Arizona Divorce Mediation Timeline: Start to Final Decree

Published on August 1, 2025

Arizona Divorce Mediation Timeline: Start to Final Decree
Jovana Kuvac
9 min read

Navigating divorce can feel like stepping into the unknown, with one of the most common questions being: “How long will this take?” While divorce litigation can drag on for years, divorce mediation in Arizona offers a notably faster and more predictable path to resolution.

This guide provides a clear, realistic, and step-by-step Arizona divorce mediation timeline, walking you through each phase from your initial contact with a mediator to the moment your final divorce decree is issued. Our goal at Aurit Mediation is to empower you with knowledge, set accurate expectations, and guide you towards a timely and peaceful resolution.

Key Factors Influencing Your Divorce Timeline

No two divorces are exactly alike, and several factors can influence how long your mediation process and overall divorce timeline will take:

  • Complexity of Your Case: Divorces involving minor children, extensive assets (like businesses or multiple properties), complex debts, or significant spousal maintenance considerations naturally require more discussion and time.
  • Cooperation & Preparedness: The willingness of both parties to openly communicate, compromise, and efficiently provide necessary financial documents (accounts statements, tax returns, etc.) can speed up the process.
  • Scheduling Availability: The availability of both spouses for meetings.
  • Court Caseloads: While mediation significantly reduces direct court involvement, the final approval of your agreements still rests with a judge, and court backlogs can sometimes introduce minor delays, though typically significantly less than litigation.

Phase 1: Starting Mediation 

This initial phase focuses on engaging with your mediator and preparing for substantive discussions, often before any formal court documents are filed.

Initial Consultation & Engagement

Aurit mediation offers a free, 1-hour consultation with an expert mediator. This no-obligation meeting is an opportunity for you to:

  • Understand the mediation process and how it works.
  • Get a personalized flat fee quote and review the mediation agreement.
  • Ask any preliminary questions about your situation and the mediator’s approach.

Once you decide to proceed, you’ll engage the mediator and begin preparing for your first meeting.

Information Gathering & Preparation 

Before and during your mediation meetings, gathering financial information is important for fair and informed decision-making. This includes:

  • Recent pay stubs and tax returns (typically the past 2-3 years).
  • Bank statements for all accounts (checking, savings, investment).
  • Retirement account statements (e.g., 401(k)s, IRAs, pensions).
  • Deeds, titles, and valuation statements for real estate, vehicles, and businesses.
  • Current statements for all debts (mortgages, credit cards, loans).

Being well-prepared with this information helps ensure transparent discussions and allows you to move through the process more efficiently. Clients at Aurit Mediation receive a simple form that helps them easily collect and share all necessary information. 

Mediation meetings 

This is the core of the mediation process, where you and your spouse actively work with the mediator to reach agreement.

  • Most spouses find they can reach a comprehensive agreement in 2 to 4 meetings, with each meeting typically lasting 2 hours.
  • During these meetings, you’ll discuss all key divorce issues: 
    • Child Custody (legal decision-making and parenting time), 
    • Support (child and spousal), and 
    • the Division of Property and Debt.

Note on Filing: It’s important to understand that mediation can begin before or after the formal divorce petition is filed with the court. Most spouses choose to start mediation first, as reaching agreements often streamlines the subsequent process, leading to a faster overall finalization.

Phase 2: The Streamlined Summary Consent Decree Process

Once you’ve successfully reached a full agreement through mediation, Aurit Mediation utilizes a highly efficient way to finalize your divorce: the Summary Consent Decree process (A.R.S. § 25-314.01). This method helps you to save both time and money, allowing you to bypass much of the traditional court bureaucracy and delays.

What is a Summary Consent Decree?

A Summary Consent Decree of Dissolution is a powerful legal tool used when both spouses agree on all aspects of their divorce. Instead of going through lengthy court hearings and trials, you submit a complete package of agreed-upon documents to the court for a judge’s review and approval. It streamlines the legal filing and mandatory waiting period, turning a potentially complex process into a simple, administrative step.

Filing the Consent Decree Package 

Once your Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) is fully drafted and signed, and the mandatory 60-day waiting period has passed, the Consent Decree package must be filed with the Arizona Superior Court. This package typically includes:

  • Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (or Joint Petition): This formally initiates the court process.
  • Signed Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA): Your comprehensive agreement on all issues.
  • Proposed Consent Decree of Dissolution: The document the judge will sign, legally ending your marriage and incorporating your MSA.
  • Other Required Documents: Such as a Sensitive Data Sheet and, if applicable, the Parenting Plan.

Judicial Review & Approval (Expedited for Consent Decrees)

Unlike litigation, where parties may need to attend multiple hearings, a Summary Consent Decree only requires a judge’s administrative review. The judge examines your submitted package to ensure:

  • All legal requirements have been met.
  • The agreement is fair and equitable to both parties.
  • Most importantly, if you have minor children, that the parenting plan and child support agreements are in their best interests.

A key benefit is that fully agreed-upon and e-filed Consent Decrees are often reviewed and signed much sooner. This expedited review means your divorce isn’t sitting in a long queue, waiting for a trial date.

Issuance of Divorce Decree

Once the judge has reviewed your agreements, they sign the Consent Decree of Dissolution. This signed document becomes your official Divorce Decree, legally ending your marriage. The date the decree is signed is the official date your marriage is dissolved.

Benefits of the Summary Consent Decree Process

Choosing the Summary Consent Decree process, made possible by successful mediation, offers numerous advantages:

  • Significantly Faster Finalization: By reaching full agreement outside of court, you avoid discovery battles, motions, and trial scheduling, which are the main causes of delay in a litigated divorce.
  • Reduced Legal Costs: Fewer court appearances and less attorney time spent on litigation translate directly into substantial cost savings.
  • Less Stress and Conflict: The process remains cooperative and private, preventing the emotional toll and adversarial nature often associated with court battles.
  • Predictable Timeline: With all agreements in place, the timeline for court approval becomes far more predictable, allowing you to plan your future with greater certainty.
  • Greater Control: You and your spouse, not a judge, maintain control over the terms of your divorce, ensuring the outcome reflects your family’s unique needs and priorities.

By utilizing the Summary Consent Decree process, divorce mediation truly delivers on its promise of a more efficient, peaceful, and cost-effective path to a new beginning.

Arizona divorce mediation timeline

Phase 3: Formalizing & Finalizing Your Agreement

This is the final stage where your mediated agreement gains legal authority.

Independent Attorney Review & Signing

It is highly encouraged that each party has their own independent attorney review the finalized MSA. Your attorney will provide legal advice and ensure the agreement protects your rights. Once reviewed and approved by both parties, the MSA is formally signed. This signed agreement is a contract between the parties, enforceable under Rule 69 of the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure.

Submitting the Consent Decree Package & Judicial Approval (After 60-day wait)

Once the 60-day waiting period has passed, the signed MSA, along with other required final divorce documents (such as a proposed Divorce Decree), is filed with the Arizona Superior Court. This is typically done as a Consent Decree of Dissolution (A.R.S. § 25-314.01), which is a streamlined process for cases where all issues are resolved by agreement.

A judge (or commissioner) will then review the entire package. Their role is to ensure the agreement is fair, legally sound, and, most importantly, in the best interests of any minor children.

Issuance of Divorce Decree

Once the judge approves the MSA, it is formally incorporated into the final Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (your official Divorce Decree). This is the court order that legally ends your marriage. A significant benefit of using the Consent Decree process for fully agreed-upon cases, particularly those e-filed in Maricopa County, is an expedited timeline.

Overall Timeline for Mediated Divorce in Arizona 

So, how long does divorce mediation take in Arizona from start to final decree?

For most spouses who resolve their issues through mediation and file an uncontested divorce:

  • The entire mediation process, from initial contact with a mediator to the signing of the Divorce Decree, typically takes 2 to 4 months. Once the decree is filed with the court, it can be signed by the judge anytime after the 60 day waiting period.

This contrasts sharply with divorce litigation, which can often take:

  • 6 to 18 months, or even years, depending on the level of conflict, court backlogs, and the complexity of the issues.

Mediation provides an efficient, fast Arizona divorce, while still ensuring a thorough and legally sound resolution.

Benefits of a Timely Divorce Resolution

Choosing a streamlined timeline through mediation offers substantial benefits:

  • Reduced Stress and Uncertainty: You’re not alone. Your mediator is there to support you both, every step of the way.
  • Lower Costs: Mediation saves spouses tens of thousands of dollars, avoiding sky-high retainers and hourly billing.
  • Faster Ability to Move Forward: You can begin your new chapter sooner, establishing new routines and finding stability for yourself and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Arizona Divorce Timeline

Q: Is the 60-day waiting period mandatory for all divorces in Arizona, even mediated ones? A: Yes, the 60-day waiting period is mandatory for all divorces in Arizona, regardless of whether they are mediated or litigated. No divorce can be finalized before this period ends.

Q: Can I start mediation before filing for divorce? A: Absolutely, and many spouses find this beneficial. Starting mediation first allows you to reach agreements in a private, less adversarial setting before initiating formal court proceedings, which can then proceed as an uncontested divorce.

Q: What if we don’t agree on everything in mediation? Does that make it take longer?

A: Even where there is significant disagreement, mediation is successful. Your expert mediator will help you communicate effectively and resolve even the most seemingly complex issues.

Q: Does filing for divorce first speed up the mediation timeline?

A: Filing the Petition for Dissolution starts the mandatory 60-day waiting period. If you start mediation after filing, you can use that 60-day period to reach your agreements. However, if additional time is needed to reach agreements, other filings may be needed to keep your case active while you complete the mediation process.

Ready to understand your Arizona divorce mediation timeline and take control of your process?

Contact Aurit Mediation today for a confidential consultation to see if mediation is right for you. Discover the benefits of a streamlined, peaceful divorce.

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