Arizona § 25-809 - Judgment

§ 25-809. Judgment

A. Except as provided in section 25-501, subsection F, if a respondent admits parentage or if the issue is decided in the affirmative in an action instituted during the child's minority, the court shall direct, subject to applicable equitable defenses and using a retroactive application of the current child support guidelines, the amount, if any, the parties shall pay for the past support of the child and the manner in which payment shall be made.

B. The court shall enter an order for support determined to be due for the period between the commencement of the proceeding and the date that current child support is ordered to begin.  The court shall not order past support retroactive to more than three years before the commencement of the proceeding unless the court makes a written finding of good cause after considering all relevant circumstances, including:

1. The circumstances, conduct or motivation of the party who claims entitlement to past support in not seeking an earlier establishment of maternity or paternity.

2. The circumstances, conduct or motivation of the party from whom past support is sought in impeding the establishment of maternity or paternity.

3. The diligence with which service of process was attempted on the respondent.

C. The court shall also direct the amount either parent shall pay for the actual costs of the pregnancy, childbirth and any genetic testing and other related costs subject to production of billing statements or other documentation. This documentation is prima facie evidence of amounts incurred and is admissible in evidence without the need for foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity or accuracy.

D. In any proceeding under this article the court shall order either parent or both parents to pay any monies reasonable and necessary for the support of the minor unemancipated child until the child reaches the age of majority or is emancipated.  In determining the amount of support for the child, the court shall apply the child support guidelines pursuant to section 25-320, subsection D.  If a child reaches the age of majority while the child is attending high school or a certified high school equivalency program, support shall continue to be provided while the child is actually attending high school or the equivalency program but only until the child reaches nineteen years of age unless the court enters an order pursuant to subsection F of this section.

E. The court may modify an order of support pursuant to section 25-503.

F. Even if a child is over the age of majority when a petition is filed or at the time of the final decree, the court may order support to continue past the age of majority if all of the following are true:

1. The court has considered the factors prescribed in subsection D of this section.

2. The child has severe mental or physical disabilities as demonstrated by the fact that the child is unable to live independently and be self-supporting.

3. The child's disability began before the child reached the age of majority.

G. After considering the financial resources of both parties and the reasonableness of the positions each party has taken throughout the proceedings, the court may order a party to pay a reasonable amount to the other party for the costs and expenses of maintaining or defending any proceeding under this article.  The court may order the party to pay these amounts directly to the attorney.  The attorney may enforce the order in the attorney's name with the same force and effect and in the same manner as if the order had been made on behalf of any party to the action.  For the purposes of this subsection, "costs and expenses" includes attorney fees, deposition costs, appellate costs and other reasonable expenses the court determines were necessary.

H. The court has contempt powers to enforce its orders.

I. The parties may terminate an action brought under this article by agreement and compromise only if the court has approved the terms of the agreement and compromise.