Many people considering divorce worry about ending up in legal limbo for months. They may have heard stories about one spouse stonewalling or reports of overloaded family courts leading to extended turnaround times.
Most people who have decided to divorce want to complete the process as quickly as is reasonable without making unnecessary concessions regarding their parental rights and the final property division terms. Understanding the timeline for Arizona divorces can help spouses recognize when their proceedings may have dragged on for longer than is actually necessary.
So-called weekend divorces are not an option
Some states have very streamlined divorce proceedings that may allow for a divorce in a matter of days, especially in uncontested divorce cases. Arizona does not allow for a “weekend divorce” or a two-week turnaround time on an uncontested divorce.
There is a minimum cooling-off period. Most spouses must wait at least 60 days after filing the initial paperwork before they are eligible for a hearing in court.
In cases where there are still disagreements regarding parenting rights, financial support or property division, the divorce can take substantially longer, as spouses may need to spend weeks or months negotiating. Litigation can require even longer, as spouses must wait for a hearing in family court and then wait for a judge to rule after hearing from them.
Some couples can complete the divorce process in roughly three to four months if they have appropriate guidance and resolve their disputes outside of the courtroom. Reviewing marital circumstances with a divorce attorney can help people better estimate the timeline for their divorces and understand their rights throughout the process.