Do I have to live in Arizona to be divorced here?
At least one of the parties must have resided in Arizona for the
90 days immediately preceding filing for divorce here.
What is a "dissolution?"
Divorces in Arizona are now technically called a dissolution
action, as we are "dissolving" the marriage. However, most people, attorneys and
judges still refer to them as divorces.
What if my spouse does not live in Arizona?
In the situation where your spouse does not live in Arizona, you
can typically still seek and obtain a divorce in Arizona, but you must serve
your spouse with notice of the divorce action.
What if my spouse has never lived in Arizona?
In the situation where your spouse has never lived in Arizona,
there may be a problem in this state obtaining jurisdiction over him or her.
However, there are still situations where the divorce may still occur here. You
should consult a family law attorney.
How long does it take to get divorced?
By Arizona law, there is a minimum 60 day State-mandated cooling
off period. If your divorce proceeds in a non-contested manner by default (when
the responding party does not respond), it will typically take somewhere in the
65 to 90 day range. If contested (the responding party files a response with the
court), 60 days to several months or longer, depending upon you settling your
case or going to trial. If you have to go to trial, your divorce will typically
take at least six to nine months currently in Maricopa County.
If the divorce will take several months, what happens to
the property and insurance policies in the meantime?
In all dissolution proceedings, the court automatically issues a
Preliminary Injunction which orders both parties to refrain from disposing of
(or stealing or hiding) marital property, incurring new debts on behalf of the
marital community, or changing insurance policies (such as canceling health
insurance) without written consent of the other party or an order of the court.
Parents are similarly instructed to not take any minor children from the
marriage out of state without first obtaining the written permission of both
parents or court order, while the divorce is pending.
If a Response is filed, does this mean we have to go to
Court?
No. If you at any point resolve all of your differences, you may
avoid appearing in court at all. However, courts do start setting appearances,
starting with the resolution management conference (an initial appearance that
takes 15 minute to 30 minutes), as soon as forty days after a responsive
pleading is filed.
Do I have to give a reason as to why I wish to be
divorced?
No. Arizona is a "no-fault" divorce state, which means that the
reasons for wishing to dissolve your marriage are not considered.
What if my spouse says he/she won't "give" me a divorce?
You can get a divorce anyway. In a no-fault divorce state such
as Arizona, a party who does not want a divorce can delay the divorce but
ultimately cannot stop it.
Do I need an attorney?
No. There is no requirement that you hire an attorney and, in
fact, many people get divorced without an attorney. However, an attorney is
familiar with Arizona family law and the rules of procedure, and can recommend
options for you that most people do not know about and would not normally
consider. An attorney on your side will help you make informed decisions, fight
for your rights, know what is or is not fair and provide peace of mind,
especially if the other party has hired an attorney.
Can the court order my spouse to pay for my attorney's
fees?
Yes. The court will consider each spouse's ability to pay
attorney's fees, as well as the reasonableness of each party's positions on the
issues. Typically, however, a court will order parties with relatively the same
incomes, and have not played games or unreasonably delayed matters, to pay for
their own legal fees and court costs.
How is child support determined?
Child support is generally determined by the
Arizona Supreme Court Child Support Guidelines, which set forth a formula
that incorporates the income of both parents, child-care costs, health insurance
costs, payment and receipt of spousal maintenance, other children for whom a
party has custody or pays child support, and the amount of time the children
spend with each parent. After applying the formula, parents both pay child
support based upon their relative income levels as well as how much time is
spent with the child or children.
How is child support paid?
In most cases filed today, child support is paid through the
Arizona Support Payment Clearinghouse, and whenever possible, by wage
assignment. Money paid directly to the custodial parent by the non-custodial
parent may be considered gifts and not credited towards child support owed.
How is child support modified?
Either party may file for a modification when a substantial
(usually a 15% or more change) and ongoing change in circumstances of the
parties justify an adjustment. Most people modify child support up and down many
times in the course of raising the children.
Can I get, or be ordered to pay, spousal maintenance (alimony)?
Yes. Generally, a court will order one spouse to provide
financial support to the other spouse when the other spouse:
1. Lacks sufficient property, including property apportioned to
the spouse, to provide for that spouse's reasonable needs.
2. Is unable to be self-sufficient through appropriate
employment or is the custodian of a child whose age or condition is such that
the custodian should not be required to seek employment outside the home or
lacks earning ability in the labor market adequate to be self-sufficient.
3. Contributed to the educational opportunities of the other
spouse.
4. Had a marriage of long duration and is of an age that may
preclude the possibility of gaining employment adequate to be self-sufficient.
What is "community property" and "community debt"?
Generally, community property/debt is property/debt acquired
after the parties marry and before one party serves a petition for dissolution
or marriage or legal separation on the other spouse. Parties can voluntarily
(and unwittingly) alter the characterization of property/debt during the
marriage. Courts divide community property and debt equitably, which generally
means equally.
Do I have to share my retirement or pension with my spouse?
It depends. If you earned any portion of your pension, or
contributed to your retirement fund, during the course of your marriage, the
marital community will generally have an interest in the pension or retirement
which will be divided by the court. Same with profit sharing or IRAs built up
during the marriage.
What is "sole and separate" property and debt?
Sole and separate property and debt is generally property and
debt that you acquired prior to marriage or after service of divorce or legal
separation papers. It may also include property that you solely inherited and
property given to you only as a gift. Parties can voluntarily (and sometimes
unwittingly) change the characterization of property and debt.
How do courts determine child custody?
In Arizona, the term "child custody" has been legally changed to
"legal decision-making." If the parents can agree on how decisions will be
made regarding such issues as the child's health, safety, education, religion
and welfare and how much time the child will spend with each parent, the court
will generally approve that agreement.
If the parents cannot agree, the court will make those decisions based on the best interests of the child,
taking into account several factors, which include in part:
1. The wishes of the child's parent or parents as to custody.
2. The wishes of the child as to the custodian.
3. The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the
child's parent or parents, the child's siblings and any other person who may
significantly affect the child's best interest.
4. The child's adjustment to home, school and community.
5. The mental and physical health of all individuals involved.
6. Which parent is more likely to allow the child frequent and
meaningful continuing contact with the other parent.
7. Whether one parent, both parents or neither parent has
provided primary care of the child.
8. The nature and extent of coercion or duress used by a parent
in obtaining an agreement regarding custody.
9. Whether a parent has taken the required parenting class.
10. Whether either parent was convicted of an act of false
reporting of child abuse or neglect.
11. Domestic violence.
After the custody orders have been put in place, can the other
parent just take my children and move away?
If you both continue to reside in Arizona, there are
relocation restrictions for moves with the children in excess of 100 miles within state
or anywhere outside of Arizona.
Can grandparents get visitation rights with their grandchildren?
Yes, grandparents' rights
regarding access and visitation are subject to the following, provided that
their access is found to be in the best interests of the child:
1. The marriage of the parents of the child has been dissolved
for at least three months.
2. A parent of the child has been deceased or has been missing
for at least three months. For the purposes of this paragraph, a parent is
considered to be missing if the parent's location has not been determined and
the parent has been reported as missing to a law enforcement agency.
3. The child was born out of wedlock.
In determining the child's best interests the court shall
consider all relevant factors, including:
1. The historical relationship, if any, between the child and
the person seeking visitation.
2. The motivation of the requesting party in seeking visitation.
3. The motivation of the person denying visitation.
4. The quantity of visitation time requested and the potential
adverse impact that visitation will have on the child's customary activities.
5. If one or both of the child's parents are dead, the benefit
in maintaining an extended family relationship.
If logistically possible and appropriate the court shall order
visitation by a grandparent or great-grandparent to occur when the child is
residing or spending time with the parent through whom the grandparent or
great-grandparent claims a right of access to the child. If a parent is unable
to have the child reside or spend time with that parent, the court shall order
visitation by a grandparent or great-grandparent to occur when that parent would
have had that opportunity.
