How to File for Divorce in Arizona (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Arizona · Last updated 2026-05-18
Divorce in Arizona is governed by Arizona statute, not a generic national process. The state uses community property (assets acquired during the marriage are owned equally) for dividing assets and recognizes a divorce granted when the marriage is irretrievably broken. Residency matters from the start here: At least one party must have been domiciled in Arizona, or stationed in Arizona as a member of the armed services, for 90 days before filing the petition. Below are the Arizona requirements, forms, and code sections that actually apply, anchored to Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312; § 25-903 (covenant marriage grounds).
Key Considerations
Arizona resolves the marital estate under a community-property framework. Community property: the court assigns each spouse's sole and separate property to that spouse and divides community, joint tenancy, and other common property equitably (typically equally), without regard to marital misconduct. The controlling authority is Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-318; § 25-211.
On spousal support, Spousal maintenance is awarded only on a threshold finding under § 25-319(A) (insufficient property, inability to be self-sufficient, contributions to other spouse's education, or lengthy marriage with reduced earning ability) and the amount/duration are set by 13 factors under § 25-319(B); 2023 amendments added a guidelines-style framework. The governing authority is Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-319.
The child-support number is not discretionary: Income-shares model under the 2022 Arizona Child Support Guidelines effective January 1, 2022; both parents' gross incomes are combined and prorated; a mandatory 10% older-child adjustment applies for each child aged 12 or older Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-320; Arizona Supreme Court 2022 Child Support Guidelines codifies it, with the official calculator via the state agency.
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Relevant Documents
Arizona filers use the following: Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (with or without children); statewide family-law forms published by the Arizona Judicial Branch via the Law Library Resource Center / Self-Service Center packets Forms are published via the state agency.
Child Support Worksheet
This document calculates the appropriate amount of child support based on both parents' incomes, the custody arrangement, and other factors.
Final Decree of Divorce
This is the final court order that legally ends your marriage and includes all the terms of your divorce including property division, support, and child custody arrangements.
Financial Disclosure Declaration
Both spouses must complete this document detailing all assets, debts, income, and expenses to ensure fair division of property and appropriate support amounts.
Marital Settlement Agreement
This document outlines the terms of your divorce agreement including property division, debt allocation, spousal support, and child custody arrangements if applicable.
Parenting Plan
If you have children, this document details the custody arrangement, visitation schedule, and decision-making responsibilities for the children.
Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)
This document is necessary if you need to divide retirement accounts or pension benefits between spouses as part of the divorce settlement.
Response to Petition for Dissolution
If you're the responding spouse, this document allows you to answer the claims in the petition and state your own requests regarding the divorce terms.
Summons
This document notifies your spouse that a divorce action has been filed and that they have a certain amount of time to respond.
Wage Withholding Order
This document directs an employer to withhold child support or spousal support payments from a spouse's paycheck.
Relevant Laws
Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-312: Dissolution of Marriage
This statute outlines the grounds for dissolution of marriage in Arizona. Arizona is a 'no-fault' divorce state, meaning you only need to state that the marriage is 'irretrievably broken' to file for divorce. This is relevant because you don't need to prove wrongdoing by your spouse to get divorced in Arizona.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-314: Residency Requirement
To file for divorce in Arizona, at least one spouse must have been domiciled in Arizona for at least 90 days before filing the petition. This residency requirement must be met before Arizona courts have jurisdiction over your divorce case.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-318: Division of Property
Arizona is a community property state, meaning that all property and debt acquired during the marriage is generally divided equally between spouses, regardless of who earned the income or whose name is on the title. Property owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance typically remains separate property.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-319: Maintenance (Alimony)
This statute sets forth the factors courts consider when determining whether to award spousal maintenance (alimony) and how much to award. The court considers factors such as the length of the marriage, standard of living during marriage, age and health of both parties, and earning capacity of both spouses.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-403: Child Custody
This law outlines how courts determine legal decision-making (custody) and parenting time based on the best interests of the child. The court considers factors such as the child's relationship with each parent, the child's adjustment to home and school, and the mental and physical health of all parties.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-320: Child Support
This statute governs how child support is calculated in Arizona using the Income Shares Model, which considers both parents' incomes and the needs of the children. The Arizona Child Support Guidelines provide a formula for determining the amount of support.
Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure
These rules govern the procedures in all family law cases in Arizona courts, including divorce proceedings. They outline filing requirements, service of process, discovery, and court procedures that you'll need to follow during your divorce.
Regional Variances
Major Metropolitan Areas
As Arizona's most populous county, Maricopa has specialized family court divisions with specific local rules. The county requires a Parenting Information Program class for all divorcing parents with minor children. Maricopa County also has a Conciliation Court that offers mediation services, which may be mandatory before proceeding to trial in contested cases. The county typically has longer processing times due to higher case volumes.
Pima County has its own set of local rules for family law cases. The county offers a simplified divorce process for couples with no minor children and limited assets. Pima County also provides free family law clinics and self-help services at the courthouse. Mediation is strongly encouraged and may be ordered by the court in cases involving child custody disputes.
Pinal County requires specific local forms in addition to state-mandated divorce paperwork. The county has fewer family court judges than larger counties, which can sometimes result in scheduling delays. Pinal County offers limited self-help services compared to Maricopa and Pima counties.
Northern Arizona
Coconino County has unique considerations for property division due to the presence of tribal lands within its borders. Special jurisdictional issues may arise if either spouse is a member of a Native American tribe. The county offers mediation services but with more limited availability than in larger counties. Winter weather can occasionally impact court schedules and filing deadlines.
Mohave County has specific local rules regarding mandatory disclosure requirements in divorce cases. The county has fewer family law resources and self-help services compared to metropolitan areas. Cases involving property in multiple states (particularly Nevada or California) may face additional complexities due to the county's border location.
Southern Arizona
Cochise County has unique considerations for military divorces due to the presence of Fort Huachuca. The county has specific procedures for cases involving border-related issues, such as property in Mexico or spouses who live across the border. Court resources are more limited, and cases may move more quickly than in larger counties due to lower volume.
As Arizona's smallest county by land area, Santa Cruz has limited court resources and fewer specialized family law services. The county has specific considerations for cross-border marriages and property. Translation services may be more readily available due to the high percentage of Spanish-speaking residents.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Verify jurisdiction first: At least one party must have been domiciled in Arizona, or stationed in Arizona as a member.
Before filing days after startingThis is set by Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312.
Identify the legal grounds in the petition
Before filing days after startingNo-fault on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Arizona also offers a Covenant Marriage option (elected at marriage) with limited fault-based grounds for dissolution (adultery, felony imprisonment, abandonment one year, domestic violence/abuse, separation two years or one year after legal separation, habitual drug/alcohol abuse). See Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312; § 25-903 (covenant marriage grounds).
Open the case by filing the petition
At filing days after startingPetition for Dissolution of Marriage (with or without children); statewide family-law forms published by the Arizona Judicial Branch via the Law Library Resource Center / Self-Service Center packets The filing fee is approximately $349 first-appearance fee in Maricopa County Superior Court for a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. A fee waiver is available: Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-302; income/asset thresholds set by AOC.
Handle service and disclosure
After filing days after startingAfter filing, serve the other spouse and trade the required financial disclosures so the court can rule on property and support.
Calendar the statutory timeline
After filing days after starting60-day cooling-off period from service of the petition on the respondent before the court may enter a decree of dissolution. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-329.
Obtain the final judgment
Final step days after startingAfter timing and any custody, support, and property terms are settled, the court signs the decree of dissolution.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verify jurisdiction first: At least one party must have been domiciled in Arizona, or stationed in Arizona as a member. | This is set by Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312. | - | Before filing |
| Identify the legal grounds in the petition | No-fault on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Arizona also offers a Covenant Marriage option (elected at marriage) with limited fault-based grounds for dissolution (adultery, felony imprisonment, abandonment one year, domestic violence/abuse, separation two years or one year after legal separation, habitual drug/alcohol abuse). See Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312; § 25-903 (covenant marriage grounds). | divorce-petition | Before filing |
| Open the case by filing the petition | Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (with or without children); statewide family-law forms published by the Arizona Judicial Branch via the Law Library Resource Center / Self-Service Center packets The filing fee is approximately $349 first-appearance fee in Maricopa County Superior Court for a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. A fee waiver is available: Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-302; income/asset thresholds set by AOC. | divorce-petition | At filing |
| Handle service and disclosure | After filing, serve the other spouse and trade the required financial disclosures so the court can rule on property and support. | - | After filing |
| Calendar the statutory timeline | 60-day cooling-off period from service of the petition on the respondent before the court may enter a decree of dissolution. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-329. | - | After filing |
| Obtain the final judgment | After timing and any custody, support, and property terms are settled, the court signs the decree of dissolution. | - | Final step |
Frequently Asked Questions
At least one party must have been domiciled in Arizona, or stationed in Arizona as a member of the armed services, for 90 days before filing the petition. This is set by Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312.
No-fault on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Arizona also offers a Covenant Marriage option (elected at marriage) with limited fault-based grounds for dissolution (adultery, felony imprisonment, abandonment one year, domestic violence/abuse, separation two years or one year after legal separation, habitual drug/alcohol abuse). The governing statute is Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312; § 25-903 (covenant marriage grounds).
Arizona uses community property (assets acquired during the marriage are owned equally). Community property: the court assigns each spouse's sole and separate property to that spouse and divides community, joint tenancy, and other common property equitably (typically equally), without regard to marital misconduct. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-318; § 25-211.
approximately $349 first-appearance fee in Maricopa County Superior Court for a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-302; income/asset thresholds set by AOC
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