Arizona
Divorce, lawyers, and free legal help in Arizona — verified against official sources.
How divorce filing works in Arizona
Arizona's courts run a family law self-service hub with official forms for filing in Superior Court. Start there before anything else.
Arizona Courts — Family Law Self-Service
The official starting point: family law information and official court forms.
azcourts.gov — family law →Find a divorce lawyer
State Bar of Arizona — Find an Attorney
The Bar's directory plus county referral services (the Bar itself doesn't make referrals). Maricopa County Bar: 602-257-4434 ($50/30 min). Pima County Bar: 520-623-4625 ($35/30 min).
azbar.org — find an attorney →New to hiring a lawyer? Read Start Here first — it covers what to ask and what to bring.
Free or low-cost legal help
AZLawHelp.org
Arizona's statewide legal-aid gateway, with a free/reduced-fee eligibility check. Intake: 866-637-5341.
azlawhelp.org →Report Child Abuse or Neglect
Call 1-888-767-2445 (1-888-SOS-CHILD) — 24/7. The public should call; online reporting is for mandated reporters only.
dcs.az.gov — child abuse hotline →Arizona Homeowner Assistance Fund
Run by the AZ Dept. of Housing: pays mortgage delinquencies and reinstatement for qualifying homeowners. Check housing.az.gov for current availability and eligibility.
Call 211
Free, confidential referrals to local help. Dial 211 from any phone.
211.org →Unpaid wages in Arizona
Your boss owes you pay and won't hand it over? Here's where to file and how long you have in Arizona.
Where to go
Industrial Commission of Arizona, Labor Department
Time limit to file
1 year
What the floor is
$15.15 (2026)
Changing your name in Arizona
Whether it's marriage, divorce, or just time for a fresh start — here's the process in Arizona.
How it works
petition the superior court
Typical court fee
varies by county — check your local court
Newspaper notice required?
unverified
Small claims court in Arizona
Suing someone without a lawyer, for smaller amounts, in a simpler court. Here's how it works in Arizona.
Maximum claim
$5,000 (raised from $3,500 by SB 1022, signed May 2025)
Filing fee
about $30–$50 depending on county
Can you bring one?
no — attorneys may not appear in small claims
Clearing your criminal record in Arizona
Expungement or sealing can hide eligible arrests and convictions from background checks. Here's where Arizona stands.
Can records be cleared?
yes — sealing (and marijuana expungement)
What qualifies
misdemeanors and most felonies; non-conviction records; certain marijuana offenses
Waiting period
2–10 years depending on offense (30 days for non-convictions)
Child support in Arizona
How child support gets calculated — and when it ends — in Arizona.
How it's figured
income shares Arizona Child Support Guidelines and online calculator on azcourts.gov; guidelines in A.R.S. section 25-320
When it ends
age 18, or high school graduation or age 19 if still in high school
Lemon law in Arizona
Bought a new car that's constantly in the shop? Arizona's lemon law may get you a refund or a replacement.
Which vehicles qualify
new vehicles primarily; limited used-car protection (15 days or 500 miles after purchase)
When it's legally a lemon
4+ repair attempts of the same problem or 30+ days out of service within 2 years or 24,000 miles
What you get
replacement vehicle or full refund of purchase price
Tenant rights in Arizona
Renting comes with rights most people never hear about until something goes wrong. Here are the key ones in Arizona.
Notice before eviction
30 days to end month-to-month; 5 days to pay or quit for nonpayment
Deposit limits & return
Max 1.5 months' rent; return within 14 days (excluding weekends/holidays) with an itemized list
When the landlord won't fix things
May repair and deduct after 10 days' written notice for minor defects, capped at $300 or half a month's rent (whichever is greater)
DUI / DWI in Arizona
Driving under the influence carries some of the stiffest penalties in everyday law. Here's how Arizona handles it.
Blood alcohol (BAC) limit
0.08; extreme DUI at 0.15, super extreme DUI at 0.20
Typical penalties
Minimum 10 days jail (9 days can be suspended), $1,250+ fine, 90-day license suspension
How far back DUIs count
7 years
Gun laws in Arizona
Gun laws vary a lot from state to state — what's perfectly legal in one state can be a crime in another. Here's the big picture for this state. Laws change often, so double-check anything before you act.
Carrying a concealed handgun
Permitless carry for 21+ since 2010; shall-issue permit still available
Carrying openly
Generally allowed (18+)
Background checks & waiting periods
Private sales: Not required No waiting period.
Extreme risk protection
No red flag law on the books here.
Reciprocity
Recognizes all valid out-of-state permits (holder must be 21+)
Filming the police: your rights in Arizona
Federal appeals courts across the country have recognized a First Amendment right to photograph and record police officers performing their official duties in public. The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on it directly. The right does not protect interfering with officers, trespassing, or breaking other laws while you record.
One-party consent
If you are part of a conversation, you may record it — including with police. (A.R.S. § 13-3005)
Buffer-zone law — in effect
8-foot buffer law (HB 2319) struck down permanently — not in effect
The 2022 law that made it a misdemeanor to film police within 8 feet was permanently blocked by a federal judge in July 2023 as unconstitutional; the state declined to defend it. The 9th Circuit's Fordyce v. City of Seattle also protects filming police in public.
Drug & alcohol addiction help in Arizona
Addiction is a health issue, and help is out there — including court programs that can send people to treatment instead of jail. No insurance needed to call.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential referrals to treatment — call 1-800-662-4357 (English & Spanish).
Human trafficking victims in Arizona
If you or someone you know is being forced to work or forced into sex against their will, you are a victim of a crime and help is available — immigration status does not matter.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 — free, confidential, for victims and anyone who suspects trafficking.
Bullying in Arizona
Every state has an anti-bullying law, and every school must have a plan. If your child is being bullied, document what happens and report it in writing to the school — and know what your state’s law requires.
Homelessness help in Arizona
If you are homeless or at risk of losing your housing, help is close by. Shelters, food, health care, and long-term housing programs exist in every community.
211 homeless services
Dial 211 and press 6 for homeless services in your area.
VA homeless veterans
Homeless veterans: call the VA National Call Center at 1-877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET), 24/7.
Deed fraud & squatters in Arizona
Thieves can forge a deed to steal your home’s title — many counties offer free recording alerts that notify you if anything is filed against your property. And if someone is living in your property without permission, your state has specific rules for removing them: you generally cannot just change the locks.
FBI: protect your property from deed fraud
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center alert on parcel-owner impersonation →