How Long Does a Divorce Take in Arizona

Every Arizona divorce takes at least 60 days — that is a non-negotiable statutory minimum under A.R.S. Section 25-329. No judge can waive it, and no amount of agreement between spouses changes it. But the actual timeline depends on which procedural path your case follows and how smoothly each step goes.

The 60-Day Waiting Period

Arizona's cooling-off period starts on the date the respondent is formally served with the divorce papers (or accepts service). No hearing can be held and no decree can be entered until 60 calendar days have passed.

One exception: with a Summary Consent Decree, both spouses file jointly on the same day, so the 60-day clock starts from the filing date — not a later service date. This can shave two to four weeks off the total timeline compared to the traditional route.

Timeline by Divorce Type

Summary Consent Decree (fully agreed, joint filing): 60 to 120 days. The clock starts on filing day. After 60 days, the judge reviews the decree, checks that parenting classes are completed (if children are involved), and signs it. Administrative processing adds a few weeks.

Traditional Uncontested (one spouse files, other agrees): 90 to 120 days. The petitioner must serve the respondent (which takes days to weeks depending on the method), then the 60-day clock starts. The respondent files a response, and both parties submit the Consent Decree after the waiting period.

Default Divorce (respondent does not respond): 90 to 120 days. After service, the respondent has 20 days to file a response (30 if served out of state). If no response is filed, the petitioner applies for default, waits 10 additional court (business) days for a grace period, then submits a proposed decree. In Maricopa County, the judge's review of default paperwork takes an additional 4 to 6 weeks.

Contested Divorce (disagreement on issues): 6 to 18 months or longer. Mandatory Rule 49 financial disclosures must be exchanged within 40 days of the first response. If mediation fails, a Motion to Set for Trial is filed. The trial date depends on the court's backlog — in Maricopa County, expect 3 to 12 months after the motion.

What Slows Down an Arizona Divorce

Service delays — If your spouse is avoiding service or difficult to locate, the 120-day service deadline creates pressure. Service by publication (as a last resort) adds four weeks of newspaper notices.

Incomplete parent education — Both parents must complete the court-approved Parent Information Program within 45 days. If either parent skips it, the judge can refuse to sign the final decree until the certificate is filed.

Rule 49 disclosure problems — In contested cases, one spouse's refusal to exchange mandatory financial documents (three years of tax returns, bank statements, retirement accounts) can stall negotiations and force discovery motions.

County processing times — Maricopa County's default decree review alone takes 4 to 6 weeks due to volume. Rural counties may process faster.

How to Keep Your Timeline on Track

The biggest time killer for self-represented filers is not knowing what comes next. Missing the 20-day response window, the 45-day parent-class deadline, or the 40-day Rule 49 exchange does not just delay the case — it can force a restart and another round of filing fees.

The Arizona Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a 60-day deadline tracker and timeline worksheet that maps every critical date from filing through final decree.

See more Arizona guides →