Source: https://www.bestlawaz.com/legal-decision-making-analysis-for-domestic-violence/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 19:05:43+00:00

Document:
Often, when a batterer was the perpetrator of significant domestic violence, he or she continues to pose a danger to the child(ren) and the spouse/ex-spouse. Thus, the Court should apply A.R.S. § 25-403.03. Under A.R.S. § 25-403.03(A), the batterer may not receive joint legal decision-making with the other parent. The Court of Appeals has interpreted this provision to mean the Court is precluded from awarding joint legal decision-making where significant domestic violence has occurred. See Hurd v. Hurd, 223 Ariz. 48, 51, 291 P.3d 258, 261 ¶ 12 (App. 2009).
Where the Court finds a history of significant domestic violence has not occurred, the Court, at a minimum, could find there have been acts of domestic violence. As such, the rebuttable presumption should be applied. The presumption is that awarding the batterer joint legal decision-making is not in the child(ren)’s best interests, and the batterer has the burden of rebutting that presumption. To determine whether the presumption can be rebutted, a Court is required to consider all the factors found in A.R.S. § 25-403.03(E). Below, we lay out the analysis for determining legal decision-making when domestic violence has occurred.
Step One: Determine the Nature of the Domestic Violence.
When it comes to legal decision-making, A.R.S. § 25-403.03 distinguishes between parents who have committed acts of domestic violence and parents who have a significant history of domestic violence. When do “acts of domestic violence” become a “significant history of domestic violence?” We do not know. No one tells us that. The Court of Appeals has held that “repeated acts” of domestic violence can support a court’s finding of a significant history of domestic violence. Hurd v. Hurd, 223 Ariz. 48, 52, ¶ 15, 219 P.3d 258, 262 (App. 2009). That is still a murky standard. We do not have any guidance on this point. But at some point, the acts become enough to become a significant history of domestic violence. Best Law Firm uses Dr. Jill Messing as an expert in domestic violence cases. In certain instances, a child’s counselor may also be allowed to testify at trial.
What happens if the Court finds a significant history of domestic violence? Then the matter is decided. The Court cannot award joint legal decision-making to a batterer who has a significant history of domestic violence. A.R.S. § 25-403.03 (A).
A. Whether the parent has demonstrated that being awarded sole or joint legal decision-making or substantially equal parenting time is in the child’s best interests.
B. Whether the parent has successfully completed a batterer’s prevention program.
C. Whether the parent has successfully completed a program of alcohol or drug abuse counseling, if the court determines that counseling is appropriate.
D. Whether the parent has successfully completed a parenting class, if the court determines that a parenting class is appropriate.
E. If the parent is on probation, parole or community supervision, whether the parent is restrained by a protective order that was granted after a hearing.
F. Whether the parent has committed any further acts of domestic violence.
What happens if a parent rebuts the presumption? That parent is eligible to receive sole or joint legal decision-making.
If the court finds that a parent has committed an act of domestic violence, that parent has the burden of proving to the court’s satisfaction that parenting time will not endanger the child or significantly impair the child’s emotional development.
Again, this provision shifts the burden to the batterer. He or she must prove to the Court’s satisfaction that parenting time will not endanger the child(ren) or significantly impair the child(ren)’s emotional development. If he or she cannot do this, then supervised parenting time must be ordered. Unsupervised parenting time allows a batterer additional access points to “control” the abused spouse or ex-spouse, often the continued target for abuse. If these actions show the child is being negatively impacted by the batterer’s parenting time and that he or she is using access to the child(ren) to abuse the spouse/ex-spouse, the batterer is unable to rebut the presumption.
The Court may apply as many of these options as it finds necessary. The Legislature also included an open option where the Court can apply any condition it believes necessary to protect the children, the battered spouse, and any other family member. The one thing the Court cannot do is nothing. The Court must place at least some conditions under A.R.S. § 25-403.03 (F).

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