Arizona Court System

State Courts

Appellate Level

• Arizona Supreme Court - Highest court in the state; final appellate authority

  • 5 justices
  • Hears civil and criminal cases on appeal

• Arizona Court of Appeals - Intermediate appellate court

  • 3 divisions (civil, criminal, tax)
  • Reviews lower court decisions

Trial Level

• District Courts - Primary trial courts

  • General jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters
  • Family law (divorce, custody, support)
  • Felony criminal trials

• Justice Courts - Lower trial courts

  • Limited jurisdiction
  • Small claims and misdemeanors

Federal Courts

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit - Reviews federal cases from Arizona
• U.S. District Court for District of Arizona

Court Procedures

Custody matters in Arizona are typically handled in District Courts at the trial level, with appeals to the Court of Appeals and potentially the Supreme Court. Case law from Woyton v. Ward and Smith v. Smith has shaped custody de facto presumptions.

Related

• Arizona - Arizona jurisdiction overview
• ARS § 25-403.02 - Custody statute