Primary residence refers to the home where a child primarily lives for practical purposes such as school enrollment, medical provider registration, and community connection. It is a practical concept rather than a specific legal status under current Arizona law.

The parenting plan defines the parenting time schedule and one home is typically designated as the child's primary residence for school enrollment purposes. That designation matters for which school district the child attends, which parent's address is used on official records, and how certain practical decisions are made.

Primary residence does not automatically determine legal decision making authority. A parent can be the primary residential parent without having sole legal decision making. The two questions are addressed separately in the parenting plan.

In high-conflict cases the question of which home is primary is sometimes more emotionally significant than it is practically determinative. The parenting time schedule and the specific provisions of the parenting plan govern the child's life. The label of primary residence is secondary to those specifics.