Summary Consent Petition

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.