Arizona Resolution Management Conference: What to Expect at Your First Family Court Hearing

You filed for divorce in Maricopa County. A few weeks after your spouse responds, you receive a notice that you have a Resolution Management Conference in 90 days. What is it, what happens there, and what do you need to bring?

This guide walks through Arizona's Resolution Management Conference (RMC) under ARFLP Rule 76: when it happens, what the judge does, how to prepare, what orders can come out of it, and how to handle the conference if you don't yet have an attorney.

What is a Resolution Management Conference?

A Resolution Management Conference (RMC) is the first substantive court hearing in most Arizona family law cases. It's required by Arizona Rule of Family Law Procedure (ARFLP) Rule 76 in every contested divorce, legal separation, and modification case.

The RMC has three goals:

1. Identify the disputed issues — what's agreed, what's contested
2. Set a litigation schedule — discovery deadlines, mediation deadlines, trial date
3. Encourage early settlement — many couples reach partial agreements at the RMC

It is not a trial. The judge doesn't decide your case at the RMC. But the judge does enter orders about how the case will proceed.

When does the RMC happen?

The RMC is typically scheduled 60-90 days after the respondent's answer is filed (or after the default deadline passes if the respondent doesn't answer). The court sets the date and sends notice to both parties.

In Maricopa County, RMCs are usually scheduled by your assigned judge's chambers. You'll receive a written notice telling you the date, time, and courtroom.

What you have to file before the RMC

ARFLP Rule 49 requires BOTH parties to exchange financial disclosure documents — called Affidavits of Financial Information (AFI) — before the RMC. This is the same form you may have already filled out for temporary orders.

You also exchange:

• A copy of your most recent federal tax return
• Two months of pay stubs
• Two months of bank statements
• Documentation of all assets and debts

If you haven't exchanged AFIs and supporting documents by the RMC, the judge will order you to. Failure to comply can result in sanctions.

You should also prepare a Joint Pretrial Statement if your case is far enough along. This is a document signed by both parties (or their attorneys) outlining:

• Stipulated facts (things both parties agree on)
• Contested issues
• Estimated trial time
• Witness lists

If the case is too early for a Joint Pretrial Statement, the judge will set a deadline for one at the RMC.

What happens at the conference

The RMC typically lasts 30-60 minutes. Procedure varies slightly by judge but generally follows this pattern:

1. Opening: the judge calls the case, confirms both parties are present (or their attorneys).
2. Issue identification: the judge asks what's contested. Property? Spousal maintenance? Custody and parenting time? Child support? Each item gets discussed briefly.
3. Stipulations: the judge asks if there's anything the parties agree on. Common agreements: the divorce itself, which house each spouse stays in temporarily, how holiday parenting time will work for the next 90 days.
4. Scheduling: the judge sets deadlines for:
   • Disclosure completion
   • Mediation (Arizona requires mediation in most contested cases per ARFLP Rule 67)
   • Expert witness disclosure
   • Trial readiness
5. Temporary orders: if temporary orders haven't been entered yet (financial support, temporary parenting plan, temporary use of the marital home), the judge may set a Temporary Orders Hearing or, in some cases, enter temporary orders at the RMC itself.
6. Closing: the judge issues a written order memorializing the schedule and any agreements reached.

How to prepare

If you have an attorney, they'll handle preparation. If you're pro se (representing yourself), prepare these documents and bring them to the RMC:

• Your completed Affidavit of Financial Information (and proof you served it on the other side)
• Your most recent federal tax return (including all schedules and W-2s)
• Bank statements (two months)
• Pay stubs (two months)
• A short summary of what you want: parenting time, property division proposal, spousal maintenance request if applicable
• A list of issues you can agree on with your spouse

Court attire: business or business-casual. Not jeans, not athletic wear. Be on time — judges in family court are not lenient about tardiness.

What orders the judge can enter at the RMC

The judge has broad authority at the RMC to enter procedural and some substantive orders, including:

• Scheduling orders (binding on both parties)
• Discovery orders (compel disclosure if a party isn't complying)
• Referrals to mediation, parenting conferences, or custody evaluations
• Temporary parenting plans if the parties stipulate
• Temporary financial orders if the parties stipulate

The judge typically will NOT decide contested substantive issues at the RMC — those require a Temporary Orders Hearing or trial.

Mediation and other dispute-resolution requirements

Under ARFLP Rule 67, contested family law cases generally require mediation before trial. The judge will set a mediation deadline at the RMC.

Court-connected mediation through the Maricopa County Conciliation Court is free or low-cost for parties who qualify. Private mediation typically runs $250-$500 per hour with the mediator's fee shared between the parties.

For high-conflict custody cases, the court may also order:

• Parenting conferences (a focused mediation on custody issues)
• Custody evaluations (a mental health professional evaluates the family and reports to the court)
• Child interviews by a court-appointed officer

What if my spouse doesn't show up?

If the respondent doesn't appear at the RMC and was properly served and noticed, the judge can:

• Strike the respondent's pleadings
• Enter default
• Allow you to proceed with a default trial date
• Issue an order requiring the respondent to appear at the next hearing or face sanctions

If you're the petitioner and you don't show up, your case can be dismissed.

How to handle the RMC without an attorney

Many people attend RMCs pro se, especially in cases where attorneys haven't been retained yet. Tips:

• Be polite and concise. Judges are managing dozens of cases that morning; they don't have time for long explanations.
• Stick to facts. Avoid blaming your spouse or recounting the marriage's history — that's for the trial, not the RMC.
• Listen to the judge's questions and answer them directly. Don't volunteer information that wasn't asked.
• If you don't know an answer, say so. "I'll need to check that and respond by the deadline you set" is acceptable.
• Bring everything in writing. Notes, exhibits, copies of your AFI and documents — three copies of each (you, your spouse, the judge).
• Address the judge as "Your Honor." Address your spouse as "Mr./Ms. [Last Name]" or by their first name if more comfortable for the court.

After the RMC

You'll receive a written order from the judge within a few days summarizing what happened at the conference, the schedule going forward, and any agreements or temporary orders entered.

Keep that order accessible. It governs the rest of your case. Missing a deadline set at the RMC can have serious consequences — sanctions, exclusion of evidence, or contempt.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a lawyer for the RMC?

You're not required to have one. But contested family law cases benefit enormously from representation. If you can afford an attorney, retain one before the RMC.

Can the RMC be continued or rescheduled?

Yes, with good cause. File a Motion to Continue at least a week before the conference, explaining why. The judge generally grants continuances when both parties agree.

How long does the RMC take?

30-60 minutes typical. Complex cases or those with contested temporary orders can run longer.

Can I bring witnesses to the RMC?

Generally no. The RMC is a scheduling and management conference, not an evidentiary hearing. Witnesses come to trial.

What if I don't agree with anything my spouse is saying?

That's fine — the RMC isn't where contested issues are decided. The judge will set deadlines for litigation; substantive decisions happen at the Temporary Orders Hearing or trial.

Can the judge force us to settle at the RMC?

The judge can strongly encourage settlement and outline what an outcome at trial might look like. But the judge cannot force a settlement. Either party can choose to proceed to trial.

What's the difference between an RMC and a Status Conference?

The RMC is the initial management conference under Rule 76. Status conferences happen later in the case (after the RMC) to check progress on the schedule. The procedural rules are similar but RMCs are more substantive and happen earlier.

Will the judge ask my children to come to the RMC?

No. Children don't attend family court hearings as a rule. The court interviews children separately if their input is relevant, via a court-appointed officer.

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This is general information, not legal advice. Arizona family law procedure is governed by ARFLP and county-specific local rules, which can vary and change. Consult a licensed Arizona family law attorney for guidance specific to your case. The RMC is the gateway to the rest of your divorce — preparing well and showing up organized pays dividends throughout the case.