Extended Handoff for Military Service
Military service creates unique challenges for parents. Deployments, training, and reassignments can take a service member away from home for long stretches. Arizona recognizes this and gives military parents more flexibility.
A military member who is a parent or guardian of a minor child or ward may delegate to another person, for a period not to exceed one year, any powers the parent or guardian have regarding care, custody or property of the minor child or ward, except the power to consent to marriage or adoption of the minor child or ward.
A.R.S. § 14-5107(A)Under A.R.S. 14-5104, civilian parents can hand off their duties for up to six months. This statute doubles that window to a full year. The scope stays the same: care, custody, and property decisions. And the same limits apply. No one can hand off the power to consent to marriage or adoption.
Who Qualifies as a Military Member
The statute covers most active service situations.
"Military member" means an active duty member of the army, navy, air force or marines, or a member of the reserve or national guard engaged in the performance of official duties or functions under the authority of title 10 or 32, United States Code.
A.R.S. § 14-5107(B)This includes active duty personnel across all branches. It also covers reservists and National Guard members on official duties. For military families in Arizona, this rule offers real peace of mind during long deployments.