Rule 95.Other Family Law Services and Resources

Part XIII. Other Family Law Services and Resources · Last amended January 1, 2019 · Last verified September 4, 2026

In one sentenceRule 95 lists the services a family court may order -- behavioral health, substance abuse testing, parent education, supervised exchanges, domestic violence services and others -- after determining the parties can pay.

Full Text of Rule 95

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

(a) Generally. The court in a family law case may consider the services set forth in this rule, if available. The court must determine on the record whether the parties have the ability to pay for services as well as allocate the costs of those services.

(b) Behavioral or Mental Health Services. Except as provided in Rule 72 or Rule 74, the court may order parties to engage in behavioral or mental health services, including counseling and therapeutic interventions.

(c) Substance Abuse Services. In a case involving legal decision-making or parenting time, the court may order substance abuse screening and random testing of a party if there is an allegation or showing that the party has abused alcohol or drugs, including prescription medication. The court must designate the frequency of testing and determine which party is responsible for paying for screening and testing services.

(d) Parent Education. The court must order the parties to engage in parent education as required by Arizona law. The court also may order supplemental or additional education in appropriate cases, such as parenting skills classes and parental conflict resolution classes.

(e) Supervised Exchanges. The court may order supervised exchanges of parenting time to protect the parties or the children from harm.

(f) Domestic Violence Services. To further the court's goals of preventing and protecting parties and children from domestic violence, the court may use family violence prevention services, such as family violence prevention centers and victim advocacy services. In appropriate cases, the court may refer parties to services for victims and batterers, such as those licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

(g) Real Estate Special Commissioner. In accordance with local rule or procedures, the court may appoint a real estate special commissioner to assist the parties in dividing and disposing of community real property.

(h) Department of Child Safety. The court may request or order the services of the Department of Child Safety if the court believes that a child may be the victim of child abuse or neglect as defined in A.R.S. § 8-201.

End

Rule History

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

Plain-English Summary

Rule 95 is the menu of what a family court can order beyond deciding the case, and it opens with a condition that applies to all of it.

The ability-to-pay finding comes first

The court may consider these services if available, and must determine on the record whether the parties have the ability to pay as well as allocate the costs. That is a mandatory, on-the-record finding, and it governs every service in the rule -- as well as Rule 81(d)'s supervision fees, which are allocated under Rule 95(a).

The services

Behavioral or mental health services, including counseling and therapeutic interventions -- except as provided in Rule 72 or Rule 74, which reserve the family law master and parenting coordinator roles to their own rules.
Substance abuse screening and random testing of a party in a legal decision-making or parenting time case, on an allegation or showing of abuse of alcohol or drugs including prescription medication. The court must designate the frequency and who pays.
Parent education, which the court must order as Arizona law requires, and may supplement with parenting skills or parental conflict resolution classes. This is the one mandatory item on the list.
Supervised exchanges of parenting time to protect the parties or children from harm.
Domestic violence services -- family violence prevention centers and victim advocacy -- and in appropriate cases referral to services for victims and batterers, such as those licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
A real estate special commissioner, in accordance with local rule, to assist in dividing and disposing of community real property.
The Department of Child Safety, whose services the court may request or order if it believes a child may be a victim of abuse or neglect as A.R.S. section 8-201 defines it.

Two worth noticing

The real estate special commissioner is the property counterpart to the Rule 72.1 retirement specialist: where a decree awards a house that neither party will list or sign for, the court can appoint someone to get it sold. And the substance abuse provision is triggered by an allegation as well as a showing, which is a deliberately low threshold for a screening order in a case about children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the court consider whether I can afford these services?

Yes. Rule 95(a) requires the court to determine on the record whether the parties have the ability to pay for services as well as to allocate the costs of those services.

When can the court order drug testing?

Rule 95(c) allows substance abuse screening and random testing of a party in a case involving legal decision-making or parenting time if there is an allegation or showing that the party has abused alcohol or drugs, including prescription medication. The court must designate the frequency and who pays.

Is parent education required?

Rule 95(d) says the court must order the parties to engage in parent education as required by Arizona law, and may order supplemental education such as parenting skills or parental conflict resolution classes in appropriate cases.

Can the court help sell the marital home?

Rule 95(g) allows the court, in accordance with local rule or procedures, to appoint a real estate special commissioner to assist the parties in dividing and disposing of community real property.

What domestic violence services can the court use?

Rule 95(f) allows the court to use family violence prevention services such as prevention centers and victim advocacy services, and in appropriate cases to refer parties to services for victims and batterers, such as those licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Can the court involve child protective services?

Rule 95(h) allows the court to request or order the services of the Department of Child Safety if it believes a child may be the victim of child abuse or neglect as defined in A.R.S. section 8-201.

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: court servicesdrug testingsubstance abuse screeningparent educationsupervised exchangesdomestic violence servicesreal estate special commissionerpropertyability to pay