How to File for Divorce in Arizona
How to file for divorce in Arizona: the residency rule, filing fee and fee waivers, uncontested options and how long it takes.
Short answer: One spouse must have been domiciled (living with the intent to stay) in Arizona, or stationed in Arizona as a member of the armed services, for 90 days before the petition for dissolution is filed. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312(A)(1)
| Residency requirement | One spouse must have been domiciled (living with the intent to stay) in Arizona, or stationed in Arizona as a member of the armed services, for 90 days before the petition for dissolution is filed. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312(A)(1) |
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| Filing fee | State law sets the clerk's base fee for a petition for dissolution, legal separation or annulment at $149, and $74 for the response. Counties may add their own fees, so the total varies by county. If you cannot pay, you can apply for a fee waiver or deferral using the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees or Costs (Form AOCDFGF1F). People receiving SSI qualify for a waiver, and people receiving TANF or food stamps, or represented by a nonprofit legal aid provider, qualify for a deferral, with proof. Check the clerk of the superior court in your county for the full current amount. |
| Uncontested or simplified divorce | Yes. If spouses settle all issues before either one files, they can jointly file a combined petition and response for a summary consent decree, waiving formal service. The filing fee is 50 percent of the combined petition and answer fee, plus any county fees. All final settlement papers must be submitted at filing or within 60 days, and the decree cannot be entered earlier than 60 days after filing. Either spouse can withdraw before the decree is entered. Re-verified and corrected 2026-10-27. Source: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-314.01 |
| Waiting period | The court cannot hold a trial or hearing, or consider a motion and affidavit, for a decree of dissolution or legal separation until 60 days after the other spouse was served or accepted service. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-329 |
| Divorce forms | The Arizona Judicial Branch's Self-Service Center posts free family law form packets for Dissolution of Marriage with Children and Dissolution of Marriage without Children. The with-children packet includes the Petition for Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage (Divorce) with Minor Children (DRDC15F), Summons (DR11F), Preliminary Injunction (DR14F), Parenting Plan (DRCVG11F), the Response to Petition (DRDC31F), default forms and the Decree of Dissolution (DRDC81F), along with instructions for each step. Individual courts may have their own preferred forms. With-children packet: https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Child-Support-Family-Law/Family-Law-Forms/Dissolution-of-Marriage-with-Children |
Where to get help in Arizona
More Arizona divorce & family law
- Getting a Marriage License in Arizona
- Adopting a Child in Arizona
- Guardianship of a Child or Adult in Arizona
- Establishing Paternity in Arizona
- Changing Your Name in Arizona
- Child Custody Laws in Arizona
- How Child Support Is Calculated in Arizona
- Divorce Records in Arizona
- Alimony and Spousal Support in Arizona
- Legal Separation and Annulment in Arizona
- All Arizona divorce & family law rules
FAQ
How long do you have to live in Arizona to file for divorce?
One spouse must have been domiciled (living with the intent to stay) in Arizona, or stationed in Arizona as a member of the armed services, for 90 days before the petition for dissolution is filed.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Arizona?
State law sets the clerk's base fee for a petition for dissolution, legal separation or annulment at $149, and $74 for the response. Counties may add their own fees, so the total varies by county. If you cannot pay, you can apply for a fee waiver or deferral using the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees or Costs (Form AOCDFGF1F). People receiving SSI qualify for a waiver, and people receiving TANF or food stamps, or represented by a nonprofit legal aid provider, qualify for a deferral, with proof.
How do you get an uncontested divorce in Arizona?
Yes. If spouses settle all issues before either one files, they can jointly file a combined petition and response for a summary consent decree, waiving formal service. The filing fee is 50 percent of the combined petition and answer fee, plus any county fees. All final settlement papers must be submitted at filing or within 60 days, and the decree cannot be entered earlier than 60 days after filing. Either spouse can withdraw before the decree is entered.
Is there a waiting period for divorce in Arizona?
The court cannot hold a trial or hearing, or consider a motion and affidavit, for a decree of dissolution or legal separation until 60 days after the other spouse was served or accepted service.
Where can I get divorce papers and forms in Arizona?
The Arizona Judicial Branch's Self-Service Center posts free family law form packets for Dissolution of Marriage with Children and Dissolution of Marriage without Children. The with-children packet includes the Petition for Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage (Divorce) with Minor Children (DRDC15F), Summons (DR11F), Preliminary Injunction (DR14F), Parenting Plan (DRCVG11F), the Response to Petition (DRDC31F), default forms and the Decree of Dissolution (DRDC81F), along with instructions for each step. Individual courts may have their own preferred forms.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.