Arizona divorce at a glance
Official source: Arizona court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Arizona: step by step
Arizona is no-fault with a 90-day residency rule and a 60-day waiting period. Here is the path from petition to a Decree of Dissolution.
- Confirm you can file in Arizona
One spouse must have been domiciled in Arizona for 90 days. Arizona is no-fault for standard (non-covenant) marriages — the marriage is irretrievably broken.Source: A.R.S. § 25-312 - Prepare the Petition for Dissolution
Use the AOC Self-Service Center dissolution packet to prepare your Petition for Dissolution — but check whether your county (Maricopa, Pima) requires its own packet.Source: AZ AOC Self-Service Center - File with the Superior Court
File with the Superior Court and pay about $280–$365, or file a fee-deferral/waiver application.Source: AZ fee deferral/waiver application - Serve your spouse
Serve your spouse; they can respond, sign an Acceptance of Service, or agree to a Consent Decree.Source: Ariz. R. Fam. L. P. 40 - Complete the child-support worksheet (if children)
If you have children, complete the Arizona child-support worksheet using the official guidelines calculator.Source: AZ Child Support Guidelines - Wait 60 days and finalize
Arizona requires a 60-day wait after service. After that, submit your Consent Decree or attend a default hearing; the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution.Source: A.R.S. § 25-329
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Arizona?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Arizona you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your Arizona pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Arizona
Income-shares model; calculated with the official Arizona child-support guidelines calculator.
Because Arizona uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
How long does a Arizona divorce take?
A 60-day waiting period after the other spouse is served before the decree can be entered. After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Arizona divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. High. The biggest counties (Maricopa, Pima) effectively require their own packets, so county packets often substitute for the statewide ones.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Arizona document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Arizona. In the meantime, the official Arizona court forms are linked below.
Official Arizona forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Arizona divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Arizona?
No. Arizona allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Arizona divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Arizona to file for divorce?
Check Arizona’s residency requirement with the official court source before filing.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Arizona?
~$280-365 by county (Maricopa petition ~$349, response ~$279); statewide fee deferral/waiver application available. With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.