After How Many Years of Marriage Can You Get Alimony in Arizona

One of the key components of divorce cases is alimony. It can often be a highly contentious matter in divorces. You must get clarity on this matter before you go through the divorce process. Understanding Arizona laws for alimony can help you know your rights and responsibilities, allowing you to make informed decisions. In this blog, we explore how long you have to be married to get alimony. 

Understanding Alimony and Its Purpose

Alimony refers to the court-ordered payments to a former spouse after divorce. In some cases, the court may order alimony to a spouse during a separation. The primary objective of alimony or spousal support is to provide financial assistance for the spouse who is at a financial disadvantage. For example, a higher-earning spouse would pay a monthly amount to the lower-earning spouse. Alimony is also referred to as spousal maintenance and can be awarded to the wife or husband. 

The amount of alimony depends on several factors including the lifestyle of the couple before marriage and the duration of marriage. If the marriage is fairly new or if the couple has similar income or earning capacity, there might be no alimony. 

Duration of Marriage and Its Impact On Alimony in Arizona 

In Arizona, the duration of the marriage is one of the key factors in determining whether either spouse gets any alimony, the amount of alimony, and for how long will they continue to get this financial assistance. For short-term marriage, the courts in Arizona are less likely to award long-term spouse support. The court is more likely to provide financial assistance to the lower-earning spouse for only as long as it takes to become financially independent.  

As the duration of marriage gets longer, each person invests more of their life into the union. Marriages that have lasted a longer duration, such as ten years or more, are more likely to involve significant alimony payments, especially if there is a mismatch in the income of the spouses. 

In the case of a permanent alimony award, the payments would last until the death of one party or remarriage of the receipt spouse. 

Factors Influencing Alimony Eligibility

Several factors influence alimony payment. We have already established the importance of alimony requirements based on marriage duration. Another key factor is the age and health of each spouse. If one spouse is unable to work due to old age or health reasons, then that spouse is likely to receive long-term spousal maintenance payments. 

The contribution to the marriage is also considered in such cases. The court would consider financial and nonfinancial contributors to the marriage. For example, if one spouse decides to sacrifice their career to stay home and look after the children and household, then the court would consider that as a major contribution to the marriage and award alimony payments accordingly. To learn more about factors that influence alimony eligibility, contact a divorce lawyer. 

Common Misconceptions About Alimony Duration

The biggest misconception about alimony duration is that if the court awards you alimony, then you would be entitled to payments for the rest of your life. While this can be true in some cases, several factors have to be considered to determine the duration of alimony payments. Another misconception is that alimony duration cannot be modified. The courts may hear requests to modify the alimony arrangement based on changes in circumstances. 

Consult with an Experienced Family Law Attorney 

If you want expert legal guidance and representation for matters related to separation or divorce, get in touch with us at the Law Office of Cosmas Onyia. An alimony lawyer can provide expert legal assistance to guide clients through the complexities of determining eligibility for alimony after a certain number of years of marriage. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a family law attorney.