Alimony And Your Finances After A Divorce

In a divorce, you may be concerned about sufficiently supporting yourself after splitting one household into two. Spousal maintenance, more commonly referred to as alimony, can be a major factor in ensuring your post-divorce financial stability.

At Lincoln & Wenk, PLLC, we understand the complex financial concerns you face throughout a divorce. Whether you seek spousal maintenance or expect that your spouse will seek it, we provide effective, skilled representation to protect your interests.

How Is Alimony Calculated In Arizona?

Spousal maintenance is not a given in every divorce. Rather, the determination of whether to award alimony is dependent on your unique situation. Once the request for spousal support is granted, Arizona courts consider a wide array of criteria to decide on the amount and duration of payments from one spouse to the other, including:

  • The accustomed standard of living throughout the marriage
  • The length of the marriage
  • The age, and the physical and mental conditions of each spouse
  • The comparative financial resources of each spouse
  • Whether the contributions of one spouse affected the other’s earning capacity
  • The ability of the paying spouse to sufficiently support both themselves and their spouse

Unlike child support payments, the calculation of alimony payments is based on the relevant considerations of each case.

When calculating alimony, the court usually considers the gross income of both spouses, their living expenses, and the other spouse’s ability to pay, among other factors, to determine how much per month a spouse should receive from the other spouse. The court will also determine how long these payments should last based on the length of the marriage, as well as the time it may take for the other spouse to become self-sufficient.

Generally speaking, if you were married fewer than five years, it is unlikely that you will pay or receive alimony other than for an abbreviated short-term basis. The outcome is very different if you were married longer than 20 years and the recipient spouse is not able to work or be self-sufficient. Of course, every marriage dynamic is different and alimony can be affected by each party’s financial resources, earning capacity, level of education, health issues and other factors.

A prenuptial agreement may alter what is paid or received as well. An experienced attorney can help you understand the relevant factors in your marriage and what your alimony payment will likely be, given the details of your specific situation.

How We Can Assist With Contentious Issues

A divorce can put your long-term financial interests at risk. Spousal maintenance payments, child support payments, the division of marital property or more can all jeopardize your financial security. Our attorneys have over 25 years of combined experience in assisting individuals and families across Arizona. We will leverage this to maximize your financial stability and quality of life moving forward.

Spousal maintenance can become a contentious issue. Whether your issues arrive at an amicable resolution through mediation or require litigation, we will diligently represent you. Should you experience a life event later that requires modifying a court order, we can represent your interests, whether you are seeking or challenging the change.

Discuss Your Needs With A Lawyer

We will provide you with the information you need to make confident decisions about your future. We serve clients across the Goodyear, Peoria and greater Phoenix areas. Contact our office to schedule an initial consultation at 623-294-2464.

Call us at 623-294-2464 or contact us to schedule your consultation today.

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1616 North Litchfield Road, Suite 140, Goodvear, AZ 85395
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14050 N 83rd Avenue Suite 290, Peoria, AZ 85381
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