{"id":371502,"date":"2017-08-20T14:01:39","date_gmt":"2017-08-20T19:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-child-neglect-and-child-abandonment-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-03-11T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T05:00:00","slug":"arizona-child-neglect-and-child-abandonment-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-child-neglect-and-child-abandonment-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Child Neglect and Child Abandonment Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Arizona Child Neglect and Child Abandonment Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Natalie Moritz<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Child abandonment and neglect are serious offenses in Arizona. Child abandonment is defined as a parent’s failure to provide necessary support and maintain regular contact with a minor child. Neglect involves a caregiver’s failure to provide essential care, which can result in harm to the child’s health or welfare.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

These laws underscore Arizona’s commitment to protecting the well-being of children. Penalties range from misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the circumstances and severity of the offense.<\/p>\r\n

Child neglect and abandonment legal statutes and associated penalties can be confusing. Contact an Arizona criminal defense attorney<\/a> to learn more about these charges.<\/p>\r\n

This article explains Arizona child neglect and abandonment laws, mandatory reporting, and criminal penalties. The chart provides links to the full statutes governing these offenses.<\/p>\r\n

State of Arizona: Child Abandonment<\/h2>\r\n

Arizona defines child abandonment<\/a> as the failure of a parent to provide reasonable support to a child including providing normal supervision and maintaining normal contact with a child (under the age of 18).<\/p>\r\n

A parent who has made only minimal efforts to support and communicate with their child may also be found guilty of child abandonment. To establish clear evidence of child abandonment<\/a>, a parent must fail to maintain a normal parental relationship with a child without just cause for a period of six months.<\/p>\r\n

State of Arizona: Child Neglect<\/h2>\r\n

Arizona defines child neglect<\/a> as the inability or unwillingness of a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child to provide that child with supervision, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care if that inability or unwillingness causes unreasonable risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare.<\/p>\r\n

One exception to this rule is if the parent, guardian<\/a>, or custodian is unable to provide services to meet the needs of a child with a disability or chronic illness because reasonable services are unavailable.<\/p>\r\n

Child neglect also includes allowing a child to enter or remain in any structure or vehicle in which volatile, toxic, or flammable chemicals or equipment used for the purposes of manufacturing a dangerous drug<\/a> are found.<\/p>\r\n

The finding of child neglect also includes a determination by a health professional that a newborn infant was exposed prenatally to a drug or substance<\/a> or that an infant under one year of age is diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects.<\/p>\r\n

Finally, child neglect<\/a> encompasses any of the following acts committed by the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian with reckless disregard as to whether the child is physically present:<\/p>\r\n