Spousal Maintenance

Spousal maintenance, alimony, and spousal support are all phrases that refer to money that one spouse is required to pay to the other after a divorce. Continue reading to find out more.

Alimony is a legal term that refers to (Temporary)

This is a one-time alimony payment. For example, if a party suffers financial hardship as a result of the divorce, temporary alimony may be awarded until the party suffering the financial hardship recovers. The term of temporary alimony varies depending on the state or jurisdiction where you live.

Alimony is a legal term that refers to (Permanent)

This is alimony that will be paid until either the person paying it dies or the person receiving it decides to remarry. In some circumstances, remarriage does not prevent the payment of alimony. If the beneficiary is unable to work due to a condition, the courts may order that alimony be paid indefinitely, even if they live with or marry a third party. Alimony, on the other hand, is not taxable to the recipient.

Alimony is a legal term that refers to (Rehabilatative)

This may be given to a spouse who requires financial assistance with college expenditures or job training so that they can resume (or start) working after the divorce. As a result, a formerly dependent spouse can get the skills they need to help them achieve financial independence. The duration of these maintenance awards normally ranges from one to five years.

Other Things to Think About

• Every state has its own rules surrounding spousal maintenance (or whatever the state calls it), but it’s important to remember that judges (not juries) have the authority to apply their judgment in a judicial manner when deciding such matters. They frequently consider the following:
• Will a party’s earning power be harmed because they have a child or children to raise?
• The contribution that the party may have made in the role of a housewife to the other spouse’s career.
• Each party’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being, as well as their age.
• The potential for both parties to generate money.
• The length of time that the couple has been married. Marriages of less than seven years are rarely eligible for alimony, but marriages of 30 years or more can often result in a lifetime alimony order.

When you throw in those factors, as well as others they believe are important, you can get a good idea of how much you’ll have to pay. Addressing spousal support difficulties during the divorce settlement is always a good idea. Insofar as it was privately planned, this gives the judge less power and puts control in the hands of the two people involved.

When a party seeks financial maintenance from the other, one of four things must be established in order for them to be granted financial maintenance in Arizona.

• Because of the length of the marriage, the party is far too old to be expected to become self-sufficient or able to work.
• As the custodian of a small child or children, the party should not be expected to work, and the spouse should contribute to the other party’s schooling.
• Appropriate occupation that would allow them to become self-sufficient is not available to them.