Family Law Support Services
Navigating the Family Court system in Arizona can often be a confusing and intimidating experience. At Fresh Start, we strive to help women effectively advocate for themselves and their children in Family Court. Our Family Law Support staff is here to educate you about Arizona’s domestic relations laws and help prepare you for court. We offer group legal information sessions, seminars, and divorce document preparation workshops. Our Certified Legal Document Preparer can prepare family court documents for $20 per session. Legal classes cost $5 each. Fresh Start staff cannot provide legal advice on individual cases.
How Can We Help?
Legal Information Sessions
All Legal Information Sessions cost $5 each and do not require registration. You must arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the session to complete required paperwork. Anyone arriving after the start of the session will not be admitted. You must attend a Legal Information Session before making an appointment with the Certified Legal Document Preparer.
Document Prepation
Document preparation services are provided by Certified Legal Document Preparers. Before women can obtain an appointment for document preparation, they first must attend a legal information session so that they have basic understanding of the relevant family laws and court procedures. Although typically women begin to receive document preparation services at the beginning of their family court matter, this service is available at any point during a woman’s court case. When women receive document preparation services, they not only have their documents prepared, but the Certified Legal Document Preparer provides them with information about the family laws and guides them through the family court process. Document preparation appointments are available to English- and Spanish-speaking women throughout the week.
Workshops
Divorce Forms Workshops
Legal Professionals are available to instruct you how to complete the Maricopa County divorce forms. You must register in advance to attend Divorce Forms Workshops by phone at (602) 252-8494 or online. See Workshops and Seminars for upcoming dates. No late arrivals will be admitted. ($5 per session)
You must bring your own set of forms to the workshops. The forms required for the workshop are available below for you to print and bring with you.
Divorce Forms, Packets 1 and 2* (Petition and Service*)
Packet 1 - Divorce With Children - Petition.pdf
Packet 1 - Divorce Without Children - Petition.pdf
*Information on Packet 2 will be provided in the workshop.
Divorce Forms, Packet 3 (Response)
Packet 3 - Divorce With Children - Response.pdf
Packet 3 - Divorce Without Children - Response.pdf
Divorce Forms, Packets 3 and 4 (Default and Decree)
Packet 3 - How to Get a Default Hearing in Cases with Children.pdf
Packet 3 - How to Get a Default Hearing in Cases without Children.pdf
Packet 4 - Divorce With Children - Final Decree.pdf
Packet 4 - Divorce Without Children - Final Decree.pdf
Self Directed Center for Family Law Matters (Coming Soon!)
The Self-Directed Center provides women with the resources to research their family law issue and the tools to complete their family court documents. At the Center a woman can learn more about the family laws affecting her case by reading pamphlets on special legal topics, and by doing research on the Maricopa County Family Court website. Women also can use the Center’s computers to draft their family court documents. To provide women with additional guidance in completing their documents, Certified Legal Document Preparers offer legal forms sessions at the Center.
Volunteers
Attorney – Presenter
Family Law Support Services is in need of volunteer attorneys who wish to teach classes on specific family law topics, including divorce, custody, child support, guardianship and grandparents’ rights. Presenters must be available to teach at least twice per catalog season. Attorneys wishing to teach at Fresh Start must have a minimum of 3 years family law experience, currently be licensed to practice in Arizona and be in good standing with the Arizona State Bar.
Certified Legal Document Preparer (CLDP) - Presenter
Family Law Support Services is in need of volunteer CLDPs who wish to conduct workshops on how to complete the family court documents from the Maricopa County Court’s Self-Service Center. Presenters must be available to teach at least twice per catalog season. CLDPs are also needed to review family court documents for women before filing. CLDPs wishing to volunteer must have at least 3 years family law experience, be certified and be in good standing with the Arizona State Supreme Court.
Paralegal
Family Law Support Services is in need of paralegals who wish to guide women as they complete their family court forms from the Maricopa County Superior Court Self-Service Center. Paralegal volunteers must have 3 years prior experience in family law and be familiar with the Self-Service Center forms.