Spousal maintenance, often referred to as alimony, is a payment made from one spouse to another following a divorce or legal separation. In Arizona, courts consider various factors when determining whether to award spousal maintenance, the amount, and the duration. This calculator provides a basic estimation based on common statutory guidelines and court considerations, but it is not a substitute for legal advice.
Key Factors Considered in Arizona Spousal Maintenance Awards:
Length of the Marriage: Generally, longer marriages are more likely to result in maintenance awards.
Financial Resources: The court assesses the financial resources of both parties, including their income, assets, and debts.
Ability to Meet Needs: The court considers each spouse's ability to meet their own needs independently.
Standard of Living: The standard of living established during the marriage is a significant factor.
Contributions to the Marriage: This includes contributions as a homemaker or to the career of the other spouse.
Age and Health: The age and physical and emotional condition of both parties are relevant.
Earning Capacity: The court will look at each spouse's earning capacity and any impairment to their ability to earn.
Reasonable Needs: The court determines the reasonable needs of the spouse requesting maintenance.
Time to Become Self-Supporting: If a spouse needs time to acquire necessary education or training to become self-supporting, this is considered.
How the Estimate is Calculated (General Guideline):
Arizona law provides guidelines that courts often use as a starting point. For marriages of 20 years or longer, maintenance may be awarded for a period up to one-half of the length of the marriage. For marriages shorter than 20 years, the duration is more discretionary.
A common guideline for the amount of spousal maintenance is:
Take 30% of the higher-earning spouse's gross monthly income.
Subtract 20% of the lower-earning spouse's gross monthly income.
The result is a guideline amount, but it generally should not result in the paying spouse having less income than the receiving spouse. The court has discretion to deviate from this guideline.
Example Calculation:
If Spouse A earns $5,000/month and Spouse B earns $8,000/month:
30% of Spouse B's income ($8,000) = $2,400
20% of Spouse A's income ($5,000) = $1,000
Guideline Amount = $2,400 – $1,000 = $1,400
In this scenario, the guideline suggests Spouse B might pay Spouse A approximately $1,400 per month. The court will consider the statutory factors, the specific circumstances of the parties, and whether this amount is fair and equitable.
Important Disclaimer:
This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It provides an estimate based on general guidelines and does not constitute legal advice. Spousal maintenance laws are complex, and actual awards are determined by judges based on the specific facts and circumstances of each individual case. It is crucial to consult with a qualified Arizona family law attorney for advice regarding your specific situation.
function calculateSpousalMaintenance() {
var yearsMarried = parseFloat(document.getElementById("partiesYearsMarried").value);
var spouseAGrossMonthlyIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("spouseAGrossMonthlyIncome").value);
var spouseBGrossMonthlyIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("spouseBGrossMonthlyIncome").value);
var spouseAFinalDecision = document.getElementById("spouseAFinalDecision").value === "true";
var spouseBFinalDecision = document.getElementById("spouseBFinalDecision").value === "true";
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Enter details to estimate spousal maintenance."; // Reset
resultDiv.classList.remove("error");
// Input validation
if (isNaN(yearsMarried) || yearsMarried < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid number of years married.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
return;
}
if (isNaN(spouseAGrossMonthlyIncome) || spouseAGrossMonthlyIncome < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid gross monthly income for Spouse A.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
return;
}
if (isNaN(spouseBGrossMonthlyIncome) || spouseBGrossMonthlyIncome < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid gross monthly income for Spouse B.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
return;
}
var higherIncome = Math.max(spouseAGrossMonthlyIncome, spouseBGrossMonthlyIncome);
var lowerIncome = Math.min(spouseAGrossMonthlyIncome, spouseBGrossMonthlyIncome);
var difference = higherIncome – lowerIncome;
var guidelineMaintenanceAmount = 0;
var estimatedMaintenanceDuration = "Variable – Court Discretion"; // Default for marriages = 20;
if (isLongTermMarriage) {
estimatedMaintenanceDuration = "Up to " + (yearsMarried / 2).toFixed(1) + " years";
}
// Guideline calculation for amount
var calculatedMaintenance = (higherIncome * 0.30) – (lowerIncome * 0.20);
// Ensure calculated maintenance is not negative and that paying spouse's income doesn't drop below receiving spouse's income after payment
if (calculatedMaintenance spouseBGrossMonthlyIncome) ? spouseAGrossMonthlyIncome : spouseBGrossMonthlyIncome;
var receivingSpouseIncome = (spouseAGrossMonthlyIncome maxMaintenanceByIncomeProportion) {
calculatedMaintenance = maxMaintenanceByIncomeProportion;
}
guidelineMaintenanceAmount = calculatedMaintenance;
var displayResult = "";
if (!spouseAFinalDecision && !spouseBFinalDecision) {
displayResult = "Neither spouse is seeking maintenance.";
} else if (spouseAFinalDecision && !spouseBFinalDecision) {
if (guidelineMaintenanceAmount > 0) {
displayResult = "$ " + guidelineMaintenanceAmount.toFixed(2) + " per month";
displayResult += "Estimated Duration: " + estimatedMaintenanceDuration + "";
} else {
displayResult = "No guideline maintenance calculated.";
}
} else if (!spouseAFinalDecision && spouseBFinalDecision) {
if (guidelineMaintenanceAmount > 0) {
displayResult = "$ " + guidelineMaintenanceAmount.toFixed(2) + " per month (paid by Spouse A to Spouse B)";
displayResult += "Estimated Duration: " + estimatedMaintenanceDuration + "";
} else {
displayResult = "No guideline maintenance calculated.";
}
} else { // Both seeking maintenance – complex scenario, usually not awarded to both unless specific circumstances
displayResult = "Both spouses seeking maintenance. This is uncommon and typically requires specific court findings. Legal counsel is strongly advised.";
}
if (displayResult) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = displayResult;
} else {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Calculation could not be performed with the provided data.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
}
// Add a note that this is a guideline
var guidelineNote = "
Note: This is a guideline calculation. Actual spousal maintenance is determined by a court.
";
if (resultDiv.innerHTML.indexOf("Note: This is a guideline calculation.") === -1) {
resultDiv.innerHTML += guidelineNote;
}
}