Protecting yourself financially in an Arizona divorce requires a firm understanding of and proactive preparation . Because Arizona is a community property state, nearly all assets and debts acquired from the date of marriage until the service of a divorce petition are owned equally (50/50) by both spouses. Core Protections Under Arizona Law
: Run a free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com to identify all joint obligations and prevent your spouse from incurring new debt in your name.
: Open a checking account and credit card in your name only. This ensures access to funds if joint accounts are frozen and helps build your own credit history.