Central Court Building 201 W. Jefferson Street Phoenix, AZ 85003

Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Bring your completed documents, a valid photo ID, and payment for the $376 filing fee. The clerk accepts cash, check, and credit card.

The clerk's staff will review your documents for completeness, assign your case a number, and return stamped copies to you. Hold onto these. You will need the case number when serving your spouse and for all future filings.

Electronic Filing

If you prefer not to make the trip, Maricopa County accepts electronic filings through AZTurboCourt. You create an account, upload your completed documents as PDFs, and pay the filing fee online. Electronic filing is available around the clock and can be faster than waiting in line at the courthouse.

Your documents still need to be accurate and complete. The electronic system will not catch errors the same way a clerk reviewing paper documents might flag something obvious.

Step 4: Serve Your Spouse

Filing the Petition does not notify your spouse. You must formally serve them with the Petition and Summons through one of the methods Arizona law recognizes.

Acceptance of Service is the fastest option. Your spouse signs a form confirming they received the documents. This can happen the same day you file. It costs nothing and starts the 60-day clock immediately.

Process server is the most common alternative. A licensed process server delivers the papers in person, usually within a few days. Expect to pay $50 to $100.

Sheriff's service is available through the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for a fee. Reliable, though it may take longer.

You cannot hand the papers to your spouse yourself. Arizona requires a third party to complete service. Once service is done, the process server (or your spouse) files a proof of service document with the court.

Step 5: Wait Out the 60 Days

Arizona law requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period before any divorce can be finalized. That window starts the day after your spouse is officially served.

This is the time to:

• Complete your Affidavit of Financial Information if you have not already (both spouses must fill one out)
• Negotiate the terms of your Consent Decree with your spouse
• Collect any financial documents the court may need

You cannot shorten the waiting period. What you can do is make sure everything else is ready so that when day 60 arrives, you are not starting on your paperwork. For a full breakdown of what controls your timeline, see how long divorce takes in Arizona.

Step 6: Submit the Consent Decree

Once you and your spouse agree on all terms and the 60-day period has passed, you submit the signed Consent Decree to the court. A judge reviews it and, if everything is in order, signs it. At that point, your marriage is legally dissolved.

There is no hearing required for uncontested divorces. The judge reviews the paperwork and signs. Most couples never set foot in a courtroom.

Free Help Available in Maricopa County

If you have questions during the process, Maricopa County's Law Library Resource Center (LLRC) is an underused resource. It is located inside the Central Court Building. Staff can help you identify the right forms and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice. Free workshops on divorce filing are also available, both in person and online.

How Clarity Divorce Helps You Prepare

The most common reason divorce filings get rejected in Maricopa County is paperwork errors: missing forms, incomplete sections, outdated versions, or missing signatures. Fixing these errors costs you time and sometimes restarts deadlines.

Clarity Divorce generates your complete Maricopa County divorce document package based on your specific situation. You answer a guided questionnaire, and the platform prepares your Petition, Summons, Preliminary Injunction, Sensitive Data Cover Sheet, AFI, and Consent Decree, formatted correctly for Maricopa County Superior Court. The flat fee is $299, and your documents are ready in minutes.

You handle the filing. We handle the paperwork.

For the full breakdown of Maricopa County filing requirements, fees, and resources, see our Maricopa County divorce filing guide.

Educational guidance only. This is not legal advice.