How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Arizona? Filing Fees by County, Waivers and Deferrals
Arizona family law · Last reviewed November 2, 2026
Arizona's divorce fees start from a statewide base set by A.R.S. § 12-284, adjusted by the Supreme Court, and each county may add its own local fees. The petitioner pays to file the petition; the other spouse pays to file a response. So the same divorce costs different amounts in different counties.
The statewide schedule
The Supreme Court's superior court fee page lists the state fees in effect since December 28, 2024 (Administrative Order 2024-210). For domestic relations cases:
| Filing | Base fee | State add-ons | State total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petition for dissolution, legal separation or annulment | $176 | $85 (three state funds: $15, $5 and $65) | $261 |
| Response or initial appearance | $87 | $85 | $172 |
| Postadjudication petition (for example, to modify) | $87 | $15 | $102 |
| Order of protection | No charge |
The court's page warns that individual courts might add local fees, so check your county.
Maricopa and Pima counties
| Filing | Maricopa | Pima (from June 1, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Petition for dissolution (with or without children) | $376 | $436 |
| Response | $287 | $347 |
| Petition for legal separation | $376 | $436 |
| Response to legal separation | $287 | $347 |
| Summary consent petition and response | $331.50 | $566.50 |
| Parent education fee, when children are involved | Ask the clerk | $50 |
Maricopa's figures are from the Clerk of the Superior Court's filing fees page, which shows no effective date. Pima's are from the Clerk's fee schedule effective June 1, 2026, which adds $175 in local fees (including a $100 court automation fee) to each petition and response, and notes the $50 parent education fee under § 25-352. Other counties set their own amounts; ask your clerk.
Summary consent. By statute the summary consent fee is half of the combined petition and response fees, plus any county fees (§ 25-314.01(B)). You pay once, together.
Other costs
- Service. A sheriff or private process server charges for serving the petition. You avoid that if your spouse signs an acceptance of service, or in a summary consent case.
- Parent education. When you have minor children in common, the court orders both parents to complete a parent education program, unless an exception applies (§ 25-352). Each county runs its own program and sets the fee.
- Copies. Certified copies of the decree come from the clerk; see records.
- Lawyers and experts. In a contested case these often cost far more than the court fees. The court can order one spouse to pay a reasonable amount of the other's attorney fees after considering both spouses' financial resources and the reasonableness of the positions each took (§ 25-324).
If you can't pay: waiver or deferral
The Supreme Court's fee waiver page explains two kinds of help:
- Waiver: you don't have to pay the fees. Its example: a person who receives federal SSI benefits and files proof with the application.
- Deferral: a payment plan, or payment postponed. Its examples: someone receiving TANF or food stamp benefits, or help from a non-profit legal aid provider; or someone whose income is between 150% and 225% of the poverty level.
You apply on the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs (form AOCDFGF1F). It is a two-step process: when the case ends, you file a supplemental application (AOCDFGF9F), and the court decides whether to waive what was deferred. The rules on who qualifies are in § 12-302.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Arizona?
The state schedule's petition fee is $261. Counties add local fees: Maricopa charges $376 and Pima $436. The responding spouse pays a separate response fee: $172 on the state schedule, $287 in Maricopa and $347 in Pima.
Is the summary consent decree cheaper?
Usually. The statute sets its fee at half of the combined petition and response fees, plus county fees. In Maricopa that is $331.50, against $663 for a separate petition and response.
Do both spouses have to pay a filing fee?
In an ordinary case, yes: the petitioner pays to file the petition and the other spouse pays to file a response. If your spouse never responds, no response fee is paid. A summary consent filing has one combined fee.
Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in Arizona?
You can apply for a waiver or a deferral. Courts generally waive fees for people on SSI and defer them for people on TANF or food stamps or with low incomes; a deferral may later be waived when the case ends.
Is there an extra fee if we have children?
Pima adds a $50 parent education fee when children are involved. Elsewhere the parent education program charges its own fee; ask your county.