What happens if a party waives their right to change a judge?

Study for the Arizona Family Law and Paralegal Certification Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complemented by hints and explanations for each question. Prepare confidently for your exam!

Waiving the right to change judges means you choose to proceed before the judge assigned to your case and give up the option to have a different judge hear it. To make that waiver effective, you typically file a written waiver with the court clerk (usually signed by you or your attorney and served on all parties). Once the waiver is on file, you generally won’t be able to pursue a different judge unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as a disqualification or other grounds that would require a different judge. So, the key step is submitting the waiver to the clerk so the court records reflect that you consent to the current judge. Filing a separate notice to change judges would not align with that waiver, and consent from the opposing party isn’t normally needed for waiving the right.