The bill proposes amendments to sections 25-403 and 25-405 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, focusing on legal decision-making and parenting time. The new language grants children at least fourteen years of age and sufficiently mature the right to select their preferred parent for custody and parenting time. This selection is presumed to be in the child's best interest unless the court determines otherwise. For children under fourteen but of suitable age and maturity, the court must strongly consider the child's wishes, again unless it is not in the child's best interest.

Additionally, the bill changes the court's discretion in interviewing children to ascertain their custodial preferences. Under the current law, the court may interview the child in chambers, but with the new bill, upon the child's request, the court is required to conduct such an interview. This change emphasizes the importance of considering the child's voice in legal decision-making and parenting time matters.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 25-403, 25-405, 25-403.03, 13-2907.02