COST FLAT RATE $4,800
o In Arizona, a “summary consent petition and decree” (also known as a Summary Consent Decree) is a streamlined process for divorces or legal separations where both parties agree on all terms before filing, allowing for a quicker and less costly resolution than a traditional divorce
o Proceeding with the summary consent decree process means both parties will be required to a pay a filing fee and will submit a Consent Decree for the Judge to sign into orders.
Here’s a breakdown of what it entails:
Purpose:
It’s designed for couples who have reached a full agreement on all aspects of their divorce or legal separation (like property division, child custody, and support) before filing for divorce or legal separation with the court.
Requirements:
· Both parties must agree to all terms of the divorce or separation.
· You don’t have a covenant marriage.
· One party has lived in Arizona for at least 90 days before filing.
· If there are minor children, they have lived in Arizona for at least six months before filing.
· You believe the marriage is irretrievably broken.
· You’ve attempted conciliation services or there’s no point to pursue conciliation.
Process:
· Both parties jointly file a single document called a “Summary Consent Petition and Response”.
· This document includes all agreed-upon terms and waives formal service of process.
· The court will then review the documents and, if everything is in order, will issue a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage or a Decree of Legal Separation.
Benefits:
· Simpler and Easier: It’s a streamlined process compared to traditional divorce.
· Less Expensive: It can be less costly than a contested divorce.
· Quicker Resolution: It can lead to a faster resolution of the divorce or separation.
