Rule 11.Attendance of Minors

Part I. General Administration · Last amended January 1, 2019 · Last verified September 4, 2026

In one sentenceRule 11 keeps children out of the courtroom: a minor affected by the proceeding may not attend without the court's prior permission, and the court may exclude any minor.

Full Text of Rule 11

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Exclusion of Minors Generally. The court may exclude any minor child from attending any proceeding if:

(1) the child's attendance is not in the child's best interests, or

(2) the child's attendance might be disruptive or distracting.

(b) Attendance of a Minor Child Affected by the Proceeding. A minor child affected by the proceeding may not attend any proceeding involving the child or the child's parents without the court's prior permission.

End

Rule History

Added Aug. 30, 2018, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 11 is two subsections and they work in opposite directions — one permissive, one prohibitive.

The court's discretion over any minor

Subsection (a) lets the court exclude any minor child from attending any proceeding on either of two grounds: the child's attendance is not in the child's best interests, or attendance might be disruptive or distracting. The second ground is about the proceeding rather than the child's welfare, and "might be" sets a low threshold.

The bar on affected children

Subsection (b) is stronger and is the operative rule in most cases. A minor child affected by the proceeding may not attend any proceeding involving the child or the child's parents without the court's prior permission.

Note what that reverses. For a child affected by the case, the default is exclusion and attendance requires permission obtained in advance — a parent cannot simply bring the child and leave it to the judge to object.

Where the child's voice goes instead

The rule closes one route and the ruleset opens others. Rule 12 provides for an in camera interview in which the court may ascertain a child's preferences directly, on the record and with specified precautions. Rule 10 provides for a child's attorney or best interests attorney. Rule 10.1 provides for a court-appointed advisor whose report must address the child's best interests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child come to the hearing?

Not without the court's prior permission if the child is affected by the proceeding. Rule 11(b) provides that a minor child affected by the proceeding may not attend any proceeding involving the child or the child's parents without the court's prior permission.

On what grounds can the court exclude a minor?

Rule 11(a) allows exclusion if the child's attendance is not in the child's best interests, or if attendance might be disruptive or distracting.

How does the court hear from the child?

Rule 12 allows an in camera interview with a minor child who is the subject of a legal decision-making or parenting time dispute, to ascertain the child's preferences. Rules 10 and 10.1 provide for a child's attorney, a best interests attorney, and a court-appointed advisor.

Does the rule apply to any minor or only to the child in the case?

Rule 11(a) reaches any minor child at any proceeding; Rule 11(b) applies specifically to a minor child affected by the proceeding.

Source & verification. Rule text and Rule History reproduced verbatim from the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure as published by the Arizona Supreme Court, current through amendments effective January 1, 2026. Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Arizona (Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 5). Last verified September 4, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: children in courtattendance of minorsexcluding childrenchild at hearingminor child attendance