Reviewed August 2026
Spousal Support in Arizona
Arizona calls spousal support spousal maintenance. Courts award it in a dissolution case filed in superior court, under Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-319. The process has two steps. First, the court decides whether a spouse qualifies for maintenance at all. Only if the answer is yes does it move to amount and duration. A.R.S. § 25-319(A) sets the eligibility bar. A spouse must show at least one of several circumstances: lacking enough property to cover reasonable needs, being unable to become self-sufficient through suitable employment, having contributed to the other spouse's education or career, or having been married a long time at an age that limits employment options. If none of these apply, the court cannot award maintenance, no matter the income gap between spouses. Arizona has no statewide formula for calculating maintenance amount or length. Some counties, including Maricopa and Pima, publish nonbinding guideline worksheets that judges and attorneys sometimes consult. These are administrative tools, not law. A judge can depart from them freely.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how spousal support works under Arizona law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Arizona paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Step one: eligibility under A.R.S. § 25-319(A)
Before setting an amount, the court must find the requesting spouse meets at least one eligibility ground. These include lacking sufficient property, including property awarded in the divorce, to cover reasonable needs. They also include being unable to become self-sufficient through suitable employment, or being the custodian of a child whose needs make outside work inappropriate. Other grounds include contributing to the other spouse's educational opportunities, or having a marriage of long duration at an age that makes finding a job difficult. A spouse who cannot show one of these grounds does not qualify for maintenance.
Step two: amount and duration factors
Once eligibility is established, A.R.S. § 25-319(B) directs the court to weigh several factors. These include the standard of living during the marriage, the marriage's duration, and each spouse's age and health. The court also looks at the paying spouse's ability to meet their own needs while paying support. It weighs each spouse's financial resources and earning ability, the time needed to get education or training for a job, and any contributions made to the other spouse's earning power. No fixed multiplier ties maintenance amount or length to income or years married.
County guideline worksheets are not law
Maricopa County and some other Arizona counties maintain nonbinding spousal maintenance guidelines. These suggest a possible range for amount and duration based on income and marriage length. The worksheets can be a useful starting point for negotiations. But they are administrative guidance, not statute, and a judge does not have to follow them. Check with the specific superior court to confirm whether a local guideline worksheet is still in use before you rely on it.
Modification and termination
A maintenance order can be modified if either spouse shows a substantial, continuing change in circumstances since the order was entered. Arizona law generally ends maintenance when either spouse dies or the recipient remarries, unless the decree says otherwise. A paying spouse who learns the recipient has remarried should still confirm the termination with the court. Don't assume payments stop on their own.
Sources: Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-319 (spousal maintenance), Arizona Courts Self-Service Center, IRS Tax Topic 452, Alimony and Separate Maintenance
Not independently confirmed
- Whether Maricopa or Pima County's spousal maintenance guideline worksheet is still current and in active use was not independently confirmed; check the specific superior court's website or self-service center.
Spousal Support in Arizona: frequently asked questions
What is alimony called in Arizona?+
Arizona statute uses the term spousal maintenance, not alimony. It's governed by Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-319 and decided as part of a dissolution of marriage case in superior court.
Am I automatically eligible for spousal maintenance in Arizona?+
No. A.R.S. § 25-319(A) requires showing at least one specific eligibility ground. Examples include lacking sufficient property for reasonable needs, being unable to become self-sufficient through suitable employment, or having a marriage of long duration at an age that limits employability. Without meeting one of these grounds, the court cannot award maintenance.
Does Arizona have a formula for calculating spousal maintenance?+
No statewide statutory formula exists. Some counties, such as Maricopa, publish nonbinding guideline worksheets that can inform negotiations. Judges don't have to follow them, though, and can set an amount and duration based on the A.R.S. § 25-319(B) factors instead.
How long does spousal maintenance last in Arizona?+
There is no statutory duration limit. The court sets length based on factors like the length of the marriage, the recipient's age and health, and the time needed to become self-sufficient. Duration varies significantly by case.
Does remarriage end spousal maintenance in Arizona?+
Generally, yes. Arizona law typically ends maintenance when the recipient remarries or either spouse dies, unless the decree states otherwise. The paying spouse should confirm the termination with the court rather than stop payments without a court order.
Is spousal maintenance taxable in Arizona?+
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the tax treatment. The paying spouse can no longer deduct spousal maintenance. The recipient no longer has to report it as taxable income. Agreements executed before 2019 generally keep the prior tax treatment unless modified.
This page is general information about spousal support in Arizona, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Arizona's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Arizona. Virdix does not prepare or file Arizona divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Arizona.
More Arizona divorce guides
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