What is Arizona's 60-day waiting period?

Arizona law requires a minimum of 60 days between the date your spouse is served with the divorce petition and the date the divorce can be finalized. This is a mandatory waiting period — no exceptions, even if both spouses agree on everything and are ready to move forward immediately. The clock starts on the date of service, not the date you file.

Can you get a divorce in less than 60 days in Arizona?

No. The 60-day waiting period under A.R.S. § 25-329 is mandatory. A judge cannot waive it, and it cannot be shortened by agreement. If your petition is filed and service completed on day one, the earliest possible divorce is day 61.

How long does an uncontested divorce typically take in Arizona?

Most uncontested Arizona divorces take 90 to 120 days from filing to final decree. The 60-day waiting period is built into that. The additional time accounts for court processing, getting both spouses' signatures on the decree, and any minor administrative back-and-forth with the clerk's office.

How long does a contested divorce take?

Contested divorces take significantly longer. If you and your spouse cannot agree and the case goes to a hearing or trial, expect 12 to 24 months or more depending on how many issues are disputed and how backed up the court calendar is. The more issues that need a judge to decide, the longer the timeline.

Does filing first make the divorce faster?

Not significantly. Filing first means you control the timing of when the case starts, and the 60-day clock starts on service — so filing and serving quickly does move things along. But the overall timeline is determined by court processing times, your spouse's cooperation, and whether any issues are contested.

How Long Does Divorce Take in Arizona? (2026 Timeline)

The mandatory 60-day waiting period

Arizona law requires a minimum waiting period of 60 days between the date your spouse is served with the divorce petition and the date the divorce can be finalized. This comes from A.R.S. § 25-329.

A few things to know about this requirement:

It is mandatory. No judge can shorten it. No agreement between spouses can waive it. Even if you have been separated for years, have no disputed issues, and both want to move on immediately, you still wait 60 days from the date of service.

The clock starts on service, not filing. If you file your petition on day one but do not serve your spouse until day 30, the 60-day waiting period begins on day 30. File and serve as close together as possible if you want to minimize the total timeline.

The waiting period is a floor, not a target. Many divorces take longer than 60 days to finalize even after the waiting period has passed. Court processing, the respondent's response time, and finalizing paperwork all add time.

Uncontested divorce: 90 to 120 days

For an uncontested divorce where both spouses agree on all major issues, the typical timeline in Arizona looks like this:

Days 1 to 7: You prepare documents, file the petition, and pay the filing fee. If your spouse signs an Acceptance of Service, service is complete the same week.

Days 7 to 20: Your spouse reviews and signs the Consent Decree and other documents. You finalize the Affidavit of Financial Information.

Day 60 minimum: The 60-day waiting period ends. The case is eligible to be finalized.

Days 60 to 90+: You submit the final paperwork package to the court. The judge reviews and signs the decree. Some courts do this quickly; others have a processing backlog of a few weeks.

Getting your documents right the first time is the biggest factor you control. Rejected filings for errors or missing information can add weeks.

What slows an uncontested divorce down

Even when both spouses are cooperative and agree on everything, a few things commonly cause delays.

Errors on the forms. The court may reject your filing if something is missing, inconsistent, or formatted incorrectly. Using a document preparation service that knows Arizona's county-specific requirements helps avoid this.

Delays in getting signatures. If your spouse is slow to review and sign the decree, the timeline stretches. Build in extra time if communication with your spouse is inconsistent.

Court processing backlog. Some Arizona Superior Courts are busier than others. Maricopa County handles the highest volume in the state. Processing times vary and can add two to four weeks to the finalization step.

Children-related requirements. If you have minor children, completing the Parent Information Program and finalizing a detailed parenting plan adds time. Plan for it early.

Contested divorce: 12 to 24+ months

When spouses disagree on major issues and the court has to decide, the timeline extends dramatically.

After the response is filed, contested cases typically move through:

Discovery (exchanging financial information)
Mediation (required by many Arizona courts before a hearing)
Pre-trial conferences
Trial or evidentiary hearing

Each of these steps takes time, and court calendars can push hearings out by months. A contested divorce that goes to trial is rarely finalized in less than 12 months. If there are appeals or significant disputes, 18 to 24 months is not unusual.

The financial cost increases proportionally. Every month of litigation adds attorney fees on both sides.

How to keep your divorce on the shorter end

File and serve quickly. The 60-day clock does not start until your spouse is served. Get the petition filed and served as soon as your documents are ready.

Agree on as much as possible before filing. The closer you are to full agreement when you start, the less time the process takes. Negotiating terms after filing takes longer than agreeing before.

Get the paperwork right the first time. Errors and omissions are the most common source of preventable delays. prepares all required Arizona court documents for $199, specific to your county and situation, reducing the chance of rejection.

Complete children's requirements early. If you have kids and your county requires the Parent Information Program, do not wait until the last minute. Some providers have limited availability.

Respond to the court promptly. If the clerk or judge has a question or requests additional information, respond quickly. Cases stall when parties do not follow up.

The bottom line on timing

You cannot rush the 60-day waiting period. Everything else is mostly under your control: how quickly you prepare documents, how cooperative your spouse is, and how complete and accurate your paperwork is.

For an uncontested divorce with a cooperative spouse and correct paperwork, 90 days is realistic. For a contested case, plan for a year or more.

If you want to understand what the process looks like end-to-end, walks through every step. When you are ready to start the paperwork, handles everything for $199 plus court filing fees.

Educational guidance only — not legal advice.

How Long Does a Divorce Take in Arizona? (Realistic Timeline)

How Long Does a Divorce Take in Arizona? (Realistic Timeline)

The mandatory 60-day waiting period

Uncontested divorce: 90 to 120 days

Free Arizona Divorce Checklist

What slows an uncontested divorce down

Contested divorce: 12 to 24+ months

How to keep your divorce on the shorter end

The bottom line on timing

Arizona Divorce Resources

Skip the paperwork. Let Clarity handle it.

Arizona Divorce Checklists

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What Is an Uncontested Divorce? (And Do You Qualify?)