Arizona law requires custodial and non-custodial parents to provide “reasonable support” for their minor children. A.R.S. § 25-501(A). This obligation is not avoidable. In the midst of a divorce, the right to receive this support and the amount owed by each parent can be overlooked. To ensure that parents prioritize their obligations to their children, Arizona courts impose the “best interests” of the child standard during every step of a divorce or paternity proceeding. In fact, the court will give a parent’s child support obligation priority over all other financial obligations of the parent. A.R.S. § 25-501(C).
This aspect of family law is so important that determination of the amount of child support to be paid by each parent is not left to unrestricted judicial discretion. Instead, the Arizona Supreme Court has adopted a set of guidelines, which provide a formula for calculating the amount of monthly support owed by each parent. Appropriately titled the “Arizona Child Support Guidelines” this document and schedule is available online (http://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/31/Child%20Support/CSG2004.pdf) (the “Guidelines”). However, the detailed explanation available on the court’s website can leave parents with more questions than answers. To help you understand these issues, we have outlined some of the important points embedded in the Guidelines. Unfortunately, when emotions are high and interests are not aligned with each other, it may be necessary to seek legal advice to ensure a fair outcome.
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