In re the Appeal in Maricopa County Juvenile Action No. JD-05401

OPINION

JACOBSON, Judge.

The primary issue on appeal is whether the juvenile court may award long-term joint custody to a minor child’s grandparents under authority of A.R.S. § 25-331 without making a determination of dependency under A.R.S. § 8-201(ll)(a). The secondary issue is whether the mother’s delegation of parental authority to the child’s maternal grandmother under A.R.S. § 14-5104 made her a “guardian” willing and capable of caring for the child, thus precluding a finding of dependency under A.R.S. § 8-201(ll)(a) and requiring a dismissal of the pending dependency petition as a matter…