As long as either you or your spouse has been an Arizona resident for 90 days or more at the time of filing, you can get a divorced in Arizona. If you are in the military and are stationed overseas, you may still clain AZ as your residence.
If you are divorcing using mediation or another method of resolution, you do not even need to be in the state to complete the divorce. With mediation, everyone can discuss the matters over the phone or via Skype, or another online conference site. The divorce mediator would draft all the documents for your review and approval. All documents that need to be signed can be sent to you via mail, email or fax. The digital age has changed everything. Just return the signed and notarized documents by email.
Cost: Payments can be made by mailing in checks or credit card authorizations. For mediation, my hourly rate is $250.00 an hour. An average AZ divorce mediation involves the following costs.
Two hours of divorce mediation: $500.00 (some people take more time to reach an agreement, and some people take less).
Two and a half hours of drafting the Petition for Dissolution package, Acceptance of Service and Decree of Dissolution of Marriage: $625.00.
One time administrative fee: $50.00.
Filing fees (required by the Court for every divorce): $321.00 and $256.00.
Time to Complete: The actual divorce mediation process and drafting of documents can occur quickly – sometimes within a week. Typically, the Court requires the parties to wait 60 days between the date of Acceptance of Service (the date the party that did not file the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage acknowledges receipt of the Petition) and the date of filing the proposed Consent Decree. The Court usually takes around two to four weeks to sign a Decree once it has been submitted. Therefore, the whole mediation process can take as little as 75 to 90 days to finish.
Alona M. Gottfried is a family law mediator and attorney in Arizona. If you have questions about mediation, she can be reached at: 480-998-1500 or alona@sglawaz.com. This is a general interest article only and is not intended to be legal advice. See a legal professional before making legal decisions.
Simmons & Gottfried, PLLC
8160 E. Butherus Dr., Suite #7
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
