Waht is meant by a consent decree, how is it done and how long does it take??

A "Consent Decree" is the final divorce papers that both parties sign at the end of their case when they have reached full agreements on all issues. When the judge signs the Consent Decree (generally 2-3 weeks after the parties submit it), the divorce is final. The Consent Decree, however, is the end of the process. An uncontested divorce can take as little as 60-90 days to complete. The first step is for one of the parties (the Petitioner) to file a Petition giving the court information about the parties, their assets and debts, and any agreements the parties have reached. The Maricopa County Superior Court charges a filing fee of $321 (subject to change). Once the Petition is filed, the papers need to be "served" to the other party (the Respondent). In an uncontested divorce, this is generally done by having the Respondent sign an Acceptance of Service. The clock on the divorce starts running once the papers are served, and there is a minimum 60-day waiting period between service and filing the Consent Decree. The Respondent has the option to file a Response within 20 days after being served (30 days if served out of state). There is a filing fee of $256 for the Response. If full agreements are reached on all issues, the parties can submit their Consent Decree after 60 days have passed since the date of service. Although this process can be completed without an attorney, it is a good idea to speak with an attorney about any questions you might have, since the court staff is not permitted to provide legal advice. If you choose to file on your own (without an attorney), you can obtain the forms and instructions from the court's website: www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov, self-service center, forms, family law forms. ** This is intended to be general advice only, and does not constitute legal advice or establish an attorney client relationship **