Marriage can be a tricky business. Sharing your life with someone in such an intimate and consistent way is both beautiful and frustrating, often simultaneously. Maintaining such a relationship over a period of years is one thing, but it becomes another entirely once legal ramifications and paperwork are involved. As such, no matter how well your marriage is going, it cannot hurt to familiarize yourself with a spousal support lawyer in Phoenix and how they operate.
The truth is that marriage is far more than the fairy tale happy ending that is often sold in the commercialized version. Instead, marriage is more akin to entering into a business partnership than a loving relationship. Between prenuptial agreements and vows, the entire process is strictly litigated from legal, financial, and religious perspectives.
As such, just as you would be unlikely to enter into a business deal without taking proper precautions and familiarizing yourself with your options should things go sour, exploring possible avenues in spousal support is equally beneficial.
The History of Spousal Support
Spousal support has a long and storied history, dating back centuries when marriage was even more business and proprietary than it is today. However, there have been some significant changes in the past few decades that you’d do well to familiarize yourself with.
1973: The Adoption of No-Fault Divorce (UMDA model)
In the early ‘70s, Arizona adopted the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act model, creating the framework for modern dissolution of marriage and spousal maintenance awards. This work is foundational to any spousal support-related cases today, and as such, you would benefit significantly from being well-read on its meanings, implications, and broader impact.
2018: Expansion of Eligibility Standard (HB 2031)
House Bill 2031 amended A.R.S. § 25-319(A), adding a fifth basis for spousal maintenance: when one spouse significantly reduced income or career opportunities for the benefit of the other. This was signed on April 5, 2018, and essentially was put in place to cover extraneous or theoretical income that wasn’t previously accounted for. For example, if a wife left her job to become a stay-at-home mother, that loss of funds can now be taken into account when it comes to the divorce and legal separation.
2019: Federal Tax Treatment Changes
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made alimony non-deductible to payers and non-taxable to recipients for agreements executed after December 31, 2018. This affects Arizona cases, though the state statute remained unchanged.
September 24, 2022: Statutory Guidelines Requirement
SB 1383 (Laws 2022, ch. 331) amended § 25-319(B), requiring the Arizona Supreme Court to establish Spousal Maintenance Guidelines and limiting awards to what is necessary for the recipient’s self-sufficiency.
July 3, 2023: Arizona Supreme Court Issues Guidelines
Administrative Order 2023-119 formally adopted statewide Spousal Maintenance Guidelines and calculator for petitions filed on/after Sept 24, 2022, and it is retroactively applicable only if both parties agree.
2023–2024: Implementation Clarifications
Court and bar commentary explained that the Guidelines provide amount/duration ranges but allow deviations if unjust, and apply only after eligibility under § 25-319(A) is established.
May 28, 2025: Revised Guidelines Adopted
Administrative Order 2025-101 updated the Guidelines, requiring them in all orders entered on/after Sept 1, 2025, with limited exceptions.
How All This Has Altered Spousal Support
As you can see from the content above, there has been a great deal of cultural re-evaluation surrounding marriage and its place in society over the last few years, as well as legal re-evaluation. New rules and regulations have been implemented to further account for status quo changes in light of new developments, making spousal support more complex to navigate than ever before. To this end, visit a spousal support lawyer in Phoenix today to better familiarize yourself with the possible ramifications of such changes and how to best prosper from them.
FAQ
What is spousal support? …