Representing Your Interests in Alimony Decisions
Under Arizona law, spousal maintenance — commonly known as alimony — is a regular payment made by one party to another during and after divorce. Determining whether alimony will be granted — and if so, how much — is a separate process from property division.
I'm Kyle Scoresby, an experienced divorce and family law attorney, and I and my staff at Scoresby Family Law in Scottsdale and Mesa have assisted many clients with alimony negotiations and disputes. To discuss your case with a knowledgeable lawyer, contact us to schedule a consultation.
Determining Whether One Spouse Deserves Alimony
The outcome of a spousal maintenance case is one of the most difficult things to predict in a divorce case. Whether you are interested in receiving alimony or minimizing your obligation to pay it, I will work with you to gather all the necessary information to make your case.
There are many factors that affect whether one party is entitled to alimony. The major factors are the disparity in the parties' earnings and the length of the marriage.
Generally, the longer a couple is married and the greater the disparity between their incomes, the more likely a court will grant alimony to the spouse who earns less. This may also be more likely if the lesser-earning spouse took on significant household or child care duties.
Understanding the Reasons for Spousal Maintenance
In most cases, the purpose of alimony is rehabilitative: to support lesser-earning spouses financially while they improve their job skills or get more education. Unless the recipient is over 50 and the marriage has lasted longer than 20 years, alimony is generally for a limited time.
In some cases — such as where one spouse has worked for years to put the other spouse through school — alimony may be considered a form of reimbursement.
Alimony is a complex and evolving concept, and the outcome of an alimony case in court is difficult to predict. Contact me to discuss what you can expect in your particular case.
