parental alienation; hearings; findings; requirements

HB 2124 requires Arizona courts to make specific, documented findings when determining if "parental alienation" has occurred in custody cases. If a court rules that one parent (the "favored parent") intentionally or recklessly caused a child to reject the other parent ("nonfavored parent"), it must detail the specific behaviors, explain how they led to the child's rejection, and confirm the rejection isn't due to normal estrangement. The bill prevents courts from making such findings without clear evidence, mandates that expert testimony meets legal standards, and allows appeals if courts fail to follow these requirements. This directly affects parents involved in custody disputes where alienation is alleged, ensuring rulings are based on thorough, documented evidence rather than assumptions.