Spousal Support
Arizona does not consider marital misconduct when awarding alimony, but will consider all relevant factors, including the following guidelines:
- The standard of living established during the marriage.
- The duration of the marriage.
- The age, employment history, earning ability and physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking alimony.
- The ability of the spouse from whom alimony is sought to meet his or her needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking alimony.
- The comparative financial resources of the spouses, including their comparative earning abilities in the labor market.
- The contribution of the spouse seeking alimony to the earning ability of the other spouse.
- The extent to which the spouse seeking alimony has reduced his or her income or career opportunities for the benefit of the other spouse.
- The ability of both parties after the divorce to contribute to the future educational costs of their mutual children.
- The financial resources of the party seeking alimony, including marital property apportioned to such party, and such party's ability to meet his or her needs independently.
- The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking alimony to find appropriate employment and whether such education or training is readily available.
- Excessive or abnormal expenditures, destruction, concealment or fraudulent disposition of community, joint tenancy and other property held in common.
Reasons for Awarding Alimony
A court in Arizona may grant an award of alimony for either spouse for any of the following reasons if it finds that the spouse seeking alimony:
- Lacks sufficient property to provide for his or her reasonable needs;
- Is unable to support himself or herself through appropriate employment or lacks the earning ability to support him or herself;
- Is the custodian of a child whose age or condition is such that the custodian should not be required to seek employment outside the home;
- Contributed to the educational opportunities of the other spouse; or
- Had a marriage of long duration and is of an age which may preclude the possibility of gaining employment adequate to support himself or herself.
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