accommodations for pro se litigants, including explaining procedures and asking clarifying questions. Your preparation matters more than the other side's representation.

What if we agree on everything — do we still need a parenting plan?

Yes. Arizona requires a written parenting plan even in fully agreed-upon custody arrangements. The plan becomes a court order, which means it's enforceable. A verbal agreement isn't. The good news is that an agreed-upon plan is the fastest path to final orders — you can submit a consent decree without ever attending a contested hearing.

Should I use a parenting plan template I found online?

Only if it covers Arizona's specific requirements under A.R.S. § 25-403.02. Generic templates from national sites often miss the Resolution Statement, PIP requirements, and Arizona's specific legal decision-making framework. The court's own DRCVG11f form is the safest starting point.

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