• The lawyer for the person seeking a divorce prepares and files a divorce petition in Superior Court.
• The other spouse (the respondent) is served with divorce papers. Usually, at this time the “community” is severed and is the point when community property is valued for purposes of division.
• After service of the petition, the respondent must file a response within 20 days if he or she lives and was served in Arizona. If the respondent lives and was served outside of Arizona, he or she has 30 days to file a response.
• After the key issues in the case are identified, the lawyers for the spouses will discuss areas of agreement and disagreement and may attempt to reach a negotiated solution. With the help of their attorneys the spouses may seek to resolve their differences through mediation or collaborative law.
• If the lawyers and spouses reach a full and final agreement on key issues such as child custody, visitation, property division and spousal maintenance, they can file a Consent Decree with the Court 60 days after service.
• If an agreement cannot be reached, the divorce is contested, and one or more hearings will be scheduled.

An uncontested divorce may take as little as 90 days. A contested divorce can take a year or longer to be resolved. Most contested divorces can be resolved through negotiation, mediation or collaborative law before a final trial.

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At DeShon Laraye Pullen PLC, we take an informative approach to divorce and family law. In a confidential consultation, we can explain the divorce process, discuss the issues in your case, answer your questions and recommend your best course of action. With this information, you will be able to make the best decision going forward.

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To discuss your case with an experienced Phoenix divorce attorney, contact DeShon Laraye Pullen PLC.