• A private process server
• The county sheriff
• Acceptance of service (your spouse signs a form acknowledging receipt)

Acceptance of service is the simplest option if your spouse is cooperative. They sign an Acceptance and Consent form, you file it with the court, and service is complete.

Once served, the clock starts on the mandatory 60-day waiting period. The earliest your divorce can be finalized is 60 days after service.

Step 5: Your spouse responds (or does not)

Your spouse has 20 days to file a Response if served in Arizona, or 30 days if served out of state.

If they file a Response agreeing to your proposed terms, the divorce is uncontested. You move forward together to finalize the paperwork.

If they file a Response disputing some terms, you enter a negotiation phase. Many cases that start contested reach an agreement before going to a hearing.

If they do not respond at all, you can request a default judgment after the deadline passes. The court may grant the divorce on your proposed terms without the other spouse's involvement.

Step 6: Reach a settlement agreement

In an uncontested divorce, both spouses sign a Consent Decree of Dissolution of Marriage. This document contains everything: how property and debts are divided, whether spousal maintenance is awarded and in what amount, and if you have children, the parenting plan and child support calculation.

The settlement is your agreement. The court reviews it to make sure it is complete and legally sufficient, but it does not renegotiate the terms for you. What you put in the decree is what you get.

Getting this document right matters. Vague or incomplete terms in a consent decree create problems later. When in doubt, be specific. Define every account, every piece of property, every parenting schedule detail.

Step 7: Complete the required disclosures

Both spouses must file an Affidavit of Financial Information regardless of whether the divorce is uncontested. This is a requirement under Arizona court rules, not optional.

The AFI covers your income, monthly expenses, assets, and debts. It is several pages long and requires documentation. If your finances are straightforward, it takes a few hours to complete correctly. If they are complex, plan for more time.

Errors or omissions on the AFI can delay the divorce or create legal exposure later. The AFI guide covers every section.

Step 8: Handle any child-related requirements

If you have minor children, Arizona requires additional steps.

A parenting plan must be filed as part of the divorce. It covers legal decision-making (what Arizona calls custody) and the parenting time schedule. The more detailed and specific the plan, the fewer disputes arise later.

A child support worksheet must be calculated using Arizona's guidelines. The number is based on both parents' incomes, parenting time, and certain expenses. Arizona has an official calculator available through the courts.

Many Arizona counties also require parents to complete a Parent Information Program (PIP) before the divorce is finalized. Check the requirements for your county.

Step 9: File the final paperwork

Once the Consent Decree is signed by both parties, you file it with the court along with the other required closing documents. The judge reviews and signs the decree. In most uncontested cases, the judge does this without a hearing, based on the paperwork alone.

Some counties require a short appearance or default hearing even for uncontested cases. Others do not. Check the local rules for your county.

Step 10: Receive your decree

Once the judge signs the Consent Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, your divorce is final. You will receive a certified copy from the clerk's office.

Keep this document. You will need it to update financial accounts, change your name if applicable, update beneficiary designations, and handle other post-divorce administrative tasks.

How Clarity Divorce fits into this process

Each step above involves court forms. Arizona uses official Supreme Court forms, but the forms are blank. They do not know your situation, your assets, your parenting arrangement, or your county's specific requirements. Filling them out correctly requires understanding what each field means and what the court needs to see.

Clarity Divorce takes your answers through a guided questionnaire and prepares every required form, filled out correctly for your county and your situation. The flat fee is $199. Court filing fees of approximately $300 to $400 are separate and go directly to the court.

If you want to see how it works before committing, the free demo walks you through the intake process with no payment required.

When you are ready to start, Clarity Divorce handles the paperwork so you can focus on everything else.

Educational guidance only — not legal advice.