Alimony can be a controversial issue during a divorce, which is why it is helpful for divorcing couples to be familiar with the process in Arizona. Understanding how alimony decisions are made can help divorcing couples know what to expect so the alimony process can be resolved as easily as possible.
Alimony is not determined according to guidelines but is based on the evaluation of a variety of factors. The factors are used to determine how much alimony will be awarded and for how long. The duration of alimony is an important consideration for both the paying spouse and the recipient spouse.
The factors the court may consider when determining an alimony award include: the standard of living the couple enjoyed during the marriage; the length of the marriage; the physical and emotional conditions of the parties; the earning capacity and employment history of the recipient spouse; the ability of the paying spouse to pay alimony; the financial resources of both spouses; contributions the recipient spouse made to the paying spouse’s earning capacity or ways the recipient spouse may have limited their own career opportunities and income for the benefit of the paying spouse; and a variety of other factors.
Being familiar with how alimony is determined in Arizona can help divorcing couples resolve their alimony concerns and allow them to be prepared to protect their interests during the process. The family law process provides a variety of resources to help divorcing couples meet their challenges and resolve their concerns.