The proposed bill amends sections 25-403 and 25-405 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to clarify the rights of children in legal decision-making and parenting time. Under the new language, children who are at least fourteen years old and sufficiently mature can choose which parent they prefer for custody and parenting time, with their choice being presumptive unless deemed not in the child's best interest by the court. For children under fourteen, the court is required to strongly consider their wishes if they are of suitable age and maturity, again unless it is determined that those wishes are not in the child's best interest.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the court shall interview the child in chambers upon the child's request to understand their preferences regarding custody and parenting time, replacing the previous language that allowed the court to do so at its discretion. This change emphasizes the importance of the child's voice in custody matters and establishes a more structured approach to considering their wishes.

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