Arizona Divorce & Mediation Glossary

A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, used as evidence in Arizona family court proceedings.

Financial support paid by one spouse to another after divorce. In Arizona, this is officially called "Spousal Maintenance."

Methods of resolving disputes outside of court, including mediation, arbitration, and collaborative divorce.

State-mandated formula used to calculate child support obligations based on income, parenting time, and other factors.

Past-due or unpaid child support or spousal maintenance payments that accumulate over time.

The legal standard Arizona courts use when making decisions about legal decision-making and parenting time, focusing on the child's physical, emotional, and developmental needs.

Splitting a divorce case into separate parts, allowing the marital status to be dissolved before all other issues are resolved.

Regular financial payments from one parent to the other to help cover the costs of raising children after divorce, calculated using Arizona Child Support Guidelines.

A cooperative divorce process where both parties and their attorneys commit to resolving issues without going to court.

Arizona is a community property state, meaning assets and debts acquired during marriage are generally owned equally (50/50) by both spouses.

A divorce decree agreed upon by both parties and approved by the court, common in mediated divorces.

A divorce where spouses cannot agree on one or more key issues, requiring court intervention to resolve disputes.

A special type of marriage in Arizona that requires premarital counseling and has stricter divorce requirements.

A comprehensive assessment by a court-appointed professional to help determine appropriate legal decision-making and parenting time arrangements.

The final court order that officially ends a marriage in Arizona. This document includes all terms of the divorce settlement.

A court ruling in favor of one party when the other party fails to respond to divorce papers within the required time.

Sworn out-of-court testimony taken during the discovery phase of a divorce case, recorded for potential use at trial.

The pre-trial phase where both parties exchange information and documents relevant to the divorce case.

The legal term for divorce in Arizona. A dissolution of marriage ends the marital relationship.

A court order that allows retirement plan benefits to be divided between spouses as part of a divorce settlement.

When a child reaches legal adulthood or becomes self-supporting, ending the obligation for child support in Arizona.

While Arizona uses community property rules, courts may deviate for equitable reasons in specific circumstances.

A court order made at the request of one party without the other party being present, typically used in emergency situations.

The division of Arizona Superior Court that handles divorce, custody, child support, and other family law matters.

A sworn document detailing income, expenses, assets, and debts, required in Arizona divorce cases.

Legal process where child support or spousal maintenance payments are automatically deducted from a person's wages or bank account.

Divorce between couples over age 50, often involving complex retirement and asset division issues.

A court-appointed representative who advocates for the best interests of children during divorce proceedings.

Divorce cases characterized by significant disagreement, poor communication, and often requiring specialized mediation or court intervention.

The approach Arizona uses to calculate child support, based on the combined income of both parents.

Written questions that one party sends to the other during discovery, which must be answered under oath.

The legal ground for divorce in Arizona, meaning the marriage cannot be saved and should be dissolved.

When both parents share the authority to make major decisions about their children's education, healthcare, and religious upbringing.

A divorce petition filed by both spouses together, typically used in uncontested divorces.

Arizona's term for child custody - the legal authority to make major decisions about a child's welfare, education, healthcare, and religious upbringing.

A court-approved arrangement where spouses remain married but live apart with formalized agreements on property, support, and children.

A legal claim placed on property to secure payment of child support or spousal maintenance arrears.

Property and assets acquired during the marriage, subject to community property division in Arizona.

A collaborative process where a neutral third party helps divorcing spouses reach agreements on divorce terms without going to court.

A trained, neutral professional who facilitates communication and negotiation between divorcing spouses to reach mutually acceptable agreements.

A legal change to an existing court order for child support, spousal maintenance, or parenting time based on substantial changed circumstances.

Arizona's divorce system where neither spouse needs to prove wrongdoing - only that the marriage is irretrievably broken.

Terms in a divorce decree that cannot be changed later, typically property division and spousal maintenance duration (unless specified otherwise).

A professional appointed to help high-conflict divorced parents implement their parenting plan and resolve disputes.

A detailed written agreement outlining how divorced parents will share responsibilities and time with their children.

Arizona's term for the schedule of when each parent spends physical time with their children (formerly called "visitation").

The initial legal document filed with the court to start divorce proceedings in Arizona.

Legal matters and modifications that occur after the divorce decree is finalized.

Automatic court orders in Arizona that prevent both spouses from disposing of assets or changing insurance during divorce proceedings.

The process of dividing marital assets and debts between spouses, following Arizona's community property laws.

A court order that allows retirement plan assets to be divided between spouses without tax penalties.

Arizona requires at least one spouse to have lived in the state for 90 days before filing for divorce.

The document filed by the responding spouse answering the divorce petition, due within 20 days (or 30 days if out of state).

A court order protecting one party from harassment, abuse, or contact by the other party.

Pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement accounts subject to division in Arizona divorce as community property.

Assets owned before marriage or received as gifts/inheritance during marriage, generally not divided in Arizona divorce.

The legal procedure of officially delivering divorce papers to the other spouse, required to proceed with the divorce.

A written contract between divorcing spouses detailing all agreed-upon terms, incorporated into the final decree.

A meeting where parties and their attorneys attempt to resolve disputed issues before trial, often required by Arizona courts.

When one parent has exclusive authority to make major decisions about the child's welfare, awarded when joint decision-making isn't in the child's best interest.

Arizona's term for alimony - financial support one spouse pays to the other during or after divorce.

A court order requiring someone to provide testimony or documents relevant to the divorce case.

The legal standard required to modify child support, spousal maintenance, or parenting time orders in Arizona.

Court orders that establish temporary arrangements for support, custody, and property use during divorce proceedings.

Court hearing where a judge makes final decisions on disputed divorce issues when parties cannot reach agreement.

A divorce where both spouses agree on all major issues, allowing for a faster and less expensive process.

The specific times and dates each parent spends with the children, detailed in the parenting plan (now called "parenting time" in Arizona).

Arizona requires a 60-day waiting period from service of divorce papers before a divorce can be finalized.