How to become a supervised visitation provider in Arizona

Arizona law lets courts order supervised visitation, but there is no statewide license for providers. The court order in each case decides who may supervise. This guide covers what Arizona law says, your reporting duties, and where families and referrals come from.

What Arizona law says about supervised visitation

In domestic violence cases, the court may assign a professional agency or laypeople to supervise parenting time, but never the victim, and may make the offending parent pay for it. (A.R.S. § 25-403.03(H))

Read your court order closely in every case. It can name who may supervise, set conditions, and say who pays.

Key facts for providers in Arizona

Arizona courts may appoint a professional agency or laypeople to supervise parenting time. The domestic violence victim cannot supervise.
A parent found to have committed domestic violence can be ordered to pay the costs of supervised parenting time.
Arizona courts may also require exchanges of the child to happen in a protected setting.

Reporting child abuse in Arizona

Many listed professionals must report, and so must parents, guardians and anyone else responsible for the child's care or treatment. (A.R.S. § 13-3620)

Know how to make a report in Arizona before your first visit, and explain your reporting duty to both parents at intake. Stopping a visit to keep a child safe always comes first.

Recording visits in Arizona

Arizona generally lets a person record a conversation they take part in (one party consent). (A.R.S. §§ 13-3005, 13-3012)

Many providers don't record visits at all. If you do, get written consent from both parents at intake, and follow the court order.

Where families and referrals come from in Arizona

Most families look for a provider right after a judge orders supervised visits. Family law attorneys, mediators, court self help centers and state funded programs are the people they ask first.

Every state receives a federal Access and Visitation grant for services like supervised visitation, neutral exchanges and parenting plans. Where Arizona's program contracts with local providers, it can be a source of referrals or funded work.

Arizona Access and Visitation Program (Arizona DES, Division of Child Support Services) The state contact for Arizona's federally funded access and visitation grant.
Self-Service Center (Arizona Judicial Branch) Statewide court self help with family law information and forms.
Maricopa County Superior Court guide Courthouses, self help, court programs and forms.
Pima County Superior Court guide Courthouses, self help, court programs and forms.
Pinal County Superior Court guide Courthouses, self help, court programs and forms.
Yavapai County Superior Court guide Courthouses, self help, court programs and forms.

Steps to start providing supervised visits in Arizona

Check your county family court's website and self help center for local rules or provider lists.
Complete training in child safety, domestic violence awareness, neutral observation, report writing and ending a visit safely. The Supervised Visitation Network publishes practice standards many providers follow.
Get a background screening and liability insurance. Families, attorneys and some courts expect both even where Arizona law doesn't require them.
Set your rates, service area, visit locations and cancellation policy, and write a services agreement and intake form. Have a Arizona attorney review them.
Introduce yourself to local family law attorneys, mediators and the court's self help center, and ask how to join any provider list.
List your services where families search, so they can see your rates and book you online.

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Sources

General information only, not legal advice. Laws change, and this information may be incomplete, out of date or wrong. Confirm it with a licensed attorney in your state before you rely on it.