Rule 72.Family Law Master

Part VIII. Settlement and Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) · Last amended January 1, 2019 · Last verified September 4, 2026

In one sentenceRule 72 lets the parties stipulate to a family law master who takes evidence and files a report of findings and conclusions, subject to objection within 15 days and review by the court.

Full Text of Rule 72

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k)

(a) Appointment and Compensation.

(1) Appointment. If the parties stipulate in writing or on the record in open court, the court may appoint a family law master who is an attorney or other professional with education, experience, and special expertise regarding the particular issues to be referred to the master.

(2) Compensation. The court will determine the master's allowed compensation. The court will allocate the master's compensation among the parties, which will be treated as a taxable cost.

(3) Party Stipulation. The parties may stipulate to the appointment of a particular person to serve as a master and the amount of compensation, but before such a person may be appointed, the court must approve the appointment and, after reviewing the person's qualifications, the proposed compensation.

(b) Powers.

(1) Order of Appointment and Scope of Authority.

(A) Contents of Order. The order appointing a family law master must specify the particular issues referred to the master and must fix the time and place for beginning and closing any hearings and for filing the master's report.

(B) Scope of Authority. An appointment order may not direct a master to perform services within the scope of Rule 74 or to otherwise make decisions or recommendations concerning legal decision-making or parenting time. Other than these subjects, the master may determine any issues under A.R.S. Title 25 that could be presented to the assigned judge, including post-decree matters.

(2) Proceedings Before a Master.

(A) Generally. Subject to any limitations in the appointment order, the master may exercise the power to regulate all proceedings in every hearing before the master and may do all acts and take all measures necessary or proper for the efficient performance of the master's duties under the order.

(B) Discovery. The master may require the production of evidence on all matters included in the appointment order.

(C) Evidence Admissibility and Witness Testimony. The master may rule on the admissibility of evidence, unless otherwise directed by the appointment order, and has the authority to place witnesses under oath and examine them.

(D) Procedural and Evidentiary Rules. Unless the parties stipulate otherwise, these rules apply to all proceedings before the master.

(E) Record. If a party requests it, the master must make a record of the evidence offered and excluded in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as provided in Arizona Rule of Evidence 104 for a court sitting without a jury. The court must allocate the cost of creating the record among the parties, with allocated costs being treated as taxable costs.

(1) First Meeting. Upon receipt of an appointment order, the master must set a time and place for the first meeting of the parties or their attorneys. The first meeting should be held not later than 20 days after the appointment order is filed.

(2) Notice. The master must provide the parties reasonable notice of all meetings.

(3) Proceeding with Reasonable Diligence. In scheduling meetings and otherwise discharging the master's authority under the appointment order, the master must proceed with reasonable diligence.

(4) Failure to Appear. If a party fails to appear at a scheduled meeting, the master may proceed ex parte or, in the master's discretion, reschedule the meeting with notice to the parties.

(d) Witnesses. The parties may procure the attendance of witnesses before the master by serving subpoenas as provided in Rule 52. If a witness fails to appear or give evidence without adequate excuse, the court may hold the witness in contempt and order the sanctions and remedies provided in Rules 52 and 65.

(e) Report.

(1) Generally. The master must prepare a report on the matters submitted to the master by the appointment order, including requested findings of fact and conclusions of law concerning disputed issues. Before filing the report, a master may circulate a draft to the parties' counsel, or to any self-represented party, and solicit their comments and suggestions.

(2) Filing. The master must file the final report with the clerk. Unless the appointment order provides otherwise, the master also must file any transcript of the proceedings and the evidence and original exhibits submitted by the parties.

(3) Mailing. The master must mail a copy of the report to each of the parties on the same day the master files the report with the clerk.

(f) Objections.

(1) Procedure. A party may object to the master's report by filing a motion to modify or reject the master's report but must do so not later than 15 days after the master's report is mailed. Each objection must be stated with specificity and must reference the exhibits or portions of the record supporting the objection.

(2) Response and Further Briefing. Any response to an objection must be filed not later than 10 days after the objection is served. No further briefing may be filed without a prior court order authorizing it.

(g) Court Actions.

(1) If No Objection Is Made. If no objection is filed by either party, the master's report will become an order of the court, unless the court sets a hearing on a particular issue in the report within 10 days after the due date for filing an objection.

(2) If an Objection Is Made. If an objection is filed, the court may set oral argument on the objection, adopt the report, modify it, wholly or partly reject it, or receive further evidence. The court must hold a hearing or enter an order regarding the objection not later than 30 days after a response or later court-authorized brief is filed.

(h) Stipulation as to Findings. When the master is appointed, the parties may stipulate that a master's findings of fact will be final. If the parties have filed such a stipulation, the court may consider only questions of law arising from the master's report. Absent such a stipulation, the court may not reverse a finding of fact by the special master unless it is clearly erroneous, but it must review de novo the master's conclusions of law.

(i) Sanctions. The court may impose sanctions on any party or counsel in connection with proceedings before a master for conduct intended to harass another party or a witness, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation. The master also may make recommendations to the court for imposing sanctions under these rules, case law, or statute.

(j) Immunity. A family law master has immunity in accordance with Arizona law as to all acts taken under and consistent with the appointment order.

(k) Applicability. No county is required to employ or use family law masters, but these rules apply if a county does so.

End

Rule History

Added Aug. 30, 2018, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Editors' Notes

COMMENT TO 2017 AMENDMENT

The Court recognizes that in cases involving complex property or financial issues, appointment of a neutral expert witness may be helpful to the court in resolving these issues. A court may appoint a neutral expert witness to testify concerning these issues pursuant to Arizona Rule of Evidence 706 over a party's objection and at the parties' expense upon a showing that the parties can afford the expert without undue hardship.

Plain-English Summary

A family law master decides referred issues in the first instance and reports to the judge. The appointment is entirely consensual.

Appointment requires a stipulation

The court may appoint a master only if the parties stipulate in writing or on the record in open court. The master must be an attorney or other professional with education, experience and special expertise regarding the particular issues referred. The parties may stipulate to a specific person and to compensation, but the court must approve both after reviewing qualifications. Compensation is allocated among the parties and treated as a taxable cost.

What a master may and may not decide

The appointment order must specify the issues referred and fix the times for hearings and for filing the report. The scope limit is the important part: an order may not direct a master to perform services within the scope of Rule 74 or otherwise to make decisions or recommendations concerning legal decision-making or parenting time. Subject to that, the master may determine any Title 25 issue that could go to the assigned judge, including post-decree matters.

So a master is for property, debt, support and valuation. Parenting questions belong to the judge or to a Rule 74 parenting coordinator.

Powers and procedure

The master may regulate all proceedings, require production of evidence, rule on admissibility unless the order says otherwise, and place witnesses under oath and examine them. Unless the parties stipulate otherwise, these rules apply to proceedings before the master. On a party's request the master must make a record of evidence offered and excluded, as Arizona Rule of Evidence 104 provides for a court sitting without a jury, with the cost allocated as a taxable cost.

The first meeting should be held not later than 20 days after the appointment order is filed, on reasonable notice, and the master must proceed with reasonable diligence. If a party fails to appear, the master may proceed ex parte or reschedule. Witnesses are compelled by Rule 52 subpoena, and a witness who fails to appear without adequate excuse faces contempt and the remedies in Rules 52 and 65.

The report, and objecting to it

The report covers the referred matters including requested findings of fact and conclusions of law. A master may circulate a draft for comment before filing -- an unusual and practical provision. The final report is filed with the clerk, with any transcript, evidence and original exhibits, and mailed to the parties the same day.

An objection is a motion to modify or reject, filed not later than 15 days after the report is mailed, stated with specificity and referencing the supporting exhibits or portions of the record. A response is due within 10 days, and no further briefing is allowed without a court order.

What the court does

If no objection is filed, the report becomes an order of the court unless the court sets a hearing within 10 days after the objection deadline. If an objection is filed, the court may hear argument, adopt, modify, wholly or partly reject the report, or take further evidence -- and must hold a hearing or rule not later than 30 days after the response or last authorized brief.

The standard of review

Absent a stipulation, the court may not reverse a finding of fact unless it is clearly erroneous, but reviews conclusions of law de novo. The parties may additionally stipulate at appointment that the master's findings of fact will be final, leaving the court only questions of law.

The master has immunity for acts taken under and consistent with the appointment order, and may recommend sanctions. No county is required to use masters, but the rule governs if it does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the court appoint a family law master without our agreement?

No. Rule 72(a)(1) allows appointment only if the parties stipulate in writing or on the record in open court.

Can a master decide parenting time?

No. Rule 72(b)(1)(B) bars an appointment order from directing a master to perform services within the scope of Rule 74 or otherwise to make decisions or recommendations concerning legal decision-making or parenting time.

How long do I have to object to the master's report?

Rule 72(f)(1) requires a motion to modify or reject filed not later than 15 days after the report is mailed, stating each objection with specificity and referencing the supporting exhibits or portions of the record. A response is due within 10 days.

What happens if nobody objects?

Rule 72(g)(1) makes the report an order of the court, unless the court sets a hearing on a particular issue within 10 days after the due date for filing an objection.

How closely does the judge review the master's findings?

Rule 72(h) says that absent a stipulation the court may not reverse a finding of fact unless it is clearly erroneous, but must review the master's conclusions of law de novo. The parties may stipulate at appointment that findings of fact will be final.

Who pays the master?

Rule 72(a)(2) has the court determine the allowed compensation and allocate it among the parties, treated as a taxable cost.

Source & verification. Rule text, Rule History and Editors' Notes reproduced verbatim from the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure as published by the Arizona Supreme Court, current through amendments effective January 1, 2026. Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Arizona (Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 5). Last verified September 4, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: family law mastermaster's reportspecial masterobjection to reportclearly erroneousde novostipulationreferral