What are the types of spousal support in Arizona?

Divorce refers to the legal process of dissolving a marriage. In Arizona, the term, “dissolution of marriage” is used instead of the word, “divorce.” There are several types of spousal support in Arizona. First is the temporary spousal support, which is granted only during necessary times during the divorce proceedings. The second type is called short term spousal support, which as the term implies, is only granted for a short period of time until the other spouse is able to take employment or any other conditions imposed by the court. Last type is the long-term or permanent spousal support granted by court usually to long-term marriages.

Some people wonder about spousal support if disabled in Arizona. These and other factors are discussed in the Arizona Alimony Guidelines, otherwise known as Factors for Awarding Alimony. The court grants alimony to a spouse who seeks support for the following conditions: the spouse does not have enough finances for basic needs, has child custody that prevents him/her from taking up employment, has no earning ability to support himself/herself sufficiently such as if the person is suffering from a form of mental or physical disability, has given financial contributions to the other spouse’s education, and cannot take up employment due to age. The court also considers other factors like future earning capabilities, marriage duration, financial resources and assets as well as the age, condition, occupation, and skills of the parties involved. Alimony may be terminated or modified if there are changes in the income and available assets of the parties or if there were remarriage or death that has occurred.