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Arizona is one of many states that requires divorcing parents to take a parenting class when the parents ask the court to make a decision about legal decision making (legal custody). Parenting classes can also be ordered in paternity cases, visitation matters, child support cases, modification of parenting time, or child support cases.
It may seem odd to be required to take a class about parenting when you’ve obviously been parenting successfully for your child’s entire life. Parenting classes are required mostly to help you learn to parent together after the divorce, not to teach you how to be a good parent to your child. The focus of parenting classes is to give you and your spouse the skills so that you can work together to parent harmoniously and cooperatively in the years to come.
These classes teach you how to communicate with each other, be flexible, be fair, and create a new sense of trust in each other as you move forward as divorced parents. They teach you about pitfalls to avoid. The classes also offer information about what to expect from your child as you move through the divorce and how best to help your child cope with the upheaval that can ensue.
It is common for parents to feel resistant to these classes, but the best way to think about them is that they give you the skills you need so that you will not need to return to court. Many families have to return to court because of ongoing disputes about parenting time and visitation. Learning how to prevent common problems will save all of you a lot of time and money.
If you are facing a divorce or family law case, you need a lawyer who listens to you and helps you make good decisions. Call the Sampair Group for help in Mesa, Glendale, and Phoenix today.
