BDB Law

Serving Phoenix, AZ Since 1995

Visitation Rights Attorney in Phoenix

Over 80 Years of Family Law Experience. Board-Certified Representation for Phoenix Parents.

A parenting time order from the Maricopa County Superior Court defines when and how you see your child. Without one, you have limited legal recourse if the other parent denies access. Getting that order right from the start matters, and so does who helps you pursue it.

At BDB Law, we represent Phoenix parents in visitation rights and parenting time proceedings before the Maricopa County Superior Court. Our practice is focused entirely on family law, and our attorneys bring over 80 years of combined experience to every case we handle.

If you need a child visitation attorney in Phoenix, call us at (602) 878-3133 or submit a contact form to schedule a consultation.

Credentials That Matter in a Parenting Time Case

William D. Bishop is a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist, a designation the State Bar of Arizona grants only after an attorney demonstrates substantial involvement in the specialty, passes a written examination, and receives peer review. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a recognition of both proficiency and ethical standing among peers in the family law community. These credentials are held by a small fraction of family lawyers in Arizona.

In practical terms, that level of preparation can mean more precise documentation strategies, sharper arguments on the best-interests factors a judge must weigh, and a clearer picture of how Maricopa County courts handle contested parenting time cases.

The firm’s peer recognition extends across the industry. William D. Bishop has been selected by Super Lawyers as one of the top 50 attorneys in Arizona out of 18,500 active attorneys for five consecutive years. BDB Law holds a Martindale-Hubbell A/V Preeminent rating and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 Edition, including a Lawyer of the Year designation.

We also offer flexible fee structures: pay-as-you-go, consultation-based, limited-scope representation, and full representation, so you can access the right level of help for your situation.

Contact BDB Law at (602) 878-3133 or through our online form. We serve clients throughout Phoenix and Maricopa County.

How Arizona Law Defines Visitation & Parenting Time

Arizona statute uses the term parenting time rather than visitation, though both refer to the same thing: the schedule of access a parent has with their child. The governing statute is A.R.S. § 25-403, which sets out how courts establish and evaluate these arrangements.

Parenting time is separate from legal decision-making. Legal decision-making is the right and responsibility to make nonemergency decisions about a child’s education, health care, religious training, and personal care. A court can award joint legal decision-making while giving one parent a majority of the parenting time. Joint decision-making doesn’t automatically mean equal time.

Every contested legal decision-making case requires a parenting plan. A complete plan must designate sole or joint decision-making authority, a parenting time schedule covering holidays and vacations, exchange logistics, a procedure for resolving disputes, and a communication procedure between the parents. Once the court approves it, the plan becomes a binding order.

One point that surprises many parents: Arizona law treats child support and parenting time as separate legal issues. A parent can’t lawfully deny the other parent’s parenting time because child support goes unpaid.

The Best-Interests Standard Under A.R.S. § 25-403

Arizona courts don’t start from a presumption of equal parenting time. The standard is the best interests of the child, and judges work through a defined list of factors before setting or modifying any parenting time schedule.

Those factors include the past, present, and potential future relationship between each parent and the child; the child’s adjustment to home, school, and community; the mental and physical health of everyone involved; and whether there has been domestic violence or child abuse. The court also weighs which parent is more likely to allow the child frequent, meaningful, and continuing contact with the other parent. A pattern of missed exchanges or deliberate interference can influence how a judge views that factor.

A child’s own preferences may be considered if the child is of suitable age and maturity, but those wishes aren’t determinative on their own. When a judge decides a contested parenting time case, the court must make specific findings on the record under A.R.S. § 25-403 explaining why the outcome serves the child’s best interests. This requirement gives both parents a reviewable record if an appeal becomes necessary.

Why Choose BDB Law?

Over 80 Years of Combined Experience

Our experienced attorneys practice exclusively in the areas of family and divorce law. Our firm is a top ranked divorce law firm in Arizona.
Customized Representation to Fit Your Budget
For clients who are more budget-conscious or who have restricted resources, we provide several different options for legal assistance.
Board-Certified Family Law Specialist

There are only approximately 65 attorneys throughout Arizona who have attained the distinction of Certified Family Law Specialists.

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Awards & Associations

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 Edition

Bishop, Del Vecchio & Beeks Law Office Attorneys Honored, including “Lawyer of the Year.”

How a Parenting Time Case Moves Through Maricopa County Court

A parent seeking a parenting time order files a petition with the Maricopa County Superior Court; the other parent has a set number of days to respond. Arizona courts typically require mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution before a trial date is set, and mediators connected to Maricopa County court services or private practice can help parents reach agreement without a full hearing.

Temporary orders can establish an interim parenting time schedule while the case is pending, which matters when the current living situation is unstable or contested. If parents can’t reach agreement through mediation, a judge decides parenting time at a hearing based on the best-interests factors. In high-conflict cases, the court may appoint a custody evaluator or a best-interests attorney to represent the child’s position.

We represent clients at every stage of these proceedings, from the initial petition through trial. We also help clients prepare documentation, including school records, communication logs, and parenting-time records, that supports a clear and credible presentation to the court.

Enforcement & Modification of Parenting Time Orders in Phoenix

A parenting time order is legally enforceable once entered. Under A.R.S. § 25-414, a parent who refuses without good cause to comply can be held in contempt of court, required to make up missed parenting time, ordered to attend parenting education or family counseling at their own expense, and assessed civil penalties along with the other parent’s attorney fees.

We handle enforcement actions for clients whose parenting time is being withheld or disrupted, and we assist in gathering text messages, emails, and parenting-time logs that document patterns of interference.

Modification follows a different path. Parenting time schedules generally can’t be modified within the first year after entry unless there is reason to believe the child’s present environment may seriously endanger their physical, mental, moral, or emotional health. After that threshold is met, the requesting parent must show the change serves the child’s best interests. A legal decision-making order carries the same one-year restriction. Relocation adds another layer: a parent planning to move a child more than 100 miles or out of state must provide at least 45 days’ advance written notice to the other parent under A.R.S. § 25-408, and the non-moving parent has 30 days to petition the court to prevent it. When circumstances create immediate risk, an emergency petition is available without waiting for the standard timeline.

To speak with a Phoenix visitation attorney at BDB Law, call (602) 878-3133 or contact us through our website. We serve clients throughout Phoenix and Maricopa County.

Parenting Plans & Supervised Visitation in Arizona

When parents negotiate their own parenting plan, they retain more control over the outcome, and voluntarily negotiated plans tend to hold up better over time than those a judge imposes. Supervised visitation is ordered when evidence of drug or alcohol abuse, violent or abusive behavior, or insufficient parenting skills makes unsupervised contact a risk to the child. The supervisor can be a relative, a family friend, a social worker, or a mental health professional. Courts treat supervision as a protective measure rather than a punitive one, and supervision requirements can be phased out as a parent demonstrates stability.

Grandparents also have standing to petition for visitation rights in Arizona under A.R.S. § 25-409. A grandparent may petition if the parents’ marriage has been dissolved for at least three months, one parent is deceased or has been missing for at least three months, or the child was born out of wedlock to unmarried parents. Courts apply the best-interests standard and weigh whether grandparent visitation would disrupt the parent-child relationship.

Unmarried Parents, Interstate Cases, & High-Conflict Situations

Unmarried fathers in Arizona have no parenting time rights until paternity is legally established. Once paternity is confirmed, the court applies the same best-interests analysis it uses for married parents.

When a prior out-of-state custody order exists, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act governs which state’s court has authority to act. Registration or modification of the out-of-state order may be required before the Maricopa County Superior Court can issue new parenting time terms. We handle visitation cases involving these interstate jurisdiction questions.

When a parent has a history of domestic violence or substance abuse, courts may order restricted or monitored parenting time. A parent who has addressed past issues, including addiction or mental health concerns, can support a request for expanded parenting time by presenting counseling records, negative drug tests, and parenting class completion.

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At BDB Law, we're always ready to take your call! Give us a call at (602) 878-3133 or fill out the form below to contact one of our team members. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

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Pay As You Go
No retainer or deposit is required. The firm will assist you from time to time, upon your request. This is what is often called a "do it yourself divorce" with the firm helping you on the side.
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You will represent yourself. Consultation Based- Allows for more assistance than “pay as you go,” and typically requires a minimal deposit.
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You will represent yourself as much as possible, and only pay for formal representation regarding select aspects of your case.
Full Representation
Formal representation applicable to all aspects of your case, including all hearings and during trial (if necessary).