Family Court

Maricopa County Family Court handles legal matters that affect families and children, including divorce, legal separation, legal decision-making, parenting time, child support, spousal support, and related enforcement or modification proceedings. This article explains which court services apply to common family cases, where official forms and case information are available, how filing and court-supported resolution processes work, what parties may need to prepare, and which deadlines or procedural differences can cause problems if overlooked.

Family Court Services

The Family Department of the Maricopa County Superior Court is responsible for resolving family-related legal matters. Its work includes dissolution of marriage, legal separation, legal decision-making, parenting time, child and spousal support, conciliation services, and other proceedings involving existing family court orders.

The official Maricopa County Superior Court Family Department page is the central court source for these services. It also connects users with Family Court forms, child support information, alternative dispute resolution, protective-order information, digital evidence systems, default decree procedures, the Early Resolution Conference process, and Family Conference Center services.

Different parts of a family case may be handled by different court offices. The Family Department manages court proceedings and related programs, while the Clerk of the Superior Court receives filings and maintains court records. The Law Library Resource Center publishes court-approved forms and self-help materials. Knowing which office performs each function can prevent a party from sending paperwork, payments, or questions to the wrong place.

Common Family Case Types

Family Court cases vary considerably depending on the relationship between the parties, whether children are involved, and whether an existing court order already exists. The court's official forms are organized around those differences.

Divorce and legal separation

Arizona refers to divorce as a Dissolution of Marriage. The court provides separate filing materials for divorce with minor children and divorce without minor children, as well as separate packets for legal separation with or without minor children. Annulment forms are also available for qualifying cases without minor children.

The court states that a dissolution proceeding has a 60-day waiting period. The overall length and complexity of a case may also depend on issues involving children, property, debt, and the degree of agreement between the spouses.

Parties who have reached full agreement before filing may be able to use the Summary Consent Decree process. Other cases may conclude through a consent decree, a default procedure, an Early Resolution Conference, or further court proceedings.

Legal decision-making and parenting time

Arizona family court materials use the term legal decision-making for matters involving authority to make decisions for a child. Parenting time concerns when a child spends time with each parent. Court forms are available to establish these arrangements, modify existing orders, enforce parenting-time orders, and request mediation concerning legal decision-making or parenting time.

Cases involving paternity may combine several issues. Court packets are available to establish paternity together with legal decision-making, parenting time, and child support. Separate materials also exist for voluntary paternity and for establishing paternity of an adult.

Child and spousal support

Family Court can establish, modify, and enforce support orders. The available forms include materials for establishing child support, modifying support, enforcing support, requesting an income withholding order, changing an income withholding order, and stopping an income withholding order.

The court also provides child support worksheets, instructions for calculating child support, information about obtaining income information, and a spousal maintenance calculator. Parties should use the form packet that corresponds to the action they are actually requesting rather than assuming that an original support form can also be used for a later modification or enforcement case.

Family Court Forms

The official Family Court forms library maintained through the Law Library Resource Center organizes documents by court process. It includes packets for opening a case, requesting temporary orders, modifying existing orders, enforcing orders, registering out-of-state orders, and completing frequently used family filings.

Examples of available form categories include:

Divorce with or without minor children.
Legal separation with or without minor children.
Paternity, legal decision-making, parenting time, and child support.
Grandparent visitation.
Temporary orders before a decree.
Post-decree temporary orders concerning legal decision-making and parenting time.
Modification of legal decision-making, parenting time, and support.
Enforcement of support, parenting time, property division, and certain out-of-state custody orders.
Registration of foreign family support and custody-related orders.
Fee deferral or waiver requests.
Requests for a protected address.

The court warns that additional forms may be required for a particular process. Users should review the complete packet rather than downloading only an individual form that appears to match the case. Court forms also undergo continuing revision, so forms that were downloaded previously should be checked against the current court version before use.

Frequently used supporting documents include financial affidavits, disclosure statements, child support worksheets, resolution statements, parenting-related documents, sensitive-data cover sheets, motions, stipulations, and pretrial statements. The exact combination depends on the filing being made.

Filing Family Court Documents

The Clerk of the Superior Court receives filings for Superior Court cases. According to the Clerk's official filing information, documents may be filed online, by mail, or at filing counter locations. The Clerk provides separate filing resources by case type, including Family filing and civil, family, and probate eFiling.

Clerks can assist users with filing procedures but do not provide legal advice. A person filing without an attorney remains responsible for selecting the appropriate packet, completing the required documents, meeting service requirements, and responding to court orders and deadlines.

The Family Court forms page includes separate eFiling instructions for starting a new Family Court case and for filing into an existing case. That distinction matters because a new petition begins a court matter, while later motions, responses, notices, or other documents must be associated with the correct existing case.

Information to prepare

Required information varies by filing, but family court materials commonly involve identifying information about the parties, existing court orders, children affected by the case, financial information, and the specific relief requested from the court. Cases involving support may require wage information, pay stubs, insurance costs, childcare costs, and other financial documentation.

Users should also keep the court case number associated with an existing Family Court matter. A court case number is different from a child support payment identifier such as an AZCARES case number. Using one in place of the other can cause a document or payment to be associated incorrectly.

Online Case Information

Family Court case information can be reviewed through the Superior Court's public Family Court docket system. The system provides access to case information, court calendars, and minute entries.

Docket information may not reflect every change immediately. The court states that auditing can occur for up to 24 hours after information is added, and entry modifications may occur during that period. The system is also unavailable Tuesday through Saturday from 3:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Online docket information should not be confused with proof that a particular document was formally filed. The Clerk states that an original document bearing the Clerk of the Court filing stamp is the supporting proof of filing when a filing question or error must be substantiated.

Parties should read court minute entries and orders closely. These documents may state the date and location of a hearing, filing requirements, preparation instructions, or other steps that must be completed before the next court event.

Divorce Decrees and Defaults

A divorce case can proceed differently depending on whether the respondent files a written response. A default hearing may be available when the opposing party has not responded in writing and the applicable waiting periods and default procedures have been completed.

For a dissolution petition, the petitioner must serve the respondent within 120 days after filing. The court's default information states that a respondent living in Arizona generally has 20 days after service to respond, while a respondent living outside Arizona has 30 days. Different timing applies when service is completed by publication.

If no response is filed, the petitioner may file an Application and Affidavit of Default. A date-stamped copy must be mailed or hand-delivered to the other party on the day the Application and Affidavit of Default is filed. The petitioner must then wait 10 court days before a default hearing may become available.

Decree on Demand

Decree on Demand is a Family Department service for cases that have satisfied the applicable statutory waiting period and are otherwise ready for a default hearing. Before scheduling, the party must complete the Step 4 Default Decree packet and send the completed documents to the court for review. The Default Screening Checklist should also be completed and available when the hearing is scheduled.

For non-publication dissolution matters, the timing requirement is 60 days after service and 10 court days after filing the Application and Affidavit of Default, whichever date is later. Publication dissolution matters require 90 days after service and 10 court days after filing the Application and Affidavit for Default, whichever date is later.

At the hearing location, court staff review the paperwork and case file. When a correctable discrepancy is identified, the party may have an opportunity to address it before the hearing. Approved paperwork then proceeds to the courtroom.

Default hearing documents

The court identifies several documents that may be needed for a default hearing. The requirements depend on the relief requested and whether children are involved. Documents may include:

A completed Decree of Dissolution, Legal Separation, or Order of Annulment and required copies.

An Order of Assignment when spousal maintenance is requested.

A completed Judgment Data Sheet.

A Parent Information Program certificate when required and not already filed.

A signed Parenting Plan and required copies.

A completed Child Support Worksheet and required copies.

Wage information, pay stubs, childcare costs, insurance premiums, and other relevant financial information.

Copies of prior child support orders or children's birth certificates when applicable.

An addressed envelope with the required postage for the other party.

The relief requested in the proposed decree must match the relief requested in the petition. A party should not assume that a default permits new requests that were not contained in the original petition.

Early Resolution Conferences

An Early Resolution Conference, commonly called an ERC, is intended to help self-represented parties resolve as many issues as possible before a trial is scheduled. A Family Law Case Manager reviews the issues, assists the parties in working toward agreement, prepares paperwork, and can finalize agreements reached during the conference.

The court's Early Resolution Conference information states that an ERC is scheduled after a Response and response fee are filed. Both parties must attend. A person who fails to appear may be assessed a $100 no-show fee, and parties should plan for the conference to take approximately two to three hours.

Current ERCs are conducted virtually using Microsoft Teams under the cited administrative order. The Family Law Case Manager sends access information by email shortly before the conference. A party who cannot participate through the application may use the telephone number and access code supplied by the case manager.

ERC preparation requirements

The Resolution Statement attached to the Order to Appear must be completed and filed with the Clerk of Court. A copy must also be sent to the Family Law Case Manager and the other party five days before the conference.

If no Order of Protection is in effect, the court directs parties to discuss possible settlement terms before the conference and be prepared to address those proposals during the ERC.

A continuance request generally must be made at least two weeks before the scheduled conference. The request must include supporting documentation or the signatures of both parties. The court also recognizes that emergencies such as hospitalization, severe illness, or a death in the family may occur, and the Order to Appear provides additional instructions for those situations.

Child Support Modification

The Family Department provides both standard and simplified procedures for modifying child support. The appropriate path depends on the filing selected and what happens after service.

The court's child support modification information explains that under the standard process, filing a Petition to Modify Child Support results in an Order to Appear for a one-hour Family Court Conference Center conference followed by a 45-minute evidentiary hearing.

A Conference Officer reviews the case and attempts to help the parties reach agreement. If they agree, the terms are reduced to a written stipulation and signed by a Judicial Officer. If no agreement is reached, or if only part of the dispute is resolved, the parties proceed to the evidentiary hearing and receive a final order from the Judicial Officer.

Under the simplified process, the filing party serves the Petition to Modify Child Support on the other party. A person served in Arizona has 20 days from service to request a hearing. A person served outside Arizona has 30 days. The other party may also take no action. The filing party then waits for the court to issue a decision or set a hearing.

These response periods should not be confused with the separate response rules that apply when a new divorce petition is served, even when the number of days happens to be similar.

Support Enforcement Proceedings

The Family Conference Center supports proceedings involving establishment, modification, and enforcement of family support and parenting-time orders. Support Enforcement Court addresses existing child support or spousal support orders, arrears, medical insurance coverage, and unpaid uninsured medical expenses.

After a Petition to Enforce is filed, parties receive an Order to Appear for a one-hour conference followed by a 45-minute evidentiary hearing. A Conference Officer reviews the relevant records and attempts to obtain an agreement. When an agreement is reached, it is documented as a written stipulation and signed by a Judicial Officer.

The court may also order future compliance monitoring instead of requiring another enforcement petition. Such monitoring may continue for no more than 12 months. Cases involving repeated violations or substantial accumulated arrears may be referred to Accountability Court for longer-term monitoring.

Child Support Payments

Paying child support is separate from asking Family Court to establish, modify, or enforce an order. The Clerk of the Superior Court's Family Support Services Division processes support payments and handles certain payment inquiries.

The official child support payment information distinguishes IV-D cases from Non-IV-D cases. IV-D cases involve the state-run child support enforcement program, while Non-IV-D cases are privately maintained support cases that are not enforced through the state program.

The available payment method depends on the case type. Options described by the Clerk include online payments, phone payments for IV-D cases, mailed payments for both IV-D and Non-IV-D cases, and approved walk-in payment methods. A person mailing a payment is instructed to identify the AZCARES case number so the payment can be applied correctly.

For Non-IV-D cases, Family Support Services also researches payment issues such as lost payments, payments posted incorrectly, and purge payments. A payment problem should not be treated as the same issue as a request to modify the amount of support ordered by the court.

Conciliation and Mediation

Conciliation Services provides several court-related programs for married parties, parents, and families involved in legal decision-making and parenting-time disputes. The official Conciliation Services page explains the differences among conciliation conferences, parenting conferences, mediation, and parent education programs.

Petition for Conciliation

A Petition for Conciliation is available to married parties who are considering divorce or are already in the divorce process. A divorce case does not have to be pending before the petition is filed.

Once a Petition for Conciliation has been accepted, neither party may file for legal separation or dissolution for 60 days. If a dissolution or separation action was already filed, that case cannot advance until the 60-day period expires. Both spouses are required to attend the scheduled private and confidential conferences. The process is intended to support an informed decision about the marriage and does not force reconciliation.

Parenting conferences

A Parenting Conference may be ordered by a judge to assist the court in determining the best interests of children involved in a separation or divorce. The assigned Conciliator may consider residential arrangements, parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, areas of agreement, and disputed issues.

The service fee is $300 per person. The Conciliator may review Department of Child Safety records, law enforcement records, and other relevant information. The process may include joint and individual meetings with the parents, child interviews, or other interviews when the Conciliator considers them appropriate.

A written report is submitted to the court within 60 days or 14 days before a scheduled hearing. Because these parenting conferences are described as non-confidential, they should not be confused with the confidential conciliation conference available to married parties considering the future of their marriage.

Family Court mediation

Mediation focuses on helping parents develop arrangements for legal decision-making and parenting time after separation or divorce. It is encouraged and is often required in Family Court cases involving child-related disputes. The mediator does not pressure parents to agree, and mediation is not a substitute for legal advice.

Parent Education Requirements

The Parent Information Program is mandatory for parents involved in divorce, legal separation, or paternity cases when legal decision-making, parenting time, or child support is being determined. The program focuses on children's experiences during family changes.

The court states that the fee is no more than $50 per person, and the approved class provider files the completion certificate. A Parent Information Program certificate may also be required when preparing documents for a default hearing if it has not already been filed.

Separate from that program, the Parental Conflict Resolution Class is a four-hour court course for parents in high-conflict situations. The fee is $50, the parents must attend separate sessions, and payment is required five days before the class date.

Self-Represented Court Preparation

People may represent themselves in Family Court, but they remain responsible for following court rules, reading orders, preparing documents, and meeting deadlines. The court's self-representation guidance emphasizes professionalism, punctuality, politeness, and preparation.

Before a court appearance, a self-represented party should read every document received from the court from beginning to end. Court notices may contain the hearing time and location, filing requirements, instructions about what to prepare, and a list of materials to bring.

Parties appearing in person should plan for transportation, parking, and courthouse security. The court advises arriving on time because lateness can result in postponement. Electronic devices should be turned off or placed on silent during a hearing unless the court directs otherwise.

Preparation also includes bringing documents that may be needed during the appearance. In cases involving support or financial issues, that may include financial records specifically requested by the court. In default matters, it may include multiple copies of proposed orders, child support documents, parenting documents, and supporting financial records.

Common Filing Mistakes

Several avoidable errors can delay or complicate a Family Court matter. One of the most common is selecting a form based only on its title without reviewing the complete packet. A modification, enforcement proceeding, new petition, temporary-order request, and post-decree filing are separate processes and may require different documents.

Other problems include failing to serve the other party as required, overlooking response periods, using outdated forms, missing an ERC filing deadline, appearing without required financial records, or assuming an online docket entry is the same as formal proof of filing.

Parties should also keep separate identifiers straight. A Superior Court case number identifies the court proceeding. An AZCARES case number is used in the child support payment system. Payment processing, Family Court filing, and online docket access are connected to different functions and should not be treated as interchangeable systems.

Another mistake is assuming that a lack of agreement prevents a Family Conference Center proceeding from moving forward. In certain child support modification or enforcement proceedings, the conference is followed immediately by an evidentiary hearing when the dispute is not fully resolved, allowing a Judicial Officer to enter an order.

Default cases also require careful attention to timing. The absence of a response does not by itself mean that a final decree can be entered immediately. Service must be completed, the applicable response period must expire, the Application and Affidavit of Default must be filed and delivered to the other party, and the additional court-day waiting period must be satisfied.

Family Court Offices

Family Department
201 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 506-1561

Superior Court
Central Court Building, 201 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 506-3204

Law Library Resource Center
East Court Building, 101 W. Jefferson St., 1st Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 506-7353

Alternative Dispute Resolution
South Court Tower, 12th Floor, 12308A, 175 W. Madison Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 506-7884

Family Court FAQs

Can I ask for more time to serve the other party?

Yes. Maricopa County Superior Court publishes a Motion for More Time to Serve the Other Party for situations in which additional time may be needed to complete service. Filing the motion does not automatically extend the deadline; the court must decide the request. Review the current version and instructions in the official Family Court forms library, and file the request early enough for the court to consider it before the applicable service deadline. Keep copies of documents showing any efforts already made to complete service in case that information is relevant to the request.

What can I do if my Family Court case was dismissed?

The court provides a Motion to Reinstate Dismissed Case with instructions. Reinstatement is not automatic, so parties should first review the dismissal order or minute entry to determine why the case was dismissed and whether the court identified a deadline or missing requirement. The correct next step may depend on the circumstances that caused the dismissal. Current case activity and minute entries can be checked through the court's public Family Court docket.

Can I keep my home address private in court filings?

Maricopa County provides a Request for Protected Address form for Family Court matters, along with a separate protected-address form specifically for eFiling. A party who has safety or privacy concerns should use the appropriate court procedure rather than simply leaving required address information blank. Because Family Court forms are continually revised, download the current version shortly before filing instead of relying on a previously saved copy.

How do I change my name or address on an existing case?

The court's frequently used Family Court forms include a form for updating a name or address with the court. Updating court records is important because notices, orders, and other case-related documents may depend on the information maintained for the case. If you are filing the update electronically, follow the procedures for an existing Family Court case rather than the instructions for opening a new matter. The Clerk of the Superior Court confirms that Family Court documents may be submitted through approved filing methods, including electronic filing where available.