What This Statute Says
This is an access-to-justice provision. Free forms and free help from the court staff make it possible for spouses without lawyers or money to file a conciliation petition.
The clerk of the court shall provide, at the expense of the county, blank forms for petitions for filing pursuant to this article. The employees of the conciliation court shall assist any person in the preparation and presentation of any such petition when requested to do so.
A.R.S. § 25-381.12When This Statute Comes Into Play
The rule applies when:
- A self-represented spouse walks into the clerk's office asking how to file a conciliation petition.
- A petitioner needs help preparing the petition contents required by Section 25-381.11.
- A clerk or conciliation court staff member is unsure how much assistance to provide.
What This Means for Arizona Families
The Arizona Legislature deliberately made conciliation easy to access. Combined with the no-fee rule in the next section, this provision means cost is essentially never the reason a family fails to attempt reconciliation through the court.
Reconciliation is rare once a divorce filing is on the table, but the Court of Conciliation has helped many Arizona couples either repair the marriage or part on better terms. Either result has estate-planning consequences. Our FAQ on how divorce affects your Arizona estate plan covers the updates that follow a finalized dissolution; if you reconcile, the same plan needs a different review. The Arizona community property presumption and any premarital agreement the spouses signed both shape what is on the table during conciliation. An Arizona family law attorney working with an estate planning attorney can keep the two tracks coordinated regardless of which way the petition resolves.