Getting married after a divorce differs from state to state, but when it comes to Arizona, the waiting period before recent law changes was usually one year. The clock starts ticking from the moment the date the divorce decree is issued by the court.
In many instances, the waiting period is a formality, providing the ex-spouses with a cooling-off period and as a way to ensure that the divorce is finalized before a new marriage can begin. Arizona’s one-year waiting period no longer applies to divorce cases. However, those who are considering a divorce should treat romantic relationships carefully during the divorce process.
It can affect their legal matters. An experienced divorce attorney can help you better understand your situation. Here is everything you need to know about getting married after a divorce in Arizona from a legal perspective:
Divorce Waiting Period in Arizona
The waiting period for getting remarried in Arizona after a divorce is no longer one year. Through recent family law changes, now you can remarry in Arizona after a 60-day waiting period.
In some instances, cases can take longer to settle regardless of their contested or uncontested status. If your divorce does not conclude within 60 days, it will be in the following 60 days. In other words, the longest waiting period you might have to endure while pursuing divorce can be between 90 and 120 days.
If spouses wish to reconcile, they can stop the divorce proceedings and seek counsel to strengthen their marriage by addressing the issues that led to the divorce in the first place.
Dating and Importance of Compliance With the Waiting Period
Dating is not prohibited by law during divorce proceedings, but it can still affect your case. For example, if you have children, then securing child custody might be more challenging, especially if your new romantic interest has a criminal background or substance abuse issues.
The judge will analyze the romantic partner in relation to their impact on the child and how much time they spend together. Child support is another aspect that you need to consider. Your child support benefits can be affected if you have a new partner during the divorce proceedings. You will either lose your child support benefits or receive a lower order.
Lastly, dating someone before your dissolution of marriage is completed can further complicate your case. It can arouse feelings of jealousy or betrayal in your former partner, which might motivate them to make the divorce harder in various ways, including not coming to an agreement related to property, child custody, and other issues.
This means that your divorce case will last longer, resulting in more expenses, fees, and hardship. Failure to adhere to the waiting period can invalidate your new marriage in certain situations.
Working With a Divorce Lawyer
Getting a divorce is never an easy decision. However, a divorce lawyer can help you understand the waiting period better, what you should and shouldn’t do in this period to not complicate your case, and understand your rights better.