This calculator provides an estimated range for spousal maintenance (alimony) in Arizona based on statutory guidelines. It is for informational purposes only and not legal advice.
Enter your details to see an estimated maintenance amount.
In Arizona, spousal maintenance, commonly known as alimony, is financial support paid from one spouse to another after a divorce or legal separation. The court considers various factors when determining whether to award spousal maintenance and, if so, the amount and duration.
Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) ยง 25-319 outlines the guidelines for spousal maintenance. Generally, a court may award spousal maintenance if:
The spouse seeking maintenance lacks sufficient property to provide for their reasonable needs.
The spouse seeking maintenance is unable to meet their reasonable needs after considering the division of property and their ability to earn income.
The spouse seeking maintenance has been the primary caregiver of a child for a significant portion of the marriage, and it would be unfair to require them to work outside the home.
The marriage was of long duration, and the spouse seeking maintenance is of a age and condition to be unable to support themselves.
Statutory Guideline Calculation
For marriages of 10 years or longer, Arizona law provides a guideline calculation to assist courts in determining the amount and duration of spousal maintenance. This calculator uses a common interpretation of these guidelines:
Monthly Maintenance Amount: Typically calculated as 30% of the higher-earning spouse's gross monthly income minus 40% of the lower-earning spouse's gross monthly income.
Maximum Duration: Generally, the duration of maintenance is limited to 5 years for every 10 years of marriage. For example, a 10-year marriage might result in a maintenance order of up to 5 years, a 15-year marriage up to 7.5 years, and so on. A marriage of 20 years or more can result in indefinite maintenance, though the court still has discretion.
Example Calculation (Illustrative Purposes):
Let's consider a couple married for 12 years with the following annual incomes:
Guideline Duration: (12 years / 10 years) * 5 years = 6 years
Therefore, the estimated spousal maintenance in this scenario would be approximately $1,000 per month for up to 6 years.
Important Considerations:
Discretionary Nature: While guidelines exist, judges have discretion. They can deviate from the guidelines based on the specific circumstances of the case, including:
The ability of the spouse seeking maintenance to meet their needs independently.
The ability of the other spouse to pay maintenance.
The length of the marriage.
The standard of living established during the marriage.
The age and health of both spouses.
The contributions of each spouse to the marriage, including homemaking and childcare.
The ability of the paying spouse to pay and the needs of the receiving spouse.
Legal Advice: This calculator is a simplified tool. It does not account for all legal nuances or specific court decisions. Always consult with a qualified Arizona family law attorney to understand your rights and obligations regarding spousal maintenance.
function calculateSpousalMaintenance() {
var partiesAnnualIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("partiesAnnualIncome").value);
var lesserEarningPartyIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("lesserEarningPartyIncome").value);
var marriageDurationYears = parseFloat(document.getElementById("marriageDurationYears").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous result
resultDiv.className = ""; // Reset class
// Input validation
if (isNaN(partiesAnnualIncome) || partiesAnnualIncome < 0 ||
isNaN(lesserEarningPartyIncome) || lesserEarningPartyIncome < 0 ||
isNaN(marriageDurationYears) || marriageDurationYears partiesAnnualIncome) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Lesser earning party's income cannot be greater than combined income.";
return;
}
// Calculations based on common interpretation of AZ guidelines for marriages >= 10 years
var monthlyMaintenanceAmount = 0;
var maintenanceDurationYears = 0;
// Guideline calculation applies generally for marriages of 10 years or more
if (marriageDurationYears >= 10) {
var higherEarnerMonthlyIncome = (partiesAnnualIncome – lesserEarningPartyIncome) / 12;
var lesserEarnerMonthlyIncome = lesserEarningPartyIncome / 12;
// Formula: 30% of higher earner's gross monthly income – 40% of lower earner's gross monthly income
var calculatedMaintenance = (higherEarnerMonthlyIncome * 0.30) – (lesserEarnerMonthlyIncome * 0.40);
// Ensure maintenance is not negative and is capped by the lower earner's income or a reasonable percentage of higher earner's income (discretionary, but often capped)
// A common cap is 50% of the higher earner's income, but this calculator uses the formula directly.
if (calculatedMaintenance > 0) {
monthlyMaintenanceAmount = calculatedMaintenance;
// Cap maintenance amount at lesser earning party's income if it exceeds it.
if (monthlyMaintenanceAmount > lesserEarnerMonthlyIncome) {
monthlyMaintenanceAmount = lesserEarnerMonthlyIncome;
}
} else {
monthlyMaintenanceAmount = 0; // No maintenance indicated by the formula
}
// Duration: 5 years for every 10 years of marriage
maintenanceDurationYears = Math.floor(marriageDurationYears / 10) * 5;
// For marriages of 20 years or more, duration can be indefinite, but for simplicity, we cap at 10 years per formula convention or allow court discretion.
// This calculator shows the calculated duration for simplicity.
if (marriageDurationYears >= 20) {
// In practice, this might be indefinite or very long, we'll indicate it as 'long-term' or cap for practical display.
// For this calculator, we'll use a maximum of 10 years based on a common interpretation for calculation examples.
// A judge has discretion for marriages over 20 years.
maintenanceDurationYears = 10; // Example cap for calculation display
}
} else {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Arizona spousal maintenance guidelines for marriages under 10 years are highly discretionary and not easily calculable by formula.";
resultDiv.className = "negative";
return;
}
var resultText = "";
if (monthlyMaintenanceAmount > 0) {
resultText = "Estimated Monthly Maintenance: $" + monthlyMaintenanceAmount.toFixed(2) + "";
resultText += "Estimated Duration: Up to " + maintenanceDurationYears + " years";
resultDiv.innerHTML = resultText;
resultDiv.className = "positive";
} else {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Based on the guideline formula, no spousal maintenance is indicated.";
resultDiv.className = "negative";
}
}