Support in Arizona

How Arizona Calculates Child Support

Arizona uses an income shares model established under A.R.S. Section 25-320 and the Arizona Child Support Guidelines. The model reflects the principle that both parents share a financial obligation to their children proportionate to their respective incomes.

The calculation begins with each parent’s gross monthly income from all sources, including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, dividends, pensions, Social Security benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, and spousal maintenance received. If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income based on employment potential and local job market conditions.

After determining gross income, certain adjustments are made — including court-ordered spousal maintenance paid to a former spouse from another relationship, support obligations for other children, and the cost of the child’s health insurance and extraordinary medical expenses. The parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the guidelines schedule identifies the basic child support obligation. Each parent’s share is calculated based on their proportion of the combined income.

The Arizona Child Support Guidelines also account for parenting time adjustments. When the non-custodial parent has the child for more than a specified number of days, the obligation is reduced to reflect the direct costs that parent incurs during their custodial time.

For a general overview of how this model works, see our guide on how child support is calculated. You can also estimate your potential obligation with our child support calculator.

Key Additions to the Basic Obligation

Beyond the basic support amount, the Arizona Guidelines require allocation of several additional costs:

• Health insurance premiums for the child
• Extraordinary child care costs related to employment or job training
• Extraordinary education expenses agreed to by the parties or ordered by the court
• Extraordinary medical, dental, or orthodontic expenses not covered by insurance

These costs are added to the basic obligation and divided between the parents in proportion to their income shares.

Modifying or Terminating Child Support

Either parent may request a modification by filing a petition showing a substantial and continuing change of circumstances. Arizona also allows modification if application of the current guidelines would produce an amount that differs from the existing order by 15% or more.

Child support in Arizona continues until the child turns 18, or until the child graduates from high school if still enrolled and under age 19. Support also terminates if the child marries, is emancipated by court order, or enters active military duty.

Enforcement of Child Support Orders

Arizona’s Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) has robust enforcement mechanisms, including:

• Income withholding orders
• Interception of state and federal tax refunds
• Suspension or denial of driver’s licenses, professional licenses, and recreational licenses
• Liens against real and personal property
• Passport denial for arrearages exceeding $2,500
• Contempt of court, which may result in fines or jail time

Arrearages in Arizona accrue interest at 10% per year, and past-due amounts cannot be retroactively forgiven.

Spousal Maintenance in Arizona

Arizona uses the term “spousal maintenance” rather than alimony. Unlike child support, there is no formulaic guideline — the court exercises discretion based on the facts of each case. The threshold question, however, is governed by A.R.S. Section 25-319, which requires the requesting spouse to first demonstrate eligibility.

A spouse may be eligible for maintenance if they can show that they:

• Lack sufficient property, including community property apportioned to them, to provide for reasonable needs
• Are unable to be self-sufficient through appropriate employment, or are the custodian of a child whose age or condition makes outside employment inappropriate
• Contributed to the educational opportunities of the other spouse
• Had a marriage of long duration and are of an age that may preclude gaining adequate employment

This eligibility threshold is a critical step. Without meeting at least one of these criteria, the court will not proceed to consider a maintenance award.

Factors in Spousal Maintenance Awards

Once eligibility is established, the court considers the factors in A.R.S. Section 25-319(B) to determine the amount and duration of maintenance:

• The standard of living established during the marriage
• The duration of the marriage
• The age, employment history, earning ability, and physical and emotional condition of the requesting spouse
• The ability of the paying spouse to meet their own needs while paying maintenance
• The comparative financial resources of the spouses, including earning abilities in the labor market
• The contribution of the requesting spouse as a homemaker
• The extent to which the requesting spouse reduced their income or career opportunities for the benefit of the other spouse
• The ability of both parties to contribute to the future educational costs of minor children
• Excessive or abnormal expenditures, destruction, concealment, or fraudulent disposition of community property
• The costs of health insurance for the requesting spouse

Arizona does not have statutory durational guidelines, but courts frequently look to the length of the marriage as a primary factor in setting the duration of a maintenance award.

When to Seek Legal Guidance

Arizona’s requirement that a spouse prove eligibility for maintenance before the court considers an award makes these cases strategically important from the outset. If you are evaluating child support or spousal maintenance in Arizona, consider scheduling a free consultation to discuss your circumstances with a family law professional.

Statutes referenced: A.R.S. Section 25-320 (child support), Arizona Child Support Guidelines, A.R.S. Section 25-319 (spousal maintenance).