Arizona Divorce Checklist
Ending a marriage of 20 or more years is one of the most significant — and complex — legal and financial transitions you will ever face. In Arizona, a long-term marriage carries distinct legal weight: courts are far more likely to award spousal maintenance, often for an indefinite duration, and decades of intertwined finances mean that community property division — from retirement accounts and pensions to real estate and business interests — demands careful, thorough preparation. Arizona law (A.R.S. § 25-318 and § 25-319) provides specific frameworks for equitable property division and maintenance, but navigating them successfully starts with organization. This checklist is designed to guide you through every critical step of your Arizona dissolution of marriage, address the unique challenges of a long-term marriage, and help you protect your financial future with clarity and confidence.
Verify Arizona Residency Requirement*
Confirm Your Grounds: Irretrievable Breakdown*
Determine If You Have a Covenant Marriage*
Understand the 60-Day Waiting Period*
Consider Legal Separation as an Alternative
Collect All Tax Returns (Last 5–7 Years)*
Compile Complete Retirement Account Statements*
Locate All Pension Plan Documents & Benefit Statements*
Gather Real Estate Documents (Deeds, Mortgage Statements, HOA Records)*
Document All Bank, Investment & Brokerage Accounts*
List All Debts: Mortgages, Car Loans, Credit Cards, Student Loans*
Locate Life Insurance Policies and Annuities*
Retrieve Business Ownership Documents (If Applicable)
Assess Eligibility for Spousal Maintenance*
Document Your Standard of Living During the Marriage*
Understand the Duration of Maintenance for Long Marriages*
Research Social Security Benefit Eligibility*
Plan for Health Insurance Transition (COBRA & Alternatives)*
Consider Lump-Sum vs. Periodic Maintenance Payments
Hire a QDRO Specialist or Experienced Family Law Attorney*
Calculate the Community Property Portion of Each Retirement Account*
Address Military or Government Pension Division
Evaluate Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Elections
Decide Whether to Roll Over Your Share to an IRA
Create a Complete Inventory of All Community & Separate Property*
Obtain Professional Appraisals for Real Estate*
Decide on the Family Home: Sell, Buy Out, or Defer*
Value and Divide Business Interests
Address Separate Property Claims with Tracing Evidence
Review and Update Vehicle Titles & Registrations*
File the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage*
Serve Your Spouse and File Proof of Service*
Complete and Exchange Preliminary Injunction Compliance*
Complete Mandatory Financial Disclosure (Rule 49)*
Attend Mediation (Required in Most Arizona Counties)*
Draft and File a Comprehensive Consent Decree (If Uncontested)*
Prepare for Trial If Contested
Update All Beneficiary Designations Immediately*
Submit Approved QDROs to Retirement Plan Administrators*
Transfer Real Estate Titles via Quitclaim Deed*
Close or Refinance Joint Accounts and Credit Cards*
Create or Update Your Estate Plan*
Establish Your Independent Credit Profile*
Seek Financial Planning Guidance for Retirement*
Address Emotional Well-Being and Support Resources
Clarity Divorce guides you through the paperwork with official Arizona court forms, step-by-step instructions, and county-specific filing details. $299 flat fee.