How does the court decide how much visitation the non-custodial parent will receive?

The non-custodial parent should be granted reasonable visitation unless the court finds, after a hearing, that visitation would seriously endanger the child's physical, mental, moral or emotional health. Only rarely will a parent be deprived of visitation privileges. The court can also grant visitation to a stepparent. A.R.S. § 25-408.

A specific court-ordered visitation schedule is necessary to prevent disputes between parents. Such a schedule should address the regular schedule, holiday schedule, and summer/vacation time for each parent. It should also specify which provisions take precedence in the event there is a conflict between the specific time allotted for one parent for regular access versus the specific holiday or vacation entitlement.

The court shall assess attorney's fees and court costs against any parent who unreasonably denies or interferes with court-ordered visitation. The court may order a social service agency to supervise visitation. A.R.S. §25-410.