Family Law Attorneys in Maricopa County, Arizona

Maricopa County is home to the largest family court system in Arizona, processing more divorce and child custody filings than the rest of the state combined. The Maricopa County Superior Court — Family Court Department operates from the downtown Phoenix complex (175 W Madison) plus East Valley regional facilities, with specialty calendars for high-conflict custody, child support enforcement, and domestic violence orders.

Arizona is a no-fault divorce state. The only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Residency: at least one spouse must have lived in Arizona for 90 days (ARS § 25-312). After filing, a 60-day mandatory waiting period applies before finalization (ARS § 25-329). Arizona is a community property state — assets and debts acquired during marriage are presumed jointly owned regardless of title. Spousal maintenance is discretionary, not automatic, under ARS § 25-319.

Arizona replaced the term "custody" with legal decision-making and parenting time under ARS § 25-403. Best-interests analysis weighs 11 statutory factors including domestic violence history (ARS § 25-403.03), substance abuse, false reporting, and which parent is more likely to allow contact with the other. Maricopa requires a mandatory parenting class for all divorcing parents with minor children.

Child support uses the Income Shares Model under the Arizona Child Support Guidelines (ARS § 25-320). Both parents' gross incomes combine; parenting time over 87 days/year triggers a parenting-time adjustment. Modifications require a 15% change in calculated support. The Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) enforces via wage garnishment, license suspension, passport denial, and contempt actions.

For domestic violence, ARS § 13-3601 broadly defines DV between current/former spouses, romantic partners, family members, and household residents. Orders of Protection (civil, ex parte) are available at any Maricopa court — Justice, Municipal, or Superior — and can include no-contact, exclusive use of residence, and firearms surrender. DV history triggers specific custody presumptions under ARS § 25-403.03.

→ Read the full Arizona family law guide for statute-cited coverage of divorce, custody/parenting time, child support, adoption, DV, prenuptials, paternity, and legal separation.