What This Statute Says
This section staffs the conciliation court. Larger counties designate one or more judges in January to run conciliation matters for the year, and those judges set as many weekly sessions as the workload requires.
In counties having more than one judge of the superior court, the presiding judge may annually, in the month of January, designate at least one judge to hear all cases under this article. The judge or judges so designated shall hold as many sessions of the conciliation court in each week as are necessary for the prompt disposition of the business before the court.
A.R.S. § 25-381.04When This Statute Comes Into Play
This matters when:
- A county is structuring its annual judicial assignments.
- A litigant wants to know which judge handles a conciliation petition.
- The conciliation docket grows and the presiding judge needs to assign additional capacity.
What This Means for Arizona Families
Having a dedicated judge or a small set of judges hear conciliation cases creates consistency. Couples who go through the process meet a judge familiar with the unique rhythm of reconciliation work, not a judge rotating in from general civil duty for one hearing.
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.