Phoenix, AZ Divorce Attorneys

Arizona divorce gets less overwhelming when you understand the process — our Phoenix divorce attorneys give you honest answers and a clear path forward.

Key Takeaways:

• Marital assets and debts are equally owned under Arizona’s community property laws.
  
• The mandatory 60-day waiting period is when financial disclosures and negotiations typically happen.
  
• With 20+ years of legal experience, Arizona Family Law Attorneys guide clients toward honest, realistic outcomes.

Most people don’t realize how little they know about the divorce process until they’re already in it. The questions start piling up fast: How long will this take? What has to be decided? What happens if we can’t agree? 

At Arizona Family Law Attorneys, our knowledgeable Phoenix divorce attorneys have heard every one of those questions, and we’re here to give you the honest answers most people wish they’d had from day one. 

Book a free case evaluation to get started.

The First Steps: Filing and What Comes Next

The divorce process has a defined path, even when it doesn’t feel that way. Here’s how it typically unfolds in Arizona:

1. File the Petition. One spouse files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the Superior Court, which officially starts the process.
   
2. Serve Your Spouse. The other spouse must be formally served and has a set window to respond. How they respond is often the first signal of how smoothly things will move.
   
3. Wait Out the 60 Days. Arizona law requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period before a divorce can be finalized, and that clock doesn’t start at filing. It begins once your spouse has been served or accepts service.
   
4. Negotiate the Terms. Those 60 days are rarely quiet. Financial disclosures, asset discussions, and settlement negotiations typically happen during this window.

It’s a lot to take in, especially when you’re already dealing with the emotional weight of this decision. Those 60 days are not downtime. They are often the most important stretch of your entire case.

What Arizona’s Community Property Laws Actually Mean for Your Finances

Before you can understand how your case will unfold, it helps to understand what’s actually at stake. Arizona is one of nine community property states, meaning assets and debts accumulated during the marriage are generally considered equally owned by both spouses.

For most people, this is the part of divorce that feels the most uncertain. What’s mine? What’s ours? What happens to everything we built together?

In practice, this doesn’t mean everything gets split exactly down the middle. The division needs to be fair and approximately equal, which leaves real room for negotiation. Separate property, including what you owned before the marriage or inherited during it, is typically not subject to division.

Here’s what usually needs to be resolved before a divorce can be finalized:

• Division of marital assets and debts
• Spousal maintenance, if applicable
• Business interests or retirement accounts
• Any arrangements involving children, when relevant

Our dedicated Phoenix divorce attorneys help you clearly identify what’s on the table, what isn’t, and how to approach division in a way that protects your financial future.

Contested vs. Uncontested: Why the Distinction Shapes Everything

Once you understand what needs to be resolved, the next question is how smoothly you and your spouse can resolve it.

If you and your spouse agree on all the major terms, your divorce is considered uncontested. These cases typically move faster and cost less because there’s no court battle standing between you and a resolution. You still need everything documented and filed correctly, but the path forward is much more straightforward.

If at least one significant issue remains unresolved, your divorce is considered contested. That doesn’t automatically mean litigation, but it does mean more time, more strategy, and more negotiation before you reach the finish line. 

Our experienced Phoenix divorce attorneys help you understand which path you’re on from the start, and what it’s going to take to get through it. We won’t sugarcoat it, but we will make sure you understand exactly where you stand and what your options are.

Our Compassionate Phoenix Divorce Attorneys Are Ready to Help

Shawnna Riggers didn’t just study family law. She grew up living it as a child of divorce, and that experience shaped the way she approaches every case: with honesty, with empathy, and with a commitment to telling clients the truth about what they’re actually facing. Donna, our legal paraprofessional, brings more than 30 years of family law experience alongside Shawnna, giving you a team that’s genuinely invested in where you end up.

We know that once you start thinking about divorce, your mind goes to the worst-case scenarios. Our seasoned Phoenix divorce attorneys are here to replace that uncertainty with clear information, realistic timelines, and honest guidance, because you deserve to make decisions based on how things actually work, not what you hoped they would.

Peace of Mind. There Is No Substitute.™

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Our trusted Phoenix divorce attorneys are here to walk you through every step, from the first filing to the final decree. 

Book a free case evaluation and take the first step toward clarity and confidence in what comes next.