In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependency and/or severance case.
Did you receive a letter? Visit the DCS letter page for more information.
How do I file for divorce in a covenant marriage?
A spouse of a covenant marriage may only file for divorce if the other spouse has done one of the following:
1. committed adultery
2. committed a serious crime and has been sentenced to death or imprisonment
3. abandoned or left the marital home for a period of over a year
4. committed physical or sexual abuse to the filing spouse, child or other family member who lives in the home
5. committed domestic violence or emotional abuse
6. lived separate and apart for over 2 years
7. spouse was granted a legal separation by the court and they have not gotten back together in year
8. regularly abuses drugs or alcohol
9. agreed to get a divorce
For more information about covenant marriages and divorce please read Arizona Revised Statute §25-903. You may also want to read the Covenant Marriage in Arizona brochure for more information; it explains extra information you would need to give the court about your case that might not be in the do-it-yourself forms.
Resources:
• Covenant Marriage in Arizona brochure