The UCCJEA is the uniform law that Arizona uses to determine which state has authority to make or modify legal decision making and parenting time orders. It applies when children and parents are in different states and prevents courts in different states from simultaneously asserting jurisdiction over the same children.

The UCCJEA's primary jurisdictional basis is home state — the state where the child has lived with a parent for at least six consecutive months before the case is filed.

Arizona treats tribal nations as states under the UCCJEA.