Ariz. Rev. Stat. » Title 25
Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-402 (2026)

Jurisdiction

✓ current as of May 2026
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25-402. Jurisdiction

A. Before it conducts a proceeding concerning legal decision-making or parenting time, including a proceeding to determine the legal decision-making or visitation of a nonparent, a court in this state first must confirm its authority to do so to the exclusion of any other state, Indian tribe or foreign nation by complying with the uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act, the parental kidnapping prevention act and any applicable international law concerning the wrongful abduction or removal of children.

B. The following persons may request legal decision-making or parenting time under the following circumstances:

1. A parent in any proceeding for marital dissolution, legal separation, annulment, paternity or modification of an earlier decree or judgment.

2. A person other than a parent, by filing a petition for third party rights under section 25-409 in the county in which the child permanently resides.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 28 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 2000–2026 · leading case: Olesen v. daniel/burge, 484 P.3d 139 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2021).
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Olesen v. daniel/burge, 484 P.3d 139 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 8× “2015) (“[T]he court’s power to conduct visitation and parenting time proceedings is provided by A.R.S. § 25-402, and [A.R.S.] § 25-409 simply sets forth the substantive criteria that govern visitation petitions.”
Lambertus v. Hon. porter/day-strange, 332 P.3d 608 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 26× “Although it is true that sections 25-404 and 25-817 do not contain the word “visitation,” A.R.S. § 25-402 (Supp. 2013) does. Section 25-402 instructs the court to determine whether it has jurisdiction before “conduct[ing] a proceeding concerning legal decision- making or…”
Owen v. Blackhawk, 79 P.3d 667 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “§ 25-402(3) (1999) (defining “joint physical custody” as when the parties share the residence of the child equally and “parenting time” as time that the child is physically placed with a parent). The statute requiring specific findings is not limited to contested “legal” custody…”
Vera v. Hon rogers/chaidez, 433 P.3d 1190 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “” A.R.S. § 25-402(B)(1). Once a legal decision-making or parenting time proceeding is initiated, the court may, on motion by a party, issue temporary orders awarding parenting time.”
In Re the Marriage of Dorman, 9 P.3d 329 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “§ 25-339, now § 25-411, to request for modification of physical custody); see also A.R.S. § 25-402(3) (defining joint physical custody as shared physical residence with substantially equal time with each parent).”
Sheets v. Hon. mead/reynolds, 356 P.3d 341 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “Here, the court’s power to conduct visitation and parenting time proceedings is provided by A.R.S. § 25-402, and § 25-409 simply sets forth the substantive criteria that govern visitation petitions.”
Sheehan v. Flower, 170 P.3d 288 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “” A.R.S. § 25-402(4) (2007). 6 . See People’s Choice TV Corp.”
Lisa Friedman v. David C Roels Jr, 418 P.3d 884 (Ariz. 2018). · cites it 2× “That statute allows "a person other than a legal parent" to "petition the superior court for visitation with a child," and generally authorizes the court to "grant visitation rights during the child's minority on a finding that the visitation is in the child's best interests." §…”
Testerman v. Testerman, 2008 WY 112 (Wyo. 2008). “Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 25-402 (2008). The Arizona Court of Appeals has explained that "Physical custody involves the child's residential placement, whereas parenting time is what is traditionally thought of as 'visitation.”
Hustrulid v. Stakebake, 516 P.3d 18 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 2× “”); A.R.S. § 25-402(B)(2) (“[A] person other than a parent” may request legal decision-making or parenting time, by filing a petition for third party rights under § 25-409).”
Torrez v. Bombard (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 11× “¶6 Preliminarily, Bombard argues the superior court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over this matter.”
Anthony v. Anthony (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 9× “Jurisdiction over Child Custody ¶17 Mother next argues that the superior court misconstrued A.R.S. § 25-402 and lacked jurisdiction to determine child custody.”
Show all 28 citing cases →
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-402(3) — 2 cases
Owen v. Blackhawk, 79 P.3d 667 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2003). “§ 25-402(3) (1999) (defining “joint physical custody” as when the parties share the residence of the child equally and “parenting time” as time that the child is physically placed with a parent). The statute requiring specific findings is not limited to contested “legal” custody…”
In Re the Marriage of Dorman, 9 P.3d 329 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2000). “§ 25-339, now § 25-411, to request for modification of physical custody); see also A.R.S. § 25-402(3) (defining joint physical custody as shared physical residence with substantially equal time with each parent).”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-402(4) — 2 cases
Sheehan v. Flower, 170 P.3d 288 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007). “” A.R.S. § 25-402(4) (2007). 6 . See People’s Choice TV Corp.”
Teamer v. Daniells (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-402(5) — 2 cases
Teamer v. Daniells (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014).
Caskey v. Battani (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-402(A) — 4 cases
Torrez v. Bombard (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). “¶6 Preliminarily, Bombard argues the superior court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over this matter.”
Srery v. Hon hinz/srery (Ariz. Ct. App. 2017).
Morgan v. Morgan (Ariz. Ct. App. 2025).
Griffith v. Bennett (Ariz. Ct. App. 2026).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-402(B) — 3 cases
Lisa Friedman v. David C Roels Jr, 418 P.3d 884 (Ariz. 2018). “That statute allows "a person other than a legal parent" to "petition the superior court for visitation with a child," and generally authorizes the court to "grant visitation rights during the child's minority on a finding that the visitation is in the child's best interests." §…”
Cavness v. Wilson (Ariz. Ct. App. 2020).
Devlin v. State Kingery (Ariz. Ct. App. 2023).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-402(B)(1) — 1 case
Vera v. Hon rogers/chaidez, 433 P.3d 1190 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). “” A.R.S. § 25-402(B)(1). Once a legal decision-making or parenting time proceeding is initiated, the court may, on motion by a party, issue temporary orders awarding parenting time.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-402(B)(2) — 5 cases
Olesen v. daniel/burge, 484 P.3d 139 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2021). “2015) (“[T]he court’s power to conduct visitation and parenting time proceedings is provided by A.R.S. § 25-402, and [A.R.S.] § 25-409 simply sets forth the substantive criteria that govern visitation petitions.”
Hustrulid v. Stakebake, 516 P.3d 18 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2022). “”); A.R.S. § 25-402(B)(2) (“[A] person other than a parent” may request legal decision-making or parenting time, by filing a petition for third party rights under § 25-409).”
Torrez v. Bombard (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). “¶6 Preliminarily, Bombard argues the superior court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over this matter.”
Thomas v. Caldwell (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016).
Michael M. v. Katie A., E.O. (Ariz. Ct. App. 2017).
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