Legal guidelines for child custody and spousal maintenance in US states

In Arizona, child custody is legally categorized as legal decision-making and parenting time. Under A.R.S. § 25-403, courts must determine these arrangements based on the best interests of the child. Legal decision-making involves authority over significant aspects of a child's life, such as medical care, education, and religion, which can be held solely by one parent or shared jointly. Parenting plans specifically address the child's physical residence and schedules for visits, holidays, and vacations.

In Washington State, alimony is referred to as spousal maintenance. There is no fixed statewide formula for determining amounts or durations. Per RCW 26.09.090, courts weigh several factors to decide maintenance, including the financial resources and needs of the party seeking support, the duration of the marriage, the standard of living established during the union, and the ability of the paying spouse to meet their own obligations. Notably, Washington courts make these decisions without regard to the misconduct of either party.