Venue refers to the proper county or court location for filing a family law case in Arizona. For dissolution cases venue is proper in the county where either spouse resides. For child custody matters venue considerations intersect with jurisdictional requirements under the UCCJEA.

In most Arizona cases venue is not contested because both parties live in Maricopa County and the case is filed there. When parties live in different counties or when a case involves recent moves venue becomes a more significant analysis.

Venue is a procedural matter separate from jurisdiction. A court can have subject matter jurisdiction over a case while venue is improper. In that situation the case can be transferred to the proper venue rather than dismissed.