A Guide to Divorce in Arizona

While divorce is far from rare in our region — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the divorce rate in Arizona is nearly 15 percent higher than the national average — actually going through a separation is never easy. Even if you are 100 percent certain that getting divorced is the right decision for you and your family, there are still so many complicated issues that need to be resolved.

At Edwards & Petersen, PLC, our Arizona divorce attorneys want to make sure that you know your rights and that you are fully informed about the legal process. Before you actually file for a divorce, you should take the time to prepare yourself for the road that is ahead. To help you get started, our legal team has put together a Guide to Divorce in Arizona as a free resource.

Table of Contents

1. What You Need to Know About Divorce in Arizona 
2. The Difference Between Legal Separation and Divorce 
3. What are the Grounds for Filing Divorce? 
4. What is a “Covenant Marriage”? 
5. How to File a Petition for Divorce 
6. What You Need to Know About a Consent Divorce 
7. Legal Annulment in Arizona 
8. Divorce Mediation 
9. Preparing for Divorce Hearings and Divorce Litigation 
10. Can I Just Represent Myself in My Divorce Hearing? 
11. Understanding Property Division in Arizona 
12. How Does Spousal Support Work in Arizona? 
13. Child Support Payments 
14. When Can the Court Deviate from the Child Support Guidelines? 
15. Get Professional Legal Guidance

What You Need to Know About Divorce in Arizona

You need to know all of the basics. How do you file for divorce? What documents need to be submitted? What common problems arise during separation? How long will the divorce take? What issues will be at stake in your case? You can never be too prepared.

The Difference Between Legal Separation and Divorce

Choosing to leave your spouse and end your marriage may the hardest thing that you ever do, which is one of the reasons that knowing as much as you can about the process of legally parting ways in Arizona is critical. In Arizona, one option that can take the place of divorce is filing for a legal separation. Here’s what you need to know:

What is Legal Separation?

A legal separation is very similar to a divorce in that couples must be residents of the state in order to request a legal separation, a petitioner must show grounds for the separation (either showing the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage or that one or both spouses are or want to live separately), and the two parties negotiate the terms of the separation. Couples who are divorcing or legally separating must make decisions about tough issues like:

• How custody and visitation of children will be shared;
• How any property will be divided, including who will live in the couple’s current home; and
• Whether or not spousal maintenance will be included as part of the divorce/separation agreement.

All of the above are things that divorce and legal separation have in common. The biggest difference between a legal separation and a divorce is that a divorce is a complete dissolution of the marriage, and once it is finalized and complete, both parties will be considered “single” and independent of one another in the eyes of the law. They both, therefore, maintain the right to remarry as they find appropriate.

In a legal separation, on the other hand, couples who part ways are still legally married! This means that a person who is legally separated, but not divorced, does not maintain the right to remarry.

Benefits of Legal Separation

Whether or not you and your spouse file for a legal separation or a divorce is a very personal decision that is dependent on a number of factors. You may choose legal separation over divorce if:

• You are unsure whether or not you want to permanently divorce from your spouse;
• You want to continue receiving insurance or other benefits on your spouse’s record;
• You are uncomfortable with divorce for religious or personal reasons;
• You want to legally separate for a set period of time to determine whether or not divorce is right for you.

For some couples, a legal separation can be a “test run” that helps them to decide what they want the long-term future to look like. After living apart for weeks or months, some couples may decide to give their marriage another try, whereas others will decide that filing for divorce is more appropriate. A legal separation can be thought of as a type of trial separation where there is a court-order that manages certain elements of the separation, such as responsibilities in regards to shared children.

If you’re unsure which is right for you, having an honest conversation with your spouse is the best place to start. From there, working with a therapist or marriage counselor, or/and consulting with a lawyer can prove helpful.

What are the Grounds for Filing Divorce?

Arizona is a ‘no-fault’ divorce state. You can end your marriage on the grounds that it is irretrievably broken. If you are having problems in your marriage in Arizona and are thinking about getting divorced, you will need to understand the grounds for filing for divorce. When we talk about grounds for divorce, there are both legal grounds and personal grounds. In other words, legal grounds for divorce are required in order for a couple to dissolve their marriage legally, while personal grounds for divorce simply are reasons that it may be time for a couple to make the decision to end their relationship.

Legal Grounds for Divorce in Arizona: No-Fault Divorce State

Some states in the U.S. still have grounds for legal divorce, which means that a party petitioning for a divorce must state a specific reason—or “grounds”—in order to get a divorce. However, underArizona law, Arizona is what is known as a “no-fault” state. This means that, in order to get a divorce, the party who files a divorce petition only needs to state that there are irreconcilable differences and that the marriage is “irretrievably broken.” There is no legal necessity to show fault in order to get a divorce.

At the same time, there is a timetable that anyone filing for divorce in Arizona must recognize. In order to be eligible to file for divorce in Arizona, at least one of the parties—the person filing for divorce or his or her spouse—must have been a resident of Arizona for at least 90 days beforehand.

How a Covenant Marriage Can Change

Although Arizona is a “no-fault” state when it comes to divorce, which means there need not be legal grounds (or fault) in order for a couple to get divorced, this changes if the parties entered into a covenant marriage. Arizona is one of only three states that continues to offer the option of a covenant marriage. Parties in a covenant marriage will have a much more difficult time getting divorced than those who are not, and those in a covenant marriage who want to get divorced will need to show legal grounds for divorce.

What is a covenant marriage? It is a distinct type of marriage in which both spouses promise to participate in counseling before filing for divorce and to wait for a longer period of time before being eligible to file for divorce. A covenant marriage is only available in Arizona, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In addition, under thecovenant marriage statute, if the parties want to get divorced one of them must allege fault-based grounds for the divorce. Those fault-based grounds must include one of the following allegations about the other spouse:

• Committed adultery;
• Committed a felony offense and has been sentenced to death or imprisonment;
• Abandonment;
• Committed physical or sexual abuse;
• Has been living separate and apart from the other spouse for at least two years;
• Has been living separate and apart from the other spouse for at least one year following a legal separation; and/or
• Has abused drugs or alcohol.

Personal Grounds for Divorce

In addition to legal grounds for divorce, there are many personal reasons that a couple might decide it is time to file for divorce. An article in Psychology Today cites the following as the most common reasons—or personal grounds—for divorce:

• Growing apart;
• Financial difficulties;
• Infidelity;
• Lack of attention from the other spouse;
• Problems with a spouse’s personal habits;
• Sexual problems;
• Alcohol or other substance abuse problems;
• Arguments over the division of household duties; and/or
• Disagreements about how to raise the children.

What is a “Covenant Marriage”?

In a covenant marriage, couples agree to pre-marriage counseling before tying the knot. The couples who decide to participate in Covenant Marriage also agree to wait for a longer time, more than one year from the time of separation for their divorce to be finalized. In Arizona, in case of any divorce, the couples visit an Arizona Divorce attorney to sign the divorce agreement form. Other cities practicing covenant marriage in the United States include Louisiana and Arkansas City. Louisiana was the first city to pass the covenant marriage law in 1997. In this article, you will learn more about the benefits of the covenant marriage that continues to inspire many people as it helps the society to uphold good morals.

Reduces the Divorce Rate

This type of marriage can help strengthen the marital relationship. This is because most couples are afraid to go through the divorce process presented by an Arizona Divorce attorney, and they see it as a waste of time and resources and hence tend to stay together.

Fewer Children out of Wedlock

Covenant marriage has seen the number of children being born out of wedlock reduce significantly. Couples in covenant marriages tend to be more faithful to their partners, and these have also seen a drop in the number of sexually transmitted diseases among married couples. It has enabled partners to learn how to agree on many things during their life as a couple as it requires them to both agree whether they are ready to commit themselves in love forever before they get married. In case the couples consider the covenant termination, an Arizona Divorce attorney helps with the process.

Positive Marriage Perspective

Covenant marriage has enabled many people to change their marriage perspective as only to bear children. Couples are now able to see marriage as a lifelong commitment. Covenant marriage has also helped society to uphold its moral as it discourages people from living together when they are not legally married.

The Best Thing About Covenant Marriage

Covenant marriages last longer than the normal marriages as the time frame given for the couples to file a divorce through an Arizona Divorce attorney is long. This gives the couples ample time to look deep into the benefits of marriage helping them to reflect on their differences. It also gives them time to collect themselves and reconcile. It also helps parents to consider the pain and suffering that will be subjected to the children in case of divorce. Nevertheless, if you are in Arizona struggling in your marriage and you wish to file a divorce, Visit the Arizona Divorce attorney who will provide you with the entire divorce requirement and the entire process.

How to File a Petition for Divorce

In order to get a divorce in Arizona, the party who wants the divorce must file a petition for dissolution of marriage with the court. This process requires adherence to certain rules and guidelines, discussed in more detail below. While there is no requirement that a party is represented by an Arizona divorce lawyer when filing a petition for dissolution of marriage, meeting with a lawyer can clear up any confusion and ensure that the process is carried out correctly.

Obtaining Forms

The first step in filing a petition for dissolution of marriage is to obtain the proper forms. Depending upon whether or not you and your spouse have minor children, the specific forms that you need will vary. In either case, you can obtain the forms that you need by visiting your county clerk’s office or by downloading the forms online from the Judicial Branch of Arizona.

In general, however, a petition for dissolution of marriage will do the following: dissolve/legally terminate the marriage, determine child custody and parenting time, divide property, determine alimony, determine responsibility for debts acquired during the marriage, and determine who will pay any attorneys’ fees incurred as a result of the divorce.

Filling Out and Serving Forms

Once you have acquired the forms that you need, you will need to fill them out accurately and in full. The forms will come with instructions for completing them, which you should follow to a T. If you have any questions about completing the forms, do not hesitate to seek counsel from a lawyer.

After you have filled out the forms, you will file the papers with the court. Then, the petition for dissolution of marriage and copies of all relevant documents must be served to your spouse. You can serve the papers yourself, or ask a process server or the sheriff to do this for you.

Waiting for a Response

Once you have served your spouse, your spouse will have 20 days to respond to your petition for dissolution of marriage. During this 20-day window, there is nothing that you can do but wait.

When your spouse responds, they will either agree with your petition for dissolution of marriage and your proposed divorce settlement (i.e. how property should be divided, whether or not spousal maintenance should be a part of the divorce settlement, where shared children will live, etc.) or disagree. If your spouse disagrees, then your divorce is contested and you will need to attend mediation in order to reach an agreement. (If no agreement is reached, divorce litigation will be necessary).

If your spouse fails to respond to your petition for dissolution of marriage within the 20-day window, you can file a request for a default divorce. Your spouse will then be allotted an additional 10 days day to file a response; if they do not respond, then you may be granted a default divorce after a 60-day period.

What You Need to Know About a Consent Divorce

If both partners are on board with the separation, you may be able to get a simplified, uncontested divorce through the filing of a consent decree.

Legal Annulment in Arizona

A limited number of marriages in Arizona can be declared null and void. Are you eligible for an annulment?

Divorce Mediation

For many divorcing couples, mediation is the best way to reach a fair settlement agreement on the most complex and sensitive issues.

Preparing for Divorce Hearings and Divorce Litigation

Not all divorces move to trial, but some of them certainly do. Learn the basics of divorce hearings and trials in Arizona.

Can I Just Represent Myself in My Divorce Hearing?

It is often a big mistake. To best protect your rights and interests, it is strongly recommended that you hire an experienced Arizona divorce lawyer.

Understanding Property Division in Arizona

Disputes over assets and debts are often among the most contentious in divorce cases.

How Does Spousal Support Work in Arizona?

The financially advantaged spouse may be required to pay their former partner alimony following the divorced.

Child Support Payments

Parents have a duty to provide support for their children. Learn about Arizona’s child support guidelines.

When Can the Court Deviate from the Child Support Guidelines?

While the state has put child support guidelines into place, family law courts can deviate from these guidelines when the circumstances warrant doing so.

Get Professional Legal Guidance

Do not wait to take action. If you are separating from your spouse in Arizona, you need an experienced, compassionate divorce lawyer by your side as soon as possible.