Joint physical custody is older shorthand for a parenting schedule in which a child spends substantial time living with each parent. Under current Arizona law the concept is expressed as parenting time, with the schedule defining when the child is with each parent rather than which home is primary.

What people call joint physical custody can look very different in practice. Equal time is one version. A schedule weighted 60-40 or 70-30 is another. The label matters less than the specific schedule and how well it serves the child's needs.

Arizona does not presume that equal physical time is always in the child's best interests. The court looks at the specific family, the child's age and developmental needs, the distance between homes, school and activity schedules, and the parents' work arrangements. Equal time works well for some families and creates logistical and emotional problems for others.