Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony, is a court-ordered payment made by one spouse to the other after a divorce or legal separation. The purpose of spousal maintenance is to provide financial support to the spouse who earns less money or who has fewer financial resources. In Arizona, spousal maintenance is currently determined on a case-by-case basis. Judges have a great deal of discretion in deciding whether to award spousal maintenance, how much to award, and for how long. This can lead to inconsistent and unpredictable spousal maintenance orders that can be difficult for parties to anticipate or plan for. To address this issue, the Arizona Supreme Court is developing a spousal maintenance calculator that will provide more transparency and predictability in the spousal maintenance process. The calculator is expected to be launched in late summer 2023 and will be free to use. The development of the spousal maintenance calculator is an important step towards making the divorce process more transparent and predictable for all parties involved. By providing a tool that can be used by judges and lawyers to make fair and consistent spousal maintenance decisions, the calculator will help to reduce the uncertainty and stress associated with divorce and legal separation. The spousal maintenance calculator will use a formula to calculate the appropriate amount and duration of spousal maintenance based on several factors, such as the length of the marriage, the income and earning capacity of both spouses, and the standard of living established during the marriage. By using a standardized formula, the calculator will help to ensure that spousal maintenance decisions are made in a fair and consistent manner. The spousal maintenance calculator will be available online and will be accessible to judges, lawyers, and parties to a divorce or legal separation. Users will input information about their income, expenses, and assets, and the calculator will provide an estimate of the amount and duration of spousal maintenance that may be ordered by the court. The calculator will also provide information about the tax implications of spousal maintenance payments and will allow users to compare different scenarios to determine which one is most beneficial for them. It’s important to note that the spousal maintenance calculator is not meant to replace the judgment of a judge or the advice of a lawyer. Rather, it is intended to provide a starting point for negotiations and to help parties better understand their options and rights. Overall, the development of the spousal maintenance is an important step towards making the divorce process more transparent, predictable, and fair for all parties involved. By providing standardized formulas for the calculation of spousal maintenance, these calculators will help to ensure that decisions are made in a consistent and objective manner, and that the needs of all parties are taken into account.
