Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Arizona
Arizona calls this process dissolution of marriage, not divorce. Most couples file under one no-fault ground: the marriage is irretrievably broken. A case counts as uncontested when both spouses agree on the divorce and on every term. That includes property, debt, and, if there are children, custody and support. Arizona also offers a real fast-track option for couples who agree before either spouse files. It is called the Summary Consent Decree, under A.R.S. section 25-314.01. Spouses on this track file one combined petition and response together. They skip formal service entirely. This differs from an ordinary uncontested case, where one spouse still files first and the other responds.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist works under Arizona law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Arizona paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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The Summary Consent Decree track
Couples who agree on everything before either one files can use this track. They file one combined document instead of a petition and a separate response. Formal service of process is waived. The filing fee drops to half the combined petition-and-answer fee, plus any county add-on fees.
Either spouse can still back out before the judge signs the decree. If that happens, the case converts to a standard dissolution, and standard fees apply. This track is not available for paternity or maternity matters.
Eligibility and the ordinary uncontested path
Arizona has no separate simplified-dissolution statute tied to marriage length or asset value. Outside the Summary Consent Decree, an uncontested case just means both spouses agree on the divorce and its terms after one spouse files first. That spouse still prepares the standard petition. The other spouse files a response agreeing to the terms.
Arizona also runs a separate, harder path for the small number of couples married under a covenant marriage. Covenant divorces require proving a specific fault ground or a set separation period. Arizona's self-help forms system does not publish a standardized petition for that track.
Document checklist
Start with the Petition for Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage, with or without minor children, from AZCourtHelp, Arizona's official self-help portal. A standard petition also includes a Preliminary Injunction. This is a mutual restraining order that binds both spouses automatically once it is filed and served. Add a signed settlement agreement covering property and debt.
Couples with minor children add a parenting plan and a child support worksheet. They also add the court's standard Order and Notice to Attend Parent Education Program form. A spouse who cannot afford the fee can file the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees or Costs instead.
The 60-day waiting period
Arizona's 60-day floor works differently depending on the track. On a standard petition, the 60 days run from the date the other spouse is served, or from the date they accept or waive service. They do not run from the filing date. On the Summary Consent Decree track, formal service is waived entirely, so the 60 days run from the filing date instead.
Either way, a judge cannot sign the final decree before that 60-day period ends. Arizona law requires every county's Superior Court to run a parent education program. Courts routinely order both parents to attend when a case involves minor children.
Sources: A.R.S. section 25-312, grounds and residency for dissolution, A.R.S. section 25-314.01, Summary Consent Decree, A.R.S. section 25-329, 60-day waiting period from service, A.R.S. section 25-351, parent education program, AZCourtHelp, Arizona's official self-help court portal, AZCourtHelp, divorce petition forms (no minor children), AZCourtHelp, fee waiver and deferral forms
Not independently confirmed
- Whether a final hearing or in-person appearance is required on the Summary Consent Decree track, versus entry of the decree purely on the paperwork, was not independently confirmed. Confirm with the filing county's Superior Court.
- The Arizona Judicial Branch's own Self-Service Center page (azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter) could not be directly loaded to cross-check AZCourtHelp content. AZCourtHelp is treated here as the correct primary self-help destination based on its official endorsement.
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Arizona: frequently asked questions
What makes an Arizona dissolution uncontested?+
Both spouses agree on ending the marriage and on every term: property, debt, and, if applicable, custody and support. One spouse still typically files a petition, and the other files a response agreeing to it. Couples who reach full agreement before either one files can use the Summary Consent Decree track instead. It combines the petition and response into one document and waives formal service.
What is Arizona's Summary Consent Decree track?+
It is a combined-filing process under A.R.S. section 25-314.01 for spouses who agree on everything before either one files. They submit one combined petition and response, skip formal service of process, and pay half the combined filing fee plus county add-ons. Either spouse can still withdraw before the judge signs the decree. That converts the case to a standard dissolution.
How long does an uncontested Arizona divorce take?+
At least 60 days, but the starting point depends on the track. On a standard petition, the 60-day clock starts when the other spouse is served or accepts service. It does not start when the case is filed. On the Summary Consent Decree track, service is waived, so the clock starts on the filing date instead. Either way, a judge cannot sign the final decree before that period ends.
What forms do I need for an uncontested Arizona divorce?+
Start with the Petition for Dissolution of a Non-Covenant Marriage, with or without minor children, published through AZCourtHelp, Arizona's official self-help portal. Add a Preliminary Injunction, which files automatically with the petition, plus a signed settlement agreement. Couples with minor children also file a parenting plan, a child support worksheet, and the court's parent-education attendance form.
Can I get the Arizona filing fee waived?+
Yes, if you cannot afford it. File the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees or Costs, a statewide form published through AZCourtHelp. It comes with a companion affidavit covering service-of-process fees. If granted, the order waives or defers filing and service costs for the case.
Do we have to attend a parenting class in Arizona if we have children?+
In practice, generally yes. A.R.S. section 25-351 requires every county's Superior Court to run a parent education program. Arizona's official dissolution packet for cases with minor children includes a standard Order and Notice to Attend Parent Education Program form. Attendance is ordered as a routine part of most cases involving children, not left optional.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist in Arizona, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Arizona's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Arizona. Virdix does not prepare or file Arizona divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Arizona.
More Arizona divorce guides
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In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Arizona, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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