Arizona Shared Residency Affidavit for School Enrollment

When You Need the Shared Residency Affidavit

If you're a grandparent or relative who moved a child into your home — or moved into someone else's home with a child — and the utility bill, lease, or deed is in another person's name, you hit a wall at school registration. The district needs proof the child lives within its boundaries, and you don't have a document that shows your address.

The Arizona Department of Education's solution is the Affidavit of Shared Residence. It's a notarized statement from the person whose name is on the lease or deed, confirming that you and the child physically live at their address. Arizona school districts are required to accept it under ADE Residency Guidelines alongside A.R.S. § 15-802.

Who Signs It

The affidavit is signed by the homeowner or primary leaseholder — the person whose name appears on the property deed, mortgage, or rental agreement. Not by you, and not by the child's parent. This person is swearing under oath that you and the child reside at their address.

The signature must be notarized. The homeowner signs in front of a Notary Public, who administers an oath and applies their seal. You can find notary services at banks, UPS stores, insurance offices, and many public libraries across Arizona.

Supporting Documents

The affidavit alone isn't enough. The homeowner must also provide one primary residency document in their name: a utility bill (electric, gas, water, cable, or internet) dated within the last 60 days, their residential lease, a property tax bill, or the property deed.

If the homeowner can't produce a primary document, two secondary documents work instead: an Arizona driver's license or ID card, vehicle registration, a DES or SSA letter issued within 60 days, or a W-2/1099 from the past year.

P.O. boxes and business addresses are not accepted for residency verification under any circumstance.

What the School Cannot Require

ADE guidelines draw a clear line: proof of residency is not the same as proof of legal custody. A school district cannot require you to produce a court-ordered guardianship, custody order, or adoption decree before enrolling the child. If the child physically lives at the address documented by the Shared Residency Affidavit, residency is established.

The district also cannot demand that you be on the lease yourself, cannot require a utility bill in your personal name, and cannot insist the homeowner be a blood relative of the child.

Combining the Affidavit With a POA

The Shared Residency Affidavit proves where the child lives. It doesn't prove who has authority to make educational decisions. For that, you'll want a Parental Power of Attorney (Form GNPPOA10F) under A.R.S. § 14-5104, signed by the parent. Together they address residency and delegated authority; the school may still need other records, such as the child's identity documents, immunization information, or prior school records.

If the parent is unavailable and you can't get a POA signed, tell the registrar you have physical custody and ask about the McKinney-Vento pathway if the child meets its homelessness criteria, including qualifying doubled-up housing. Eligible students must be immediately enrolled even without the records normally required for enrollment.

Our Arizona School & Medical Consent Guide includes a full enrollment document checklist and explains how each piece fits together.

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