An uncontested divorce occurs when both spouses agree on all major issues and want to end their marriage without court battles or trials. In Arizona, this means complete agreement on:
Property division: How to split community assets, debts, and separate property
Legal decision-making: Decision-making authority and parenting time schedules
Child support: Financial support amounts following Arizona Child Support Guidelines
Spousal maintenance: Whether alimony is appropriate, amount, and duration
Other issues: Name changes, health insurance, retirement accounts, tax exemptions
When spouses reach agreement on these issues before filing, the divorce can be processed much faster and less expensively than contested divorces requiring extensive litigation, discovery, and trial.
Two Uncontested Divorce Options in Arizona:
Traditional uncontested divorce: Standard process with petition, service, response, and consent decree
Summary Consent Decree (new in 2022): Streamlined process with combined filing, no service requirement, and predictable timeline
Good Candidate vs. Not a Good Candidate for Uncontested Divorce
Arizona's Summary Consent Decree process, enacted in 2022 under A.R.S. § 25-314.01, is the fastest and most affordable divorce option when both spouses agree on all terms:
Key Features of Summary Consent Decree
Combined filing: Petition and response filed simultaneously by both parties
No service requirement: Eliminates need for process server (saves time and $100-150)
50% filing fee discount: Approximately $331-363 vs. approximately $663 for traditional divorce (saves ~$300)
Timeline: 81 days maximum in Maricopa County (60-day wait + 21-day processing)
No court hearings: Entirely administrative process
Faster start: 60-day waiting period begins on filing date (not service date)
Eligibility Requirements
Complete agreement: Both spouses must agree to ALL terms before filing
Residency: Either spouse lived in Arizona at least 90 days
Not covenant marriage: Standard marriages only (covenant marriages require different process)
Irretrievable breakdown: Marriage cannot be saved
No property limits: Available regardless of asset or debt amounts
No marriage length limits: Available for marriages of any duration
Summary Consent Decree Process Steps
Complete agreement: Resolve all divorce issues before filing
Prepare documents: Complete combined petition/response and consent decree
File simultaneously: Both parties sign and file together
Pay reduced fee: Approximately $331-363 in Maricopa County
Capital gains basis: Understand cost basis of assets you receive for future tax implications
Alimony tax treatment: Post-2018 spousal maintenance is not deductible by payer or taxable to recipient
When to Reconsider Uncontested Divorce
Sometimes uncontested divorce isn't the best approach despite initial agreement:
Power imbalance: One spouse controlling finances, information, or decision-making
Hidden assets suspected: Signs spouse may be hiding money or property
Domestic violence history: Abuse dynamics may affect ability to negotiate fairly
Recent discovery: New information about assets, debts, or infidelity changes situation
Unfair pressure: Feeling coerced or threatened into accepting terms
Complex assets: Businesses, multiple properties, or international assets require professional valuation
Significant spousal maintenance: Long marriages with income disparities deserve thorough analysis
Arizona family law attorneys can review proposed uncontested settlements to ensure fairness before you finalize terms that affect your financial future.
Arizona Self-Service Divorce Resources
Arizona provides extensive resources for self-represented parties pursuing uncontested divorces:
Arizona Judicial Branch (azcourts.gov): Official forms, instructions, and procedural guides for all Arizona courts
ezCourtForms (ezcourt.az.gov): Free interactive system for completing family law forms with guided prompts and error checking
Maricopa County Law Library: In-person assistance with forms and procedures (cannot provide legal advice)
Community Legal Services: Free legal help for income-qualifying individuals
Arizona State Bar Lawyer Referral: Modest-fee consultations with licensed family law attorneys
Using these resources, many couples successfully navigate uncontested divorces while minimizing costs and ensuring proper document preparation.
The Legal Process
Reach Full Agreement
Both spouses agree on all terms: property division, legal decision-making, parenting time, and support. Document everything in a written settlement.
File Joint Petition or Petition with Consent
File together using Summary Consent Decree (reduced fees) or traditional petition with signed consent. Pay filing fees (approximately $331-663).
Common Questions
How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Arizona?
Paradise Law charges a $3,500 flat fee for uncontested divorces (plus filing fees). Court filing fees are approximately $331-363 for Summary Consent Decree (50% discount) or approximately $663 for traditional filing.
How long does an uncontested divorce take in Arizona?
A Summary Consent Decree takes 75-81 days (60-day waiting period plus 21-day processing). Traditional uncontested divorce takes 90-120 days. Both require Arizona's mandatory 60-day waiting period from filing or service before the divorce can be finalized.
What is a Summary Consent Decree in Arizona?
The Summary Consent Decree (enacted 2022) is Arizona's fastest divorce option. Both spouses file together, pay reduced fees (about 50% discount), skip the service requirement, and have a statutory 81-day maximum timeline. It's available for any uncontested divorce where both parties agree on all terms.
Anthony F. Paradise, Esq.
I didn't choose family law. I chose the courtroom.
The preparation. The argument. The moment when everything you've built either holds or falls apart. After earning my J.D. from Arizona Summit Law School, I clerked for a prominent criminal defense and wrongful death attorney. I learned how to build cases that hold up under pressure and how to perform when everything is on the line.
When I committed to practice full time, I brought that same intensity to family law. I understood what it feels like when everything you've built is coming apart. And I learned that how something ends matters as much as how it began.
I have devoted 100% of my practice to family law since 2020. Not because it's easy. Because it's where I belong.
10+Years Licensed
100%Family Law Focus
My Philosophy
From Crisis to Clarity
I have helped hundreds of clients and consulted with thousands. My job is to move you from crisis to clarity — with a plan, a strategy, and someone in your corner who knows the details of your case better than anyone.
Relationships are hard. Sometimes the healthiest thing for you, for your children, for everyone, is to separate. But how you end matters as much as why.
What a Good Outcome Looks Like
Divorce ranks alongside death for its toll on mental health. There is no victory lap here.
A good outcome looks like this: someone walks through my door in crisis, and six months later, their life is meaningfully better. They call to tell me their kids are adjusting. They're sleeping again. They can see a future.
Every Document. Every Detail. Me.
I have seen what happens when attorneys grow their practices too fast. More clients. More revenue. And attention drifting toward management instead of cases. I watched the details slip. That's not the practice I wanted to build.
No Associate Handoffs
I am not handing your file to an associate who won't remember it when it counts. You hired me. You get me.
Evidence Mastery
I touch every piece of evidence in your case. Every email. Every bank statement. I know the details better than anyone in the room.
Direct Strategy
My approach is simple: Build a record that holds up on appeal. Prepare thoroughly to create leverage.
Our Office
Visit Us in Phoenix
Paradise Law Office, PLLC2801 E Camelback Rd Ste 200 Phoenix, AZ 85016
