If you’re going through a divorce, you may wonder whether or not you will either have to pay or be entitled to receive, alimony. In Arizona alimony is generally called “spousal maintenance.”
A spouse will be entitled to spousal maintenance if he or she meets one of 4 eligibility requirements. According to Arizona statute, the requirements include situations when one spouse:
“1. Lacks sufficient property, including property apportioned to the spouse, to provide for that spouse’s reasonable needs.
2. Is unable to be self-sufficient through appropriate employment or 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 or lacks earning ability in the labor market adequate to be self-sufficient.
3. Contributed to the educational opportunities of the other spouse.
4. Had a marriage of long duration and is of an age that may preclude the possibility of gaining employment adequate to be self-sufficient.”
If one of those factors is relevant, then the court may award spousal maintenance. In that case, a number of factors play into exactly how much will have to be paid.