SIMPLIFYING YOUR DIVORCE

Which Arizona Divorce Forms Will You Need?

Arizona organizes its dissolution (the legal word for divorce) paperwork into a logical flow: forms to start the case, forms for the other spouse to respond, financial disclosure forms, forms when minor children are involved, settlement and decree forms, and the final judgment that ends the marriage. Below, we've grouped the official statewide forms by what they do. One important note up front: all of Arizona's statewide forms are titled for a "non-covenant marriage." If you have a covenant marriage, separate forms and different rules apply (more on that below). The forms used depend on your circumstances, so review each description to understand its purpose.

Starting the Case

These forms open your divorce and put the other spouse and the court on notice.

• Petition for Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage (Divorce) without Minor Children
  Initiates divorce proceedings when no minor children are involved; filed by the petitioner.

• Petition for Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage (Divorce) with Minor Child(ren)
  Initiates divorce proceedings when minor children are involved; filed by the petitioner.

• Summons
  Notifies the respondent spouse that a dissolution action has been filed and requires a response.

• Preliminary Injunction
  An automatic restraining order issued at filing that prohibits both parties from transferring assets, changing insurance, or removing children from the state.

• Family Court / Sensitive Data Cover Sheet (Confidential Record)
  Captures sensitive identifying information such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and children's information that is kept confidential and not part of the public record.

Responding to the Petition

These forms are used by the spouse who receives the petition (the respondent). In Arizona, a response is generally due within 20 days when served in-state, or 30 days when served out-of-state.

• Response to Petition for Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage (Divorce) without Minor Children
  The respondent's answer to the petition, used when no minor children are involved.

• Response to Petition for Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage (Divorce) with Minor Child(ren)
  The respondent's answer when children are involved.

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Statement to the Court
  Documents whether the parties have participated in, or will attempt, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution; required of both parties.

Financial & Disclosure Forms

Arizona requires both spouses to be transparent about money in many cases.

• Affidavit of Financial Information (Form 2, Rule 97 / Rule 49 ARFLP)
  A sworn disclosure of income, expenses, assets, and debts. It is a mandatory exchange by both parties in every case involving spousal maintenance, child support, or attorney fees, under Rule 49 of the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure. Note that this form is referenced as Form 2 under Rule 97 / Rule 49 ARFLP and does not carry a standalone AOC form number in public listings.

Forms for Divorces With Children

When minor children are involved, Arizona adds several forms and a mandatory education requirement. Arizona uses the term "legal decision-making" rather than "legal custody."

• Affidavit Regarding Minor Children
  Discloses the children's residential history for the past five years, as required by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA).

• Parenting Plan
  Sets out legal decision-making authority, the parenting time schedule, holiday and vacation schedules, and communication provisions for minor children.

• Order and Notice to Attend Parent Education/Information Program Class
  A court order directing both parents to complete the mandatory Parent Education Program (A.R.S. § 25-351 et seq.). The court sets the completion deadline in the order; in practice, most courts set a deadline of approximately 45 days from filing, though the timeframe is determined by the judge. Each county administers its own court-approved program.

• Child Support Order
  Establishes the child support obligation. The amount is calculated using the Arizona Child Support Guidelines worksheet, which is an online calculator rather than a numbered fill-in form; the resulting worksheet is attached to this order.

• Income Withholding Order for Support (IWO)
  Directs an employer to withhold child support or spousal maintenance directly from the obligor's paycheck.

Settlement or Separation Agreement

When spouses agree on the terms, these forms record that agreement. Arizona offers two procedural paths to an agreed outcome: the standard path, and the newer Summary Consent Decree path added by statute in 2022.

• Consent Decree for Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) or Legal Separation in a Non-Covenant Marriage — With or Without Children
  A combined settlement agreement and final decree, used when the parties reach full agreement through the standard contested path.

• Petition and Response for Summary Consent Decree (form DRDSC11f in Maricopa; titled similarly statewide)
  A combined single filing used in the Summary Consent Decree path (A.R.S. § 25-314.01). Both spouses sign together and service of process is waived, used when all issues are fully resolved by agreement before filing. This is a relatively new option and may not be described in older resources.

• Notice of Intent to File Consent Decree for Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage
  Filed in the standard path to notify the court that the parties have reached agreement and intend to submit a consent decree.

Finalizing Your Case (the Decree)

The decree is the document a judge signs to officially end the marriage.

• Decree of Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage (Divorce) without Minor Children
  The final judgment ending the marriage when no children are involved; signed by the judge.

• Decree of Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage (Divorce) with Minor Child(ren)
  The final judgment ending the marriage when children are involved; it incorporates the parenting plan, child support order, and legal decision-making orders.

• Joint Legal Decision-Making Education Order
  A court order accompanying the decree when parents share joint legal decision-making; it outlines their rights and responsibilities.

• Sole Legal Decision-Making Education Order
  A court order accompanying the decree when one parent has sole legal decision-making.

Where to Get Arizona Divorce Forms

You have several options for obtaining Arizona divorce forms, depending on how much guidance you want along the way.

Official State Courts Site

Arizona publishes its statewide standardized forms for free through the Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center. You can download them, along with Spanish-language versions of all major statewide forms, directly from the Arizona courts self-service center.

County Clerk / Superior Court

While Arizona offers statewide forms, several counties, notably Maricopa, Pima, Yavapai, Mohave, Pinal, and Coconino, maintain their own supplemental or substitute county-specific versions. Some smaller counties default entirely to the statewide forms. County-specific versions (especially in Maricopa) are where you'll often see printed form numbers like DRDSC11f, DR12f, or DR14f; the statewide versions don't always carry prominent numbers. It's always wise to verify with your local Superior Court clerk before filing.

Legal Aid & Self-Help Resources

Arizona's Self-Service Center provides instructions and informational packets alongside the forms, and local legal aid organizations may offer additional help for those who qualify. These resources explain how the forms work without giving advice about your individual case.

Online Divorce Services (Divorce.com)

If you'd like a guided experience that helps you complete the correct forms based on your answers, Divorce.com walks you through the process step by step, so you're not left guessing which document goes where.

Hire an Attorney

For complex situations, such as a covenant marriage, contested issues, or significant assets, working with an attorney can help. For advice on your specific situation, consult an attorney.

The Arizona Divorce Process

While every case is different, most Arizona divorces follow a general sequence. Here's a high-level overview of the steps.

1. Confirm Residency

Before filing, at least one spouse must have been domiciled in Arizona, or stationed there as active-duty military, for a minimum of 90 days (A.R.S. § 25-312). Arizona has no separate county durational requirement.

2. File the Petition

The petitioner files the appropriate Petition for Dissolution, along with the Summons, Preliminary Injunction, and Sensitive Data Cover Sheet, with the Superior Court.

3. Serve the Other Spouse

In the standard path, the respondent must be served with the petition and given the chance to respond. In the Summary Consent Decree path (A.R.S. § 25-314.01), both spouses file a combined Petition and Response simultaneously and service of process is waived, since all issues are already resolved by agreement.

4. Exchange Financial Disclosures

In cases involving spousal maintenance, child support, or attorney fees, both parties exchange the Affidavit of Financial Information under Rule 49 of the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure. When children are involved, parents complete the mandatory Parent Education Program within the time ordered by the court.

5. Observe the Waiting Period

Arizona requires a mandatory 60-day cooling-off period, measured from the date the petition is served, before a decree can be entered. Arizona courts also have conciliation services, and the court must confirm that conciliation provisions have been addressed before granting a dissolution (A.R.S. § 25-312).

6. Decree & Certified Copies

Once issues are resolved (by agreement or after a contested process) and the waiting period has passed, the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution. Some counties, such as Maricopa, offer a "Decree on Demand" option for petitioners whose cases meet the statutory time limits. After the decree is entered, you can request certified copies for your records.

Arizona-Specific Requirements You Should Know

Arizona has a handful of rules that set it apart. Understanding them up front can save you confusion later.

Residency: At least one spouse must have been domiciled in Arizona (or stationed there as active-duty military) for at least 90 days before the petition is filed (A.R.S. § 25-312).

Property regime: Arizona is a community property state. In general, this means property and debts acquired during the marriage are treated as belonging to both spouses, in contrast to the equitable-distribution approach used in many other states.

Grounds: For a standard (non-covenant) marriage, Arizona is a no-fault state. The only ground needed is that the "marriage is irretrievably broken" (A.R.S. § 25-312). Covenant marriages are different: they can only be dissolved on specific fault-based grounds listed in A.R.S. § 25-903, such as adultery; a felony conviction with a sentence of death or imprisonment; abandonment of the matrimonial domicile for at least one year; physical or sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or domestic violence; living separate and apart continuously for at least two years; living separate and apart for at least one year after a legal separation decree; habitual drug or alcohol abuse; or the mutual consent of both spouses.

Waiting period: A mandatory 60-day cooling-off period applies, measured from the date the petition is served, before a decree can be entered.

Covenant marriage: Arizona is one of only three states (with Louisiana and Arkansas) that recognizes covenant marriage. Covenant marriages require pre-marital counseling and a declaration of intent, and they can only be dissolved on the specific fault-based grounds above or by mutual agreement. Because all statewide forms are titled for "non-covenant marriage," separate forms exist for covenant-marriage dissolutions.

Legal decision-making: Arizona uses the term "legal decision-making" rather than "legal custody," which you'll see reflected throughout the forms involving children.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A little awareness goes a long way toward keeping your case on track.

Using the wrong form set

Mixing up the "with children" and "without children" versions, or using non-covenant forms for a covenant marriage, is a common slip. The forms are titled specifically, so it pays to match them to your situation.

Overlooking county-specific versions

Because counties like Maricopa and Pima maintain their own form versions and numbers, downloading a statewide form when your county requires its own can cause delays. Verifying with the local Superior Court clerk helps avoid this.

Missing the Parent Education deadline

When minor children are involved, both parents are required to complete the Parent Education Program within the timeframe set by the court order (A.R.S. § 25-351 et seq.). Most courts set this deadline at approximately 45 days from filing. Letting that window pass can hold up the case.

Skipping financial disclosures

The Affidavit of Financial Information is a mandatory exchange in cases involving support or fees. Incomplete or missing disclosures are a frequent source of friction.

Expecting an instant decree

The 60-day waiting period is mandatory, so even a fully agreed case cannot be finalized before that time runs.

How Divorce.com Can Help

If all of this feels like a lot to track, you're not alone, and you don't have to figure it out by yourself. Divorce.com is designed to take the guesswork out of the paperwork so you can focus on moving forward.

• Guided, step-by-step questions that help you complete the right forms for your circumstances

• Plain-language explanations of what each document does

• Help keeping track of Arizona's requirements, like the 60-day waiting period and the Parent Education Program

• A clear, organized process from start to finish, at your own pace

• An affordable alternative to handling everything on your own from scratch