FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY
Spousal maintenance, also referred to as spousal support or alimony, originated during a time when men were generally the sole or primary wage earner of a household. Spousal support isn’t awarded in every modern divorce, especially when both spouses earn comparable wages. Generally, a spousal maintenance agreement will be required if:
In a no-fault divorce state like Arizona, no one spouse is officially blamed for the divorce. There are few scenarios in which misconduct will affect a spousal maintenance agreement. The main exceptions to this rule are instances where one spouse wasted joint assets or funds on something like an addiction (gambling, drugs, etc.) or secretly took on significant debts.
Spousal maintenance isn’t usually a permanent arrangement. In some divorces, spousal maintenance may only be awarded while one of the parties goes back to school to earn a degree or obtain vocational training.
Each marriage is different. The best way to understand what your potential rights could be for spousal maintenance during and after a divorce will be to speak with a family law attorney. Phoenix divorce and alimony attorney Steven R. Garcia can help you understand the potential spousal maintenance you might owe or be entitled to after the dissolution of your marriage.
There are several scenarios that make it more likely that you or your spouse will be entitled to alimony:
The amount of spousal maintenance awarded, when it is appropriate, can vary based on many different factors:
The duration of spousal support usually varies based on the length of the marriage. In most cases alimony is awarded for 30 to 50 percent of the years married. If a marriage lasted eight years, the spousal support might last two and half to four years. However, the previously listed factors may influence the ultimate duration of a spousal maintenance agreement.
You can learn more about spousal support or find out if you might be eligible to petition for a change in spousal maintenance by contacting Phoenix divorce attorney Stephen R. Garcia.
Phoenix Personal Injury and Family Law Attorney
Steven R. Garcia, PLLC
3838 N Central Ave.
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: (602) 277-2277
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