If you came to the emotional and rational decision that you want to divorce your spouse, you likely want to get the split over as soon as possible. If you live in Arizona, you might wonder how long a divorce takes in your state.
Generally speaking, a divorce in Arizona can range from 60 days to six months or longer. Several factors may affect your divorce timeline.
What is the divorce process timeline?
The timeline begins when the person filing for divorce (the petitioner) submits the appropriate paperwork to the court. The petitioner keeps a copy of the divorce documents and “serves” the other spouse with the paperwork (the divorce petition, summons, creditor notices, etc.). Once they receive the papers, they have 20 days to respond.
Arizona law requires a 60-day waiting period before a court can finalize a divorce. The couple-month wait time allows for resolving conflicts and reconsidering decisions. You and your spouse may decide to try to heal your relationship with marital counseling or reach agreements about the conditions of the divorce during this time.
What factors affect the length of divorce?
Certain factors add time to the divorce process. After the 60-day lapse, if you and your spouse agree on the divorce, the petitioner files a Consent Decree for the judge to review and finalize. If at the 60-day mark, you still have disagreements regarding custody of your minor children, property, debt or spousal support, the court will set a hearing date to decide if your divorce needs a trial to resolve these issues. Depending on the judge’s caseload and your availability, scheduling a divorce trial could take a month or longer.
Overall, the length of a divorce can vary greatly depending on your case’s specific circumstances.