In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependecy and/or severance case.
Did you receive a letter? Visit the DCS letter page for more information.
The Response
Likewise, if you are the Respondent filing a response, consider also filing a “counter-petition” to address any issues that your spouse may have failed to mention. Also, you do not need to follow the traditional “admit or deny” format for each paragraph of the Petition. You can instead “plead affirmatively” and tell the court what you want. This allows your Response to be understood without having the Petition read side by side. A respondent cannot ask for a default judgment on an initial divorce filing.
Contributing Attorney Writer: Billie Tarascio litigates family law and domestic violence cases at Modern Law.
Resources
Response Forms for Divorce with Children
Response Forms for a Divorce without Children