Divorce is an emotional process.  The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is complicated enough, but there are several additional documents which are required to be filed along with the initial Petition.   One of these is called the “Preliminary Injunction.”

The Preliminary Injunction is a court order which is automatically issued when any Arizona divorce case is filed.  The Injunction becomes enforceable against the Petitioner upon filing with the court and upon the Respondent when the Respondent is served.

The Preliminary Injunction enjoins certain behaviors and actions.  Most notably, it prohibits both parents from removing children who are common to the marriage from the State of Arizona without a written agreement between the parties or a court order.  The Injunction also forbids each party from removing the other party or the minor children from  existing insurance coverage, including medical, hospital, dental, automobile, and/or disability insurance.  Most insurance must be maintained in full force and effect pending further orders from the court or agreement of the parties.

As to assets and debts, the Injunction orders that the parties not sell, transfer, conceal or otherwise dispose of the marital assets.  Similarly, the parties are enjoined from taking out new loans against community property.   Certain exceptions exist.  Parties are allowed to sell or encumber marital property in order to provide “the necessities of life”, including specifically paying reasonable attorney’s fees for representation in the divorce case.

The language in the Preliminary Injunction restricting the parties from transferring community property  is commonly misunderstood to “freeze” community assets.  The Injunction, however, only governs the conduct of the parties to the case.  It does not restrict the conduct of third parties, such as banks or other financial institutions.  After being served with the Injunction, one party could still “drain” a bank account, but unless the funds taken are to provide for the necessities of life or to pay reasonable attorney’s fees, that action would likely constitute a violation of the Preliminary Injunction.

The Injunction also enjoins both the parties from harassing, disturbing the peace of or committing an assault or battery on the other party.  Even without the Injunction, these actions (assault, battery, disturbing the peace) are against the law and may subject the violator to criminal charges.  If these actions are committed while the Preliminary Injunction is in place, however, the violator may be subject to civil contempt and to additional criminal charges for interference with judicial proceedings.

Every party to an Arizona divorce case should be familiar with the orders contained in the Preliminary Injunction.   These orders restrict each party’s conduct toward each other and to the parties’ minor children.  The Preliminary Injunction also restricts selling / transferring marital property, subject to very narrow and limited exceptions.  Failure to understand and comply with the Preliminary Injunction may lead to adverse results in the divorce action as well as to possible criminal charges.

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