NOTICE: Our LegalLearn phone line will be temporarily unavailable August 20th between the hours of 10:00AM and 12:00PM (Arizona time).

--> NOTICE: Maintenance will be conducted on AzLawHelp.org on December 6th between 8:00PM and 12:00AM. You may experience sporadic outages, we apologize for any incovenience.

APPLY FOR LEGAL HELP
Free or reduced fee legal help might be available for those that qualify. Click below or call 866-637-5341 to check eligibility.

Have You Ever Been Evicted? Have You Feared Eviction?
Participate in a Short Survey conducted by Stanford University to Help People—Make $10!

CRIME VICTIM NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Have you been a victim of a crime in Arizona? We'd like to hear from you. Take the survey:

ARIZONA CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS COMMUNITY SURVEY
Civil legal organizations in Arizona are seeking your input to increase their ability to meet the civil legal needs of Arizona's lower income residents. Please complete this survey to assist in improving civil legal services in Arizona.

NEED COURT HELP?
Looking for court forms or information about representing yourself in a court case? Visit AzCourtHelp:

APPLY FOR LEGAL HELP
Free or reduced fee legal help might be available for those that qualify. Click below or call 866-637-5341 to check eligibility.

Looking for court forms or information about representing yourself in a court case? Visit AzCourtHelp:

ARIZONA CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS COMMUNITY SURVEY
Civil legal organizations in Arizona are seeking your input to increase their ability to meet the civil legal needs of Arizona's lower income residents. Please complete this survey to assist in improving civil legal services in Arizona.

Civil legal organizations in Arizona are seeking your input to increase their ability to meet the civil legal needs of Arizona's lower income residents. Please complete this survey to assist in improving civil legal services in Arizona.

Divorce & Annulment Article

Covenant Marriage in Arizona

Covenant Marriage In Arizona

Presented by the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts, Court Services Division, Family Law Unit in accordance with A.R.S. § 25-906.

As of August 21, 1998, Arizona incorporated into statute a new type of marriage called "covenant marriage." (The law can be found in Sections 25-901 through 25-906 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.) This pamphlet describes what steps must be taken to enter into a covenant marriage. It also lists the limited reasons available for a legal separation or divorce for those in a covenant marriage. The pamphlet contains only general information. If you have questions about covenant marriage, please ask a member of the clergy, a marriage counselor or an attorney of your choice.

What is a Covenant Marriage?

The State Legislature has created a type of marriage in Arizona called "covenant marriage." It does not replace the kind of marriage already available. Instead it offers an additional option to couples who wish to marry. The covenant marriage differs both in the steps necessary to get married and the reasons why a legal separation or divorce may be granted by the court.

To enter into a covenant marriage, the couple first must have counseling (called "premarital counseling") from a member of the clergy or a marriage counselor. Then, when applying for a license to be married, both persons must show their intention to enter into a covenant marriage by signing a special statement (or "declaration") on the application form. In a covenant marriage, legal separation or divorce (in Arizona, a "dissolution of marriage") may be granted by the court only for specific reasons listed in state law. (See menu at top of page.)

Entering into a Covenant Marriage

To be married in Arizona, a woman and man legally qualified to marry must first get a marriage license. (Sections 25-101 and 25-102 of the Arizona Revised Statutes indicate who may legally marry.) To get a license, a written application must be filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court in any county of the state or with some justices of the peace, city clerks or town clerks. Call the Clerk of the Superior Court in your county for information on where to apply for a marriage license.

For a covenant marriage, certain information must be included in the marriage license application. By law (Section 25-901 of the Arizona Revised Statutes) a person must state their intention to enter into a covenant marriage. This statement (or "declaration:) must contain three things:

• A written statement, printed exactly as follows: A Covenant Marriage We solemnly declare that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman who agree to live together as husband and wife for as long as they both live. We have chosen each other carefully and have received premarital counseling on the nature, purposes and responsibilities of marriage. We understand that a covenant marriage is for life. If we experience marital difficulties, we commit ourselves to take all reasonable efforts to preserve our marriage, including marital counseling. With full knowledge of what this commitment means, we do declare that our marriage will be bound by Arizona law on covenant marriages and we promise to love, honor and care for one another as husband and wife for the rest of our lives.
• The signed and sworn statement of both people that they have received premarital counseling from a member of the clergy or from a marriage counselor. In premarital counseling, both people must be advised that a covenant marriage is a commitment for life. Premarital counseling also must include a discussion of the seriousness of covenant marriage, the requirement to seek marriage counseling if marital difficulties develop and the limited legal reasons available for ending the marriage by legal separation or divorce. The couple also must receive a copy of this pamphlet.
• The signatures of both parties witnessed by a court clerk. The parties must submit with the license application a sworn, notarized statement from the member of the clergy or marriage counselor who provided the premarital counseling. This statement must confirm that the parties were advised about the nature and purpose of a covenant marriage and the limited reasons for ending the marriage by legal separation or divorce. The counselor's statement also must show that a copy of this informational pamphlet was given to each person.

Covenant Marriage for Already Married Persons

People who are already married may change (or "convert") their marriage to a covenant marriage. In this situation, it is not necessary to have premarital counseling or to apply for a marriage license and go through a marriage ceremony. To convert a marriage, the married couple must:

• Pay a fee (prescribed in Section 12-284(A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes) to the Clerk of the Superior Court and present two things:
• Submit a written statement ("declaration") like the one printed for unmarried persons seeking a covenant marriage to the Clerk of the Superior Court;
• A sworn statement listing the names and social security numbers of both spouses and the date and place their marriage ceremony was performed.

Some courts have preprinted forms for married couples to complete. The Clerk of the Superior Court will file the documents and issue a certificate stating that the earlier marriage is converted to a covenant marriage. However, the process of converting a marriage will not legalize a marriage that was not properly entered into or that is prohibited by Arizona law.

The statements for conversion to a covenant marriage may be submitted to the Clerk of the Superior Court in any county of the state and to some justices of the peace, city clerks or town clerks. Call the Clerk of the Superior Court in your county for more information.

Limited Legal Reasons to Get a Divorce or Legal Separation

For a covenant marriage, the court can only grant a divorce ("dissolution of marriage" in Arizona) or a legal separation for certain, limited reasons. To get a divorce, any one of the following eight reasons must be proved to the court (these are listed in Section 25-903 of the Arizona Revised Statutes):

• The spouse against whom the divorce case is filed (the "Respondent") has committed adultery.
• The spouse against whom the the divorce case is filed (the "Respondent") has committed a serious crime ("felony") and has been sentenced to death or imprisonment.
• For at least one year before the divorce case is filed, the spouse against whom the divorce case is filed (the "Respondent") has been absent from ("abandoned") the home where the married couple resided and refuses to return. The law allows an exception. A person may file for divorce by claiming that the other spouse has left the home and is expected to stay away for the one-year period. If the spouse has not been away for one year when the court papers are filed, the divorce case will not be dismissed by the court. Instead the case will be put on hold until the one-year requirement is met. During this time, the court still may grant and enforce temporary orders for things like child support, parenting time (formerly known as "visitation") and spousal support (sometimes called "alimony" or "spousal maintenance").
• The spouse against whom the divorce case is filed (the "Respondent") either has (1) physically or sexually abused the other spouse, a child or a relative of either spouse who lives permanently in the married couple's home, or (2) committed domestic violence (defined in Section 13-3601 of the Arizona Revised Statutes) or emotional abuse.
• The spouses have been living separate and apart without getting back together for at least two straight years before the divorce case is filed. The law allows an exception. A person may file for divorce by claiming it is expected the spouses will be separated for the two-year period. If the spouses have not been separated for two years when the court papers are filed, the divorce case will not be dismissed. Instead the case will be put on hold until the two-year requirement is met.
• During the two-year period, the court may still grant and enforce temporary orders for things like child support, parenting time (formerly known as "visitation") and spousal support (sometimes called "alimony" or "spousal maintenance").
• The spouses already have been granted a legal separation by the court, and they have been living separate and apart without getting back together for at least one year from the date of the legal separation.
• The spouse against whom the divorce case is filed (the "Respondent") has regularly abused drugs or alcohol.
• The spouses both agree to a divorce.

The reasons for obtaining a legal separation differ somewhat, but also are limited. The court must have proof that any one of the following are true (these are listed in Section 25-904 of the Arizona Revised Statutes):

• The spouse against whom the legal separation case is filed (the "Respondent") has committed adultery.
• The spouse against whom the legal separation case is filed (the "Respondent") has committed a serious crime ("felony") and has been sentenced to death or imprisonment.
• For at least one year before the separation case is filed, the spouse against whom the legal separation case is filed (the "Respondent") has been absent from ("abandoned") the home where the married couple resided and refuses to return. The law allows an exception. A person may file for a legal separation by claiming that the other spouse has left the home and is expected to stay away for the one-year period. If the spouse has not been away for one year when the court papers are filed, the legal separation case will not be dismissed by the court. Instead the case will be put on hold until the one-year requirement is met. During the one-year period, the court still may grant and enforce temporary orders for things like child support, parenting time (formerly known as "visitation") and spousal support (sometimes called "alimony" or "spousal maintenance").
• The spouse against whom the legal separation case is filed (the "Respondent") either has (1) physically or sexually abused the other spouse, a child or a relative of either spouse who lives permanently in the married couple's home, or (2) committed domestic violence (defined in Section 13-3601 of the Arizona Revised Statutes) or emotional abuse.
• The spouses have been living separate and apart without getting back together for at least two straight years before the request for a legal separation is made to the court. The law allows an exception. A person may file for a legal separation by claiming it is expected the spouses will be separated for the two-year period. If the spouses have not been separated for two years when the court papers are filed, the legal separation case will not be dismissed by the court. Instead the case will be put on hold until the two-year requirement is met. During the two-year period, the court still may grant and enforce temporary orders for things like child support, parenting time (formerly known as "visitation") and spousal support (sometimes called "alimony" or "spousal maintenance").
• Regular abuse of alcohol or ill treatment of a spouse by the spouse against whom the legal separation case is filed (the "Respondent") makes living together intolerable.
• The spouse against whom the legal separation case is filed (the "Respondent") has regularly abused drugs or alcohol.

Clerks of the Superior Court

Apache County
70 West 3rd South
St. Johns, AZ 85936
(928) 337-7550

Cochise County
County Courthouse
Bisbee, AZ 85603
(520) 432-9364

Coconino County
200 N. San Francisco
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 779-6535

Gila County
1400 E. Ash
Globe, AZ 85501
(928) 425-3231

Graham County
800 Main St.
Safford, AZ 85546
(928) 428-3100

Greenlee County
County Courthouse
Clifton, AZ 85533
(928) 865-4242

La Paz County
1316 Kofa Ave., Suite 607
Parker, AZ 85344
(928) 669-6131

Maricopa County
201 W. Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 506-3676

Mohave County
County Courthouse
Kingman, AZ 86402-7000
(928) 753-0790

Navajo County
County Courthouse
Holbrook, AZ 86025
(928) 524-4188

Pima County
110 W. Congress
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 740-3201

Pinal County
County Courthouse
Florence, AZ 85232-2730
(520) 868-6296

Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Complex
2150 North Congress Drive
Nogales, AZ 85621
(520) 375-7700

Yavapai County
County Courthouse
Prescott, AZ 86301
(928) 771-3312

Yuma County
168 S. 2nd Ave.
Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 329-2164

© 2003 Arizona Supreme Court

On 10/10/06
said
what if ive been seperated for 15yrs and thought i was divorced and remarried

On 6/23/06
john said
i should do what i want

QUESTIONS

I had moved out of my house a year ago from my husband. I did not have the money to file for divorce until last week. As of the first of the year 2013 I have had a boyfriend and now my soon to be x is threatening me with adultery. Is this adultery if we have been separated for over a year?

My "ex" and i got a marriage license back in 2007. had a wedding ceremony but NEVER filed for the Marriage Certificate. Does that mean that we were never Legally Married?? We are now wanting a "divorce", we both agree on everything we just want to be returned to "single" status and i would like to change back to my maiden name. i would also like to marry again in the future. How do i go about getting my maiden name back if i was never legally married. can i remarry with out a "divorce decree" since we were never "legally" married?

I was married thru the Catholic Church. Got divorced thru the state 5 years ago, but have not gone thru the church to get the marriage annulled. Legally, do I need to do this before I remarry?

I got married in the US, but my spouse is a Korean citizen and never lived here, just visited. He went back to korea and got a divorce over there (mutual). Now he is legally divorced thru korean court and I have the official notarized court documents. Is it automatically accepted here in the USA? I am trying to get married again to someone else and want to make sure we are allowed to now.

My wife and I are separated and will file for divorce. She is refusing to let me see my girls who are 9 & 11. I am a good dad who does not do anything illegal, never committed domestic violence or other crime. Up to this point, I have raised and cared for my girls with the most love. It is killing me not to be able to see them. Can she keep them from me? What can be done until the divorce papers are filed? What are my rights?

My husband is having a adultery, can I report him and her to the police? Would they both prosecuted? She is also marriage in China.