Frequently Asked Questions

General

An uncontested divorce is a divorce where both parties agree on all the issues before you start your court case. You and your spouse might negotiate by yourselves or you might work with a mediator to reach your agreements. Either way, you’re able to prepare your legal documents and submit them to the court for judge approval without having to go to any court hearings. You may prepare the documents on your own or with the help of a legal document preparer, legal paraprofessional, or attorney.

Working with Professionals

Professionals help with divorce in a couple of ways. You and your spouse may hire a mediator, who may or may not be an attorney, to help you reach agreements together. Another option is for you and/or your spouse to each hire an attorney or legal paraprofessional to help you litigate your divorce.

Mediators

Mediators are third-party neutrals who act like referees for your divorce. They guide your dialogue and provide information to help clarify various issues. Even if they’re a licensed attorney (which isn’t a requirement to mediate in Arizona), they do not represent either party. Instead, mediators help facilitate your divorce by overseeing your negotiations. Your divorce generally costs less because you and your spouse share the cost of the mediator, who usually charges similar hourly rates to an attorney. Further, in choosing mediation, you’re agreeing to sit down and work together to reach your own agreements.

Attorneys

In contrast, one party hires an attorney to represent their own interests. This means that your attorney looks out only for you and not your spouse (and vice versa). It also means you’ll litigate your divorce in court. And, if you and your spouse are unable to reach all agreements, you’ll need to go to trial. This will increase the cost of your divorce because you and your spouse must each pay your respective attorneys. Plus, the more you and your spouse fight and drag out the proceedings, the higher that cost soars.

Legal Paraprofessionals

Legal paraprofessionals are licensed to provide legal services in limited practice areas and are akin to nurse practitioners. They must get licensed in each specific area they wish to practice. The limited practice areas include: family law, limited jurisdiction civil, criminal law, and state administrative law. Like an attorney, a legal paraprofessional is hired by one party to represent that party’s interests during litigation. Unlike legal document preparers (see below), legal paraprofessionals can give legal advice. Legal paraprofessionals are generally more cost effective than hiring an attorney because they are only licensed in the specific area(s) of their choosing within the limited practice areas. Importantly, family law legal paraprofessionals cannot assist with: (1) preparing a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) and supplemental orders dividing retirement assets, (2) dividing or conveying formal business entities or commercial property, or (3) appealing to the court of appeals or supreme court.

Representing Yourself

You may choose to represent yourself if you don’t need or can’t afford an attorney. However, if you need limited assistance, you might consider representing yourself with the help of a legal document preparer.

Representing Yourself without Help

Lastly, if you choose to represent yourself (called a pro per or pro se litigant), you might save money, but you may be in a worse position overall. This is especially true if your spouse hires an attorney. Importantly, people who represent themselves are held to the same standard as an attorney. Even if both you and your spouse represent yourselves, you may not be aware of nuances in the law that could offer better solutions for your specific circumstances. Therefore, it’s important for you to weigh the costs and benefits of saving money upfront by representing yourself versus hiring a professional to assist you and help ensure the best solutions are reached for your family’s circumstances.

Legal Document Preparer

If you represent yourself, you might use a legal document preparer. A legal document preparer is an independent paralegal who has been certified by Arizona to prepare legal documents without the supervision of an attorney. They are very knowledgeable about Arizona law and the court requirements for legal documents. Importantly, they cannot give legal advice because they aren’t licensed attorneys or legal paraprofessionals. Legal document preparers provide information on the law, but they ultimately draft exactly what you tell them to draft. Hiring a legal document preparer can be a cost-effective option if you only need help formalizing your legal documents. However, because they’re drafting what you tell them to, you have less assurance whether your agreements will be approved by the court.

No, I do not offer payment plans. All services must be paid at the time of purchase, except for Navigate & Thrive subscriptions, which are paid monthly.

Services are available throughout Arizona. All consultations and sessions are conducted virtually for your convenience.

You can schedule your individual screening for the Readiness Consultation or your True North Consultation here. For all other appointments, you’ll receive access to my online scheduling system after signing up for services.

No. My services are designed to support you in two ways: through mediation, where I help couples work together to reach agreements outside of court, or through coaching, where I provide guidance while you represent yourself in court.

While I don’t provide in-court representation, I can help you understand procedures, prepare documents, and develop strategies for either path⁠⁠​.

Full representation isn’t always necessary or cost-effective for every situation. These services provide professional guidance while allowing you to maintain control of your case and manage costs. You can make informed decisions about when attorney involvement might be beneficial.

By choosing either mediation or coaching, you can manage costs effectively while getting professional support.

With mediation, couples work together to reach agreements efficiently, allowing you to invest in constructive negotiations rather than expensive court battles.

With coaching, you’ll understand the process and your options clearly, allowing you to make informed decisions about which aspects you can handle independently.

Mediation

  • Mediation is LESS EXPENSIVE and FASTER than going to trial.
  • Mediation allows you to OWN YOUR OUTCOME during a divorce or separation.
  • Mind Your Manners Mediation offers both legal and psychological expertise.

Litigation is a fight where one party “wins” and the other party “loses.” However, if you choose to mediate instead, you get to reach your own agreements. This takes place outside of court and without going to trial, where a judge will make decisions for you. Unlike judges, mediators are third-party neutrals who help referee your negotiations.

There’s no definitive answer because the parties set the pace of mediation. Therefore, mediation can easily take as little as a few hours in a single session or a few months across multiple sessions. This can depend on how quickly you and your spouse reach agreements on all the issues you’re looking to mediate. It might also depend on how frequently you and your spouse schedule subsequent sessions.

Importantly, Arizona has a mandatory 60-day waiting period before a divorce can be granted. The 60 days begin upon service of your Petition for Dissolution or, if using the court’s summary consent decree process, upon filing your Petition and Response for Dissolution. This mandatory waiting period applies in all situations. No Arizona divorce will be finalized until that 60-day period is over.

Of course, setting your own pace also means that if you need to slow down the process for any reason, you easily can. Some common reasons include accommodating schedules, testing potential agreements, and stepping back temporarily to lessen the tension around any impasses that may arise.

Further, slowing down your mediation doesn’t necessarily mean your divorce will take longer than litigating. Litigating a divorce can easily take upwards of a year or longer. Often, litigation can be drawn out by how much you and your spouse are fighting versus agreeing. Additionally, you’re at the mercy of the court’s busy calendar for when each hearing is scheduled throughout the litigation process.

The process can vary slightly from one mediation firm to another. This is a general overview of what to expect from all family mediations.

You and your spouse will each need to state which issue(s) brought you to mediation and provide your current positions on each issue. This gives the mediator a first look at how close together or far apart you and your spouse are on the various issues. Because mediation is a transparent process, you’ll also each be required to disclose certain information and documentation.

The mediator acts as an impartial third party who oversees your negotiations. This may involve clarifying the law and/or helping you and your spouse see the bigger picture. There may be times where the mediator holds a private meeting, called a caucus, with one party. Generally, caucuses remains confidential unless the parties agree otherwise. However, if the information is substantively necessary for the process to continue, that information will not remain confidential.

At the end of mediation, your mediator will formalize your agreements by drafting the appropriate document(s) for you to sign. The specific document(s) drafted will be based on the progress made and/or your goal for mediation (e.g., the entire divorce/separation or only specific issues).

Each party meets privately for a confidential 30-minute domestic violence screening to assess safety concerns and determine suitability for mediation. Both screenings must be completed before proceeding to a joint consultation.

Yes, mediation is voluntary and requires both parties’ participation. However, you can schedule your individual screening before the other party agrees.

It mostly depends if you can reach agreements on all the issues relevant to your divorce / separation. If you and your partner can reach full agreements, you generally won’t have to go to court.

  1. You control your own outcome.
  2. The goal is resolution instead of fighting with a win / lose mentality.
  3. You avoid unpredictable outcomes.
  4. Mediation is more cost-efficient than litigation.
  5. Mediation allows you to proceed at your own pace.
  6. You improve communication and preserve relationships.
  7. There is less stress because there is no judge or formal court proceedings.
  8. You get to tell your story and be heard.
  9. You maintain your privacy.

True North Consultation

Explore my comprehensive guide to understand how these services work together to support your legal journey. Click here to learn more.

A True North Consultation is a 60-minute strategy session focused on helping you understand your legal options and develop a clear path forward for your family law matter.

Prior to your consultation, you’ll receive an intake questionnaire to complete. While documents aren’t required, you may provide any relevant court orders, legal documents, or a list of specific questions you’d like to address.

No. The True North Consultation is a one-time strategy session where I guide you through understanding your legal options. While I do not provide court representation, after a consultation you can access document review, communication support, legal research, and court forms guidance services. You can also subscribe to Navigate & Thrive for ongoing DIY support with additional coaching sessions as needed.

Navigate & Thrive Subscriptions

Essential includes:

  • Up to 15 legal questions monthly
  • One 30-minute check-in call
  • Basic guidance on court procedures

Complete includes:

  • Up to 20 legal questions monthly
  • Two 60-minute coaching sessions
  • Step-by-step guidance
  • Detailed guidance on document preparation, communication strategies, and procedural requirements

Monthly question allowances do not roll over to the following month.

Questions are submitted through a secure client portal. You’ll receive access and instructions upon subscribing.

  • Information on court procedures, rules, and statutes
  • Help understanding terminology
  • Tips for organizing documentation and information
  • General advice for communicating with your spouse/opposing party
  • Guidance on court deadlines and obligations
  • When and how to engage other, relevant professionals
  • Help with specific items in a court form
  • Assistance identifying a document’s type, general purpose, or key terms

Yes! You can switch plans at any time. Just cancel your current subscription through your account; you’ll keep access until the end of your current billing period. Then, you can sign up for the other subscription level whenever you’re ready.

The Complete tier is recommended for those seeking at least 3–6 months of support to ensure the best guidance through key phases of your case.

Add-On Services

Discover specialized services designed to provide targeted assistance for specific aspects of your case. Click here to explore available add-on services.

Add-on services provide targeted support for specific needs. Whether you’re a Navigate & Thrive subscriber or have completed a True North Consultation, we can discuss which services best fit your situation.

Yes. After completing a True North Consultation, you can access document review, communication support, legal research, and court forms guidance services. Only additional coaching sessions require an active Navigate & Thrive subscription.

Turnaround times vary by service:

  • Document Review: 2-3 business days
  • Communication Support: 1-2 business days
  • Court Forms Guidance: Initial guidance call scheduled within 2 business days, with follow-up review within 3 business days of document submission
  • Additional Coaching: Scheduled within 3 business days of request
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