Arizona Family Law Guide
Income Shares Child Support • Spousal Maintenance Guidelines • Custody & Procedure
Child Support Calculator
Income Shares approximation with simplified parenting time credits.
Estimate child support →Spousal Maintenance Calculator
Eligibility check, target range, and duration tiers under the 2023 guidelines.
Model maintenance →Child Support (Income Shares Model)
The Arizona guidelines blend both parents’ resources. After adjusting gross income for spousal maintenance and existing child support orders, a basic obligation is located using the statewide schedule. Parenting time credits and add-on expenses complete the calculation before a final monthly payment is issued.
Both parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined and a basic obligation is taken from the statewide schedule.
Arizona awards credits based on annual parenting days, reducing the payor’s share as time increases.
Reasonable childcare costs and the marginal cost of health insurance for the child are added to the base obligation.
Spousal Maintenance (Post-September 2022)
Arizona’s 2023 guidelines introduce a standardized process: eligibility under Gate 1, followed by a Gate 2 calculation producing a suggested range and duration. Courts must still consider statutory factors before entering orders.
The court must find the requesting spouse satisfies at least one condition under A.R.S. § 25-319(A) before calculating any award.
The 2023 statewide worksheets compute a target range using income, fixed expenses, mortgage principal, and family size.
Marriage length drives maximum duration. The “Rule of 65” and disability factors can extend the term beyond standard caps.
Custody & Parenting Time Factors
Arizona awards legal decision-making and parenting time based on the child’s best interests. Courts emphasize stability, historical caregiving, and safety. Parenting plans should address school schedules, communication tools, transportation, and dispute resolution.
- Extent of meaningful parenting time historically exercised by each parent
- Stability of school, community, and relationships when determining legal decision-making
- Ability of each parent to encourage frequent contact with the other parent
- Evidence of substance abuse, domestic violence, or child neglect
- Children’s adjustment to current routines and their stated preferences (depending on maturity)
Key Procedural Milestones
A dissolution begins with filing the petition and serving the other party. Provisional orders may address temporary support and parenting time while the case proceeds.
Parties exchange Rule 49 mandatory disclosures, including income, expenses, and asset information. Courts often schedule Resolution Management Conferences to assess settlement potential.
Temporary orders for child support, maintenance, or parenting time may be entered pending trial and remain effective until modified or a final decree issues.
Final orders incorporate support, parenting, and property determinations. Child support may be modified for substantial and continuing changes; maintenance can be modified unless expressly non-modifiable.
Essential Resources
When to Engage Counsel
Consult a family law attorney immediately if your case involves complex business assets, relocation requests, allegations of abuse, or possible deviations from the guidelines. Courts expect detailed financial evidence and statutory findings to support deviations.
Use the calculators and checklists as a starting point, then work with counsel to refine your presentation for court or mediation.