What This Statute Says
This section gives the conciliation judge unusual flexibility on where and when to hold a hearing. The default is to use whatever setting works for productive conferences, including the judge's chambers.
Hearings pursuant to this article may be held at any time and place within the county, and may be held in chambers or otherwise, except that the time and place for hearing shall not be different from the time and place provided by law for the trial of civil actions if any party, prior to the hearing, objects to any different time or place.
A.R.S. § 25-381.15When This Statute Comes Into Play
The flexibility matters when:
- A judge wants to hold conciliation conferences in a less formal setting than a regular courtroom.
- Parties prefer a chambers setting that supports candid conversation.
- One party objects in advance and requires the formal civil action time and place.
What This Means for Arizona Families
Many conciliation hearings happen in chambers around a small table rather than in a courtroom. The format invites a different kind of conversation. A party who would rather have the formal setting can demand it, but few do because the informality usually serves both sides.
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.