Covenant Marriage in Arizona
Premarital Guidance and Wedding OfficiantA covenant marriage is a lifelong promise that Arizona law treats a little differently. You get ready for it with premarital counseling, and it is harder to end. This page explains the rules in plain words, so you can decide with clear eyes.
What is a covenant marriage in Arizona?
A covenant marriage is a type of marriage you choose on your Arizona marriage license. You promise a lifelong marriage, you must have premarital counseling first, and divorce is only allowed for certain reasons. The wedding ceremony itself can look the same as any other. Have a question? Text us and a real person will help.
How is it different from a regular marriage?
Most Arizona couples have a standard marriage. A covenant marriage adds two things: counseling before the wedding, and stricter rules if the marriage ever ends. Arizona is one of only three states that offer it. The others are Louisiana and Arkansas.
Want the full side-by-side? Read Standard vs. Covenant Marriage in Arizona.
Arizona covenant marriage requirements
The rules are in Arizona law, A.R.S. 25-901. Here is what you need, in order:
- Premarital counselingYou meet with a member of the clergy or a marriage counselor before you apply for your license.
- The counseling affidavitThe person who counseled you fills out the Covenant Marriage Premarital Counseling Affidavit and signs it in front of a notary. It says you finished the counseling. They also give you the state’s covenant marriage pamphlet.
- Your license, in personYou both go to the Clerk of the Superior Court with the notarized affidavit. You pick “covenant” on the license form and sign a declaration in front of the clerk.
- Your ceremonyYour officiant marries you with two witnesses and sends the license back to the court, like any Arizona wedding.
Before you go, check the Maricopa County Clerk page for fees and what to bring. My Maricopa County marriage license guide walks you through it.
Who can do covenant marriage counseling?
Arizona law says the counseling must come from a member of the clergy or a marriage counselor. Either one works. It does not have to be religious.
The counseling has to cover a few things the law spells out:
- How serious a covenant marriage is
- That it is meant to last for life
- Your promise to get counseling if you have trouble later
- The only legal reasons a covenant marriage can end or the two of you can legally separate
I’m an ordained minister, not a licensed counselor. As clergy, I offer covenant premarital sessions for the couples I marry and can sign and notarize the counseling affidavit the clerk needs. If you want deeper help, like working through past hurts, a licensed marriage counselor is the right person, and I’m glad to work alongside one.
Getting ready for a lifelong marriage
A wedding lasts a day. A marriage lasts a lifetime. The best thing you can do before either one is talk, honestly, about the big stuff. Every couple I marry gets my guide, “10 Essential Topics to Discuss Before You Get Married.” Here are a few of them:
Debt, spending, saving, and who pays which bills.
Do you want children? How will you handle parents and holidays?
What beliefs will guide your home and your choices?
You will disagree. Decide now how to listen, apologize, and forgive.
Careers, where to live, and what sacrifices you’ll make for each other.
What do love, loyalty, and commitment look like on a normal Tuesday?
Read more in what to talk about before marriage. Couples also get my vow writing guide and ceremony flow overview. Here are some tips for writing your vows.
Divorce and legal separation in a covenant marriage
This is the biggest legal difference. In a covenant marriage, a court can only end the marriage or grant a legal separation for reasons listed in the law.
Reasons for divorce
- Adultery
- A felony with a prison sentence
- One spouse left home for at least a year and won’t return
- Abuse or domestic violence, including emotional abuse
- Living apart for two years in a row
- Living apart for one year after a legal separation
- Ongoing drug or alcohol abuse
- Both spouses agree
Source: A.R.S. 25-903
Reasons for legal separation
- Adultery
- A felony with a prison sentence
- One spouse left home for at least a year and won’t return
- Abuse or domestic violence, including emotional abuse
- Living apart for two years in a row
- Ongoing cruelty or mistreatment that makes living together unbearable
- Ongoing drug or alcohol abuse
Source: A.R.S. 25-904
I am a wedding officiant, not a lawyer. This is general information, not legal advice. For questions about divorce or separation, talk with an Arizona family law attorney.
Already married? You can convert
Married couples can change a standard marriage into a covenant marriage. You both sign a declaration and file it with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and pay a fee. Arizona law says you do not need premarital counseling to convert, and you don’t need a new ceremony. See A.R.S. 25-902.
This also helps if your wedding is today or tomorrow. There’s usually no time for counseling, so you can marry now and convert later. Learn more about same-day weddings in Arizona. Some couples mark the change with a vow renewal ceremony.
What if we move to another state?
Your marriage is still valid everywhere. But most states don’t have covenant marriage. If you live in another state and a divorce is ever filed there, that state may use its own divorce rules instead of Arizona’s covenant rules. If this matters to you, ask a family law attorney where you live.
Can an ordained minister officiate a covenant marriage?
Yes. Arizona lets ordained clergy, judges, and justices of the peace perform weddings (A.R.S. 25-124). A covenant ceremony works the same way as any other. Here is how a judge and a wedding officiant compare.
I’m Steven Conn, a U.S. Veteran and ordained minister in Scottsdale. I marry couples all over the Phoenix Valley, and I care about the marriage, not just the wedding day.
I lead religious and non-religious ceremonies across the Valley, and I believe a good wedding starts with a good talk. For covenant couples, that means sessions before the big day and a ceremony that reflects the promise you’re making. You can learn more about me or see my wedding services.
How it works with me
- Reach outText me or fill out the inquiry form with your date, your city, and that you want a covenant marriage.
- Premarital sessionsWe meet and talk through what a covenant marriage means, using my “10 Essential Topics” guide. I also give you the state’s covenant pamphlet.
- Your notarized affidavitWhen we finish, I fill out the Covenant Marriage Premarital Counseling Affidavit and sign it in front of a notary. You get the original to take to the clerk.
- Get your licenseYou both go to the clerk together, bring the affidavit, and choose “covenant.”
- Say “I do”I lead your ceremony, sign your license, and send it back to the court.
Covenant weddings all over the Phoenix Valley
I travel to you: backyards, parks, resorts, chapels, and desert spots. I marry couples in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, and every town around them.
- Scottsdale
- Phoenix
- Paradise Valley
- Tempe
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Gilbert
- Glendale
- Peoria
- Cave Creek
- Fountain Hills
- Surprise
Sources: A.R.S. 25-901, 25-902, 25-903, 25-904, 25-124, and the Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court.
Covenant marriage FAQ
What is a covenant marriage in Arizona?
It is a type of marriage you choose on your Arizona marriage license. You promise a lifelong marriage, you have premarital counseling first, and divorce is only allowed for reasons listed in the law.
What are the requirements for a covenant marriage in Arizona?
You need premarital counseling with clergy or a marriage counselor, the Covenant Marriage Premarital Counseling Affidavit signed by that person in front of a notary, the state’s covenant pamphlet, and a declaration you both sign in front of the clerk when you get your license.
Who can do our premarital counseling?
Arizona law says a member of the clergy or a marriage counselor. As an ordained minister, I offer covenant premarital sessions for the couples I marry and can sign the Covenant Marriage Premarital Counseling Affidavit in front of a notary.
What is the Covenant Marriage Premarital Counseling Affidavit?
It is the form your counselor or clergy member fills out after your premarital counseling. They sign it in front of a notary. You bring it to the clerk when you apply for your covenant marriage license. When I do your sessions, I take care of the affidavit and the notary for you.
Does the counseling have to be religious?
No. A marriage counselor can do it instead of clergy. Your ceremony can be religious or not, too.
Can an ordained minister officiate a covenant marriage?
Yes. Ordained clergy, judges, and justices of the peace can all perform weddings in Arizona. A covenant ceremony works like any other wedding.
Can we get a covenant marriage the same day?
Only if your counseling is already done and you have the notarized counseling affidavit. If not, you can marry today with a standard marriage and convert to covenant later. No counseling is needed to convert.
Can we convert our marriage to a covenant marriage?
Yes. Married couples can sign a declaration and file it with the Clerk of the Superior Court, with a fee. You don’t need counseling or a new ceremony.
Is it harder to get divorced in a covenant marriage?
Yes. A court can only end it for reasons in the law, like adultery, abuse, a felony, long separation, drug or alcohol abuse, or when both spouses agree. Talk with an Arizona family lawyer about your own case.
What happens if we move to another state?
Your marriage is still valid. But if a divorce is filed in a state without covenant marriage, that state may use its own rules. Ask a family law attorney where you live.
Where do we get a covenant marriage license?
From the Clerk of the Superior Court in your county. Plan to go in person together, because you sign the covenant declaration in front of the clerk.
Can you marry us anywhere in the Phoenix Valley?
Yes. I travel to couples all over Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the Valley. Text or call me and a real person will answer.
Ready to set your date?
Text me your date and city. I’ll answer your covenant marriage questions, set up your premarital sessions, and help you plan. Today, tomorrow, or next year, anywhere in the Phoenix Valley.
A real person answers. Steven Conn, U.S. Veteran and Ordained Minister.