On June 22, 2026, Governor Katie Hobbs signed House Bill 2995 into law. It is called the Alec and Lydia Act, named after two children who were shot and killed by their father while he was exercising unsupervised parenting time during a divorce. Their mother, Hope Hooton, fought for this law. It is now in effect.
The Alec and Lydia Act is the most significant overhaul of Arizona's family court domestic violence law in recent memory. It changes what courts must find, what they must put in writing, what they must presume, and what they can no longer ignore when domestic violence is present in a case involving children.
If you are going through a divorce or a parenting dispute in Arizona and domestic violence is part of your story, the legal framework that governs your case changed on June 22, 2026. This series of articles explains what changed, what it means for you, and what to do now.
We have practiced family law exclusively in Arizona for nearly twenty years. We are trauma informed attorneys. We have been fighting these cases before this law existed. Now the law has caught up to what we have always believed.
Read the full series
What we know, what we believe, and why the Act should apply to cases heard after June 22, 2026.
Article 1Alec and Lydia: The Tragedy That Changed Arizona LawThe story of Alec, Lydia, Hope Hooton, and the tragedy that changed Arizona family law.
Article 2What the Alec and Lydia Act Means for Your Arizona DivorceA plain-language explanation of what the Alec and Lydia Act means in an Arizona divorce or parenting case.
Article 3What Judges Must Now Do When Domestic Violence Is Alleged in an Arizona Divorce with ChildrenThe mandatory obligations Arizona judges now have when domestic violence is alleged in a case involving children.
Article 4Coercive Control Is Domestic Violence in ArizonaA walkthrough of coercive control and why Arizona now recognizes it as domestic violence in family court.
Article 5If You Are a Victim of Domestic Violence in an Arizona Divorce: What to Do NowA practical guide for victims in an Arizona divorce or parenting case involving domestic violence.
Article 6The Alec and Lydia Act Applies to Unmarried Parents. Here Is What That Means for You.You do not have to have been married for the Alec and Lydia Act to protect you and your children.
Article 7The Arizona Judiciary Was Trained to Apply the Alec and Lydia Act Immediately. That Tells Us Something.Why judicial training before the law took effect supports applying the Alec and Lydia Act to Arizona family court cases already in the pipeline.
Article 8The Pipeline: Your Case Was Filed Before June 22, 2026: What the Alec and Lydia Act Means for You NowPractical paths for cases filed before June 22, 2026, including final orders, temporary orders, contempt, modification, and pending trials.
Article 9What the Alec and Lydia Act Requires of the Abusive Parent And How Does the Court Analyze The Rebuttal?Learn what Arizona courts may order after a domestic violence finding, how the rebuttal is analyzed, and what evidence matters.
Article 10The Alec and Lydia Act: Before and After June 22, 2026A side-by-side guide to Arizona family court before the Act and the domestic violence protections that took effect June 22, 2026.
Article 11Children Are Protected as Domestic Violence Victims Under the Alec and Lydia ActHow Arizona’s Alec and Lydia Act treats most abuse of a child by a parent as domestic violence, and what that means for evidence and court-ordered protections.
Article 12How To Prepare for My Temporary Orders Hearing When There is Domestic ViolenceWhat an Arizona family court must do at a temporary orders hearing when domestic violence is alleged under the Alec and Lydia Act.
Blogs
These blog posts answer specific questions about the Alec and Lydia Act, domestic violence evidence, parenting-time restrictions, and what Arizona courts must consider now.
What Arizona courts can order after a domestic violence finding under the Alec and Lydia Act, including protected exchanges, supervised parenting time, and suspended access.
Q&AThe Alec and Lydia Act: Your Questions AnsweredPlain-language answers to common questions parents are asking about Arizona's Alec and Lydia Act and domestic violence in family court.
Evidence StandardWhat is the Standard of Evidence in the Alec and Lydia Act?How preponderance of the evidence and clear and convincing evidence work under the Alec and Lydia Act in Arizona family court.
Proving DVHow Do I Prove Domestic Violence With No Police Report and No Photos?How to start proving domestic violence in family court when there is no police report, no photos, and years of private abuse.
Court OrdersWhat Can the Court Order the Abusive Parent to Do?The court can order intervention programs, counseling, drug and alcohol testing, bonds, and other safeguards under Arizona's Alec and Lydia Act.
Finished a ClassThe Abuser Finished a Class. Do They Get the Children Unsupervised?Why a class completion certificate alone does not restore unsupervised parenting time, and what Arizona courts must analyze before lifting restrictions.
No Police ReportI Never Called the Police. Do I Still Have a Case for Domestic Violence?How domestic violence can be established without a police report, and what records, timelines, and testimony can help build the court record.
Child SafetyMy Children Want to See Their Dad. Does That Matter If There Is Domestic Violence?Why a child's desire to see an abusive parent does not override safety under the Alec and Lydia Act, and why written findings matter.
Filed Before June 22Does the Alec and Lydia Act Apply to My Case If I Filed Before June 22, 2026?Why Best Law Firm believes the Alec and Lydia Act applies to Arizona custody cases filed before June 22, 2026, plus courtroom arguments, written findings, and offers of proof.
Child Abuse & DVIs Child Abuse Considered Domestic Violence in Arizona?Yes. Most abuse directed at a child by a parent is domestic violence under Arizona’s Alec and Lydia Act, and that changes what the court can order.
Step Parent AbuseWhat Can You Do About Step Parent Abuse?If someone in your ex’s household is abusing your child, that is domestic violence against that ex. Here is what to file, and how the Alec and Lydia Act reaches your ex.
Modification & Past DVMy Ex Is Filing For a Modification. Can I Bring Up The Domestic Violence From Our Marriage In My Response?Your ex filed to modify custody. You can raise the domestic violence from your marriage, even if it is old and even if it was already decided.
5 Questions5 Questions to Ask an Attorney Before You Hire Them For Your Domestic Violence CaseBefore hiring an Arizona attorney for a domestic violence case, ask five questions about the new law, evidence, experience, and trauma-informed practice.
Choosing an AttorneyHow Do I Choose the Right Attorney for Domestic Violence?Learn what an Arizona family law attorney should understand about coercive control, older abuse, victim testimony, and the Alec and Lydia Act.
Before the HearingI Am Scared of My Upcoming Temporary Orders Hearing. I Am a Victim of Domestic Violence. What Should I Do?What to do if you are afraid of an upcoming Arizona temporary orders hearing where domestic violence is part of your case.
After the HearingI Just Had My Temporary Orders Hearing. Yuck. Now What Do I Do?What to do after an Arizona temporary orders hearing in a domestic violence case, what your order should contain, and how to get a second look at it.
Corroborating EvidenceCorroborating Evidence and a Hearing in FrenchArizona's Alec and Lydia Act does not require exhibits or another witness to corroborate domestic violence testimony. Learn what judges may consider.
Reference pages
These reference pages provide the broader domestic violence definition, the criminal domestic violence statute, and the HB 2995 statutory text behind the Alec and Lydia Act.
Read the HB 2995 statute text behind Arizona's Alec and Lydia Act and the family-court domestic violence changes it made.
Definition GuideWhat Is Domestic Violence in Arizona?Domestic violence in Arizona is broader than physical assault. Learn what conduct and relationships can matter.
Criminal StatuteA.R.S. § 13-3601: Arizona Domestic Violence StatuteRead Arizona's criminal domestic violence statute and the qualifying offenses and relationships.
Questions and Answers
What is the Alec and Lydia Act?
The Alec and Lydia Act is Arizona House Bill 2995, signed into law on June 22, 2026. It is named after Alec and Lydia Mater, two children who were killed by their father during unsupervised parenting time. The law significantly expands protections for domestic violence victims and their children in Arizona family court. It creates a mandatory presumption against awarding parenting time or legal decision making to a parent who has committed domestic violence, requires courts to make specific written findings when domestic violence is alleged, expands the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control, and raises the standard an abusive parent must meet to regain access to their children.
When did the Alec and Lydia Act take effect?
June 22, 2026. The law is effective immediately from the date of signing. Any family court proceeding going forward is governed by the new framework.
Does the Alec and Lydia Act apply to my case?
If you are in an Arizona divorce or parenting dispute where domestic violence is an issue, the new law may apply to proceedings going forward from June 22, 2026. A consultation with Tali can help you understand what the new law means for your specific situation.
What is coercive control under the new law?
Coercive control is a pattern of threatening, coercive, or emotionally abusive conduct that Arizona now recognizes as domestic violence for family court purposes. It includes financial control, isolation, surveillance, stalking, demeaning conduct, threats involving immigration status, and using family court itself as a weapon by filing false or frivolous claims against the other parent.
What does the mandatory presumption mean?
When a court finds that a parent has committed domestic violence, the law now creates a mandatory presumption that awarding parenting time or legal decision making to that parent is contrary to the child's best interests. The abusive parent starts from a restricted position and must overcome that presumption before parenting time or legal decision-making rights may be awarded.
I was told before that what happened to me was not domestic violence. Has that changed?
It may have. The Alec and Lydia Act expanded Arizona's family-court definition of domestic violence to include coercive control, which can include financial abuse, isolation, surveillance, threats, demeaning conduct, and using family court as a weapon. If you were previously told your experience did not meet the legal threshold, a consultation under the new law is worth having.
