This calculator provides an ESTIMATE based on common Arizona guidelines. It is NOT legal advice. Consult with a family law attorney for personalized guidance.
In Arizona, alimony, legally referred to as spousal maintenance, is financial support paid by one spouse to the other after a divorce or legal separation. Unlike child support, which has strict statutory formulas, spousal maintenance awards are determined by the court based on a variety of factors, making each case unique. This calculator offers a simplified estimation based on general principles and common guidelines, particularly relating to the duration of marriage and income disparity, but it is crucial to understand that a judge has the final say.
Arizona Statutory Factors for Spousal Maintenance (A.R.S. ยง 25-319)
Arizona law outlines several factors a court must consider when deciding whether to award spousal maintenance and the amount and duration:
The ability of the spouse seeking maintenance to meet their own needs.
The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to provide for the other spouse's needs.
The length of the marriage.
The age and health of the spouse seeking maintenance.
The financial resources of each spouse, including separate property, and the marital property apportioned, and whether the division of property is equitable.
The income, earning potential, and employability of each spouse.
The standard of living established during the marriage.
The contributions of each spouse to the marriage, including contributions to the other spouse's education, career, or career potential.
The fact that one spouse has been unemployed or underemployed and bears the responsibility for the care of a child of the marriage.
The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet their own needs while paying maintenance.
Any other factor the court deems just and relevant.
How This Calculator Works (Simplified Estimation)
This calculator uses a common guideline that often influences alimony awards, particularly for marriages of moderate to long duration:
Income Disparity Calculation: The calculator first determines the difference in gross monthly income. A common starting point for calculating potential maintenance is a percentage of the difference between the parties' incomes. A frequently cited guideline (though not a strict rule) is that maintenance might be ordered for a duration up to 50% of the marriage duration, and the amount might aim to equalize a portion of the incomes.
Duration of Marriage Guideline: For marriages lasting 10 years or longer, Arizona courts often consider awarding maintenance. A common guideline is that the duration of maintenance may be up to 50% of the length of the marriage.
Child Support Adjustment: If either party is paying or receiving child support, this amount is factored in, as child support obligations take precedence over spousal maintenance. The calculator aims to adjust for this by considering the net disposable income after child support.
Type of Maintenance: Different types of maintenance have different purposes:
Temporary Maintenance: Ordered during the divorce proceedings to help a spouse meet expenses while the case is ongoing.
Rehabilitative Maintenance: Intended to help a spouse gain skills or education to become self-sufficient.
Long-Term/Indefinite Maintenance: May be awarded in long marriages where a spouse sacrificed career opportunities and cannot become fully self-supporting.
Example Calculation Logic (Illustrative, NOT actual legal formula):
For a marriage of 10+ years, a common guideline is:
* Duration: Up to 50% of the marriage duration in years.
* Amount: Often aims for the recipient spouse to have approximately 30-40% of the combined gross income after accounting for child support. For instance, if the payer has $5000 gross and the recipient has $3000 gross, and no child support, the combined is $8000. A target for the recipient might be around 35% of combined, which is $2800. Since they already earn $3000, no maintenance might be awarded based purely on this income difference, or a small amount if the recipient's earning capacity is limited. If the recipient earned only $1000, then 35% of $8000 is $2800. The difference they need is $1800 ($2800 – $1000). The payer's income is $5000. A common guideline might award maintenance that results in the recipient having, for example, 40% of the combined income. Let's say the target for the recipient is to have $3000/month net from both income and alimony. Then the Payer would pay $2000/month.
This calculator uses a simplified approach: calculating the difference in income and applying a percentage, then considering the marriage duration for a suggested duration. It also deducts child support from the payer's income and adds it to the recipient's before calculating the alimony amount.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Spousal maintenance awards in Arizona are complex and depend heavily on the specific facts of each case and the judge's discretion. Always consult with a qualified Arizona family law attorney.
function calculateAlimony() {
var payerIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payerIncome").value);
var recipientIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("recipientIncome").value);
var marriageDurationYears = parseFloat(document.getElementById("marriageDurationYears").value);
var childSupportObligation = parseFloat(document.getElementById("childSupportObligation").value);
var alimonyType = document.getElementById("alimonyType").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
// Clear previous results
resultDiv.innerHTML = ";
// Input validation
if (isNaN(payerIncome) || payerIncome < 0 ||
isNaN(recipientIncome) || recipientIncome < 0 ||
isNaN(marriageDurationYears) || marriageDurationYears < 0 ||
isNaN(childSupportObligation) || childSupportObligation < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.";
return;
}
var estimatedAlimonyAmount = 0;
var estimatedAlimonyDuration = 0;
var calculationNotes = [];
// — Simplified Alimony Calculation Logic (Based on common guidelines, not strict law) —
var incomeDifference = payerIncome – recipientIncome;
// Guideline: Often around 30-40% of the difference, but modified by duration and child support.
// Let's aim for a recipient percentage of combined income, e.g., 35-40%, after child support.
// Calculate net income available for spousal maintenance after child support
var payerNetIncome = payerIncome – childSupportObligation;
var recipientNetIncome = recipientIncome + childSupportObligation; // Assuming child support is paid TO recipient for simplicity
// Handle cases where recipient earns more or net incomes are close
if (payerNetIncome recipientNetIncome) {
var neededAmount = targetRecipientShare – recipientNetIncome;
// Payer has `payerNetIncome` available. Maintenance cannot exceed what payer can reasonably afford.
// A common upper limit is often around 30% of payer's gross income, or a calculation
// ensuring payer retains enough for their own needs.
var maxPayableByPayer = payerIncome * 0.30; // A rough guideline cap
estimatedAlimonyAmount = Math.min(neededAmount, maxPayableByPayer);
// Further adjustment: Ensure payer retains enough. Example: Payer should retain at least recipient's net income?
// This gets complex. Let's use a simpler approach for this calculator:
// Calculate potential alimony based on income difference and then cap it.
var potentialAlimonyBasedOnDifference = incomeDifference * 0.40; // Example: 40% of income difference
estimatedAlimonyAmount = Math.min(estimatedAlimonyAmount, potentialAlimonyBasedOnDifference);
estimatedAlimonyAmount = Math.max(0, estimatedAlimonyAmount); // Ensure it's not negative
// Round to two decimal places
estimatedAlimonyAmount = parseFloat(estimatedAlimonyAmount.toFixed(2));
// Refine calculation if child support is substantial
if (childSupportObligation > 0) {
// The above calculation used net incomes. Let's refine based on original gross and child support interaction.
// A more typical guideline might calculate alimony based on gross incomes, then adjust for child support.
// Example: Maintenance = 40% of (Payer Gross – Recipient Gross) – (Child Support * X)
// This calculator uses a simplified approach for demonstration.
calculationNotes.push("Child support obligation has been factored into net income calculations.");
}
} else {
calculationNotes.push("Recipient's net income after child support is sufficient based on the target share. Maintenance may not be awarded based on income.");
estimatedAlimonyAmount = 0;
}
}
// Guideline for Duration of Marriage (for marriages >= 10 years)
if (marriageDurationYears >= 10) {
var maxDurationGuideline = marriageDurationYears * 0.5; // Up to 50% of marriage duration
estimatedAlimonyDuration = Math.min(maxDurationGuideline, 10); // Cap duration, e.g., at 10 years for moderate marriages, or based on type. Long-term can be indefinite.
if (alimonyType === "longTerm") {
calculationNotes.push("Long-term maintenance may be indefinite or for a significant duration, subject to court review.");
// For simplicity, let's just state it might be indefinite, not provide a numerical duration.
estimatedAlimonyDuration = "Indefinite/Long-Term (Court Discretion)";
} else if (alimonyType === "rehabilitative") {
calculationNotes.push("Rehabilitative maintenance duration depends on the time needed for education/training.");
// Estimate a duration, e.g., max 5 years for simplicity.
estimatedAlimonyDuration = Math.min(maxDurationGuideline, 5); // Rehabilitative often shorter
estimatedAlimonyDuration = parseFloat(estimatedAlimonyDuration.toFixed(1)) + " years";
} else { // Temporary or default
calculationNotes.push("Temporary maintenance duration is typically limited to the divorce proceedings.");
estimatedAlimonyDuration = Math.min(maxDurationGuideline, 2); // Temporary is usually shorter
estimatedAlimonyDuration = parseFloat(estimatedAlimonyDuration.toFixed(1)) + " years";
}
} else if (marriageDurationYears 0) {
calculationNotes.push("Marriages less than 10 years may not typically warrant long-term maintenance unless specific circumstances exist (e.g., significant income disparity, need for rehabilitation).");
estimatedAlimonyDuration = "Short-term or None (Court Discretion)";
// Court might still award temporary or short-term maintenance.
if (estimatedAlimonyAmount > 0) {
estimatedAlimonyDuration = "Short-term (e.g., 1-3 years)";
} else {
estimatedAlimonyAmount = 0; // Ensure no amount if duration is unlikely
estimatedAlimonyDuration = "None likely based on duration guideline";
}
} else { // Marriage duration is 0 or invalid
calculationNotes.push("Marriage duration is minimal or invalid. Maintenance is unlikely unless temporary.");
estimatedAlimonyAmount = 0;
estimatedAlimonyDuration = "None likely based on duration";
}
// Final Check: Ensure calculated alimony doesn't make payer unable to meet basic needs (highly simplified)
var payerRemainingIncome = payerIncome – estimatedAlimonyAmount – childSupportObligation;
if (payerRemainingIncome 0) {
// This is a very rough check. A real calculation involves detailed budgets.
// If payer ends up with less than recipient started with (pre-alimony), it might be too high.
// calculationNotes.push("Potential issue: Payor's remaining income might be insufficient. Amount may be adjusted by court.");
// estimatedAlimonyAmount = Math.max(0, payerIncome – recipientIncome – someBuffer); // Example adjustment
}
// Display Results
if (estimatedAlimonyAmount > 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = `
Estimated Monthly Alimony: $${estimatedAlimonyAmount.toFixed(2)}
Estimated Duration: ${estimatedAlimonyDuration}