{"id":7502,"date":"2022-07-11T16:38:41","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T23:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/arizona-family-law\/?page_id=7502"},"modified":"2024-02-21T21:56:25","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T04:56:25","slug":"spousal-maintenance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/arizona-family-law\/services\/spousal-maintenance\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Spousal Maintenance Attorney"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Spousal maintenance, or alimony, as it is commonly referred to, is an order of the court requiring one spouse to make maintenance payments to the other spouse for a period of time. Arizona Revised Statute \u00a7 25-319(A) <\/a>provides four factors for courts to consider when deciding whether to order spousal maintenance.<\/p>\n

When a married couple decides to divorce<\/a>, a number of financial arrangements must be made. Alimony is money that is paid to a spouse in a marriage to support him or her financially, either during or after a divorce. In general, the party that is the higher earner pays money to the lower earner for a period of time. In the state of Arizona, alimony is called “spousal maintenance,” and it is subject to a number of statutes and procedures. Determining the amount of maintenance takes into consideration a wide range of factors, including the ability of the spouse to find employment, their contribution to the marriage, the financial condition of the paying spouse and other factors.<\/p>\n

Understanding Alimony in AZ<\/h2>\n

In past times, women did not work outside the home, and alimony provided an income for them after the marriage was dissolved. Today, alimony for long periods is rare. In general, spousal maintenance payments are offered temporarily, as a way to allow an individual to transition back to single life. In some cases, assets are divided into lump sums, but most often, a spouse will receive monthly payments for a period of time. Permanent alimony is only rarely awarded, and it is usually reserved for those who cannot work because of age or disability. In addition, spouses who have made a significant contribution to the education or career of an individual may receive larger spousal maintenance payments.<\/p>\n

Who Can Receive Spousal Maintenance in Arizona?<\/h2>\n

Spousal maintenance, sometimes called spousal support, is awarded through a two-part process in Arizona. The court first determines if the spouse qualifies for spousal maintenance, and then, a fair amount is calculated, based on a number of different factors.<\/p>\n

Qualification is usually based upon:<\/strong><\/p>\n