If you’re trying to get custody of your child in Arizona and don’t have money for a lawyer, you’re not alone.
A lot of parents are in the same situation:
• You want legal decision-making (custody)
• You need a parenting time schedule
• You want child support established
• But you don’t want to spend thousands on an attorney
Here’s the truth:
👉 You can file for custody in Arizona
without a lawyer.
And many people successfully do it every year — especially in uncontested
cases.
This guide breaks everything down step-by-step so you can understand how
the process works in Maricopa County.
⚖️ WHAT “CUSTODY”
MEANS IN ARIZONA
In Arizona, custody is called:
👉 Legal Decision-Making
This means the authority to make important decisions for your child,
including:
✔ Education
✔ Medical care
✔ Religious decisions
The court will also decide:
✔ Parenting time (visitation schedule)
✔ Child support
📂 STEP 1: COMPLETE
THE REQUIRED FORMS
To start your case, you’ll need:
✔ Petition to Establish Legal Decision-Making, Parenting Time & Child
Support
✔ Summons
✔ Preliminary Injunction
✔ Sensitive Data Sheet
✔ Parenting Plan
✔ Child Support Worksheet
👉 These forms tell the court what you
are requesting.
🧾 STEP 2: FILE YOUR
CASE
Take your documents to:
👉 Clerk of Superior Court (Maricopa
County)
At filing:
✔ Submit your original documents
✔ Pay the filing fee (or request a fee deferral)
✔ Get stamped copies
📬 STEP 3: SERVE THE
OTHER PARENT
After filing, you must legally notify the other parent.
Approved methods include:
✔ Acceptance of Service
✔ Certified Mail (Restricted Delivery)
✔ Process Server
✔ Sheriff
⚠️ Your case will NOT move forward until service is
completed.
🏢 STEP 4: SERVE DES
(CHILD SUPPORT CASES)
If you are requesting child support:
👉 You must also serve:
Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES)
If you skip this step:
❌ Your case can be delayed
❌ Child support may not be ordered
⏳ STEP 5: WAIT OR
PROCEED BY DEFAULT
If the other parent:
✔ Cooperates → case moves forward
✔ Does not respond → you may proceed by default
⚖️ STEP 6: FINALIZE
YOUR CASE
If uncontested, the court can issue orders for:
✔ Legal decision-making (custody)
✔ Parenting time
✔ Child support
🧠 WHAT “UNCONTESTED”
MEANS
An uncontested case means:
✔ The other parent does not oppose the case
✔ They cooperate with service
✔ They do not file a response
If the case becomes contested, additional steps may be required.
💡 COMMON MISTAKES TO
AVOID
❌ Filing incomplete paperwork
❌ Not serving the other parent correctly
❌ Forgetting to serve DES
❌ Not completing the child support worksheet
These mistakes can delay your case for weeks or even months.
💰 DO YOU NEED A
LAWYER?
Not always.
If your case is:
✔ Straightforward
✔ Uncontested
✔ No major disputes
✔ “Many individuals choose to complete this process
themselves”
✔ “This is a common way to begin the process”
📦 WANT EVERYTHING
STEP-BY-STEP?
If you want everything clearly organized — including instructions,
examples, and direct access to the correct court forms — you can get the full
kit here:
👉 Arizona Custody & Child Support
DIY Kit (Maricopa County)
👉 [DIGITAL VERSION]: https://payhip.com/b/yd7UR
👉 [PRINTED VERSION]: https://payhip.com/b/Qce0d
✔ Step-by-step instructions
✔ Designed for self-represented individuals
✔ No lawyer needed for uncontested cases
🚀 SKIP THE GUESSWORK
Don’t risk delays, rejected filings, or mistakes.
👉 Get the full step-by-step system
here:
👉 [DIGITAL VERSION]: https://payhip.com/b/yd7UR
👉 [PRINTED VERSION]: https://payhip.com/b/Qce0d
🔥 FINAL WORD
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to file for custody in
Arizona.
👉 You just need the right steps — and
to follow them correctly.
👤 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This guide was created by:
Christian Soto, Arizona Certified Legal Document Preparer (AZCLDP #81428)
Servicios Privados Legales de AZ LLC (#81647)
With over 10 years of experience and having assisted thousands of Arizona
clients, this guide is designed to simplify the process for individuals who
want to handle their case without hiring a lawyer.
This is not a law firm.
This is a step-by-step educational system designed to help you understand and
complete the process on your own.
⚠️ This content is provided for educational and self-help
purposes only. No legal advice is given, and no attorney-client relationship is
created.
This material provides general information about court procedures and is not a substitute for legal advice.
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