No one plans on needing to go through the divorce process, but if you do find yourself in that situation, there are some steps you need to take to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Meet residency requirements
In order to obtain a divorce in Arizona, you or your spouse must have lived here for at least three months (90 days) before you file. And if children are involved, you and the children must have resided here for at least six months prior to starting the divorce process.
Don’t place blame
Granted, in some situations, placing blame seems like it’s deserved, or even necessary. But you’ll save yourself a lot of angst by skipping over this if possible. The good news is that Arizona makes it easy by not requiring anyone to be at fault in order to have a request for divorce approved.
Get the help you need
Going through the process of filing for divorce is a stressful, emotional time for most people. So if you’re feeling this way, you’re perfectly normal. However, you don’t need to go through all this alone.
If you and your spouse can agree on things like support payments, custody arrangements, and other details that need to be hammered out, consider getting the affordable help of a legal document prep service to ensure you fill out the right paperwork, and do it correctly. If your case is complicated or you and your spouse can’t agree on anything, it may be advisable to consult with an attorney. Getting help will streamline the process, making it more efficient, less time-consuming, and much simpler.
File the right paperwork
To make your divorce official, there will be some paperwork you’ll have to attend to, such as the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. In all Arizona divorces, a special type of restraining order called a Preliminary Injunction will be issued. this sounds very adversarial at first, but its purpose is quite innocent and logical. It’s there to make sure neither you nor your spouse harass each other, sell jointly owned property, cancel existing insurance policies, or take your children out of state without permission.
A smooth divorce process is possible
If you know that a divorce is necessary, don’t let the fear of bureaucracy and paperwork keep you up at night. With the right help, it’s a straightforward undertaking, especially if you and your spouse can come to an agreement on important issues. You’ll need the right forms, time, and a bit of patience. But rest assured, it’ll all be resolved in good time.
