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Alimony Calculator

Estimate monthly alimony payments and duration based on income disparity, marriage length, and your state's guidelines — not a generic calculator.

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1 year20 years40 years

Stayed home for children or supported other's career

How Alimony Is Calculated

01

Income Difference

Courts look at the gap between spouses' incomes. A larger gap generally means higher alimony, since the goal is to prevent one spouse from a dramatic drop in living standard.

02

Marriage Length

Longer marriages result in longer alimony duration. Marriages under 3 years rarely produce alimony. Marriages over 20 years can produce permanent or indefinite support.

03

Type of Alimony

Temporary alimony supports during proceedings. Rehabilitative supports short-term. Durational sets a fixed term. Permanent (rare) applies to very long marriages with large income gaps.

04

Judicial Discretion

Unlike child support, alimony has few mandatory formulas. Judges weigh earning capacity, lifestyle during marriage, career sacrifice, contributions, health, and conduct. A spouse who left their career for family typically receives ~20% more monthly and ~15% longer duration.

Alimony Duration Guidelines by Marriage Length

These duration guidelines reflect common court outcomes. Actual duration depends on the judge, state, and your specific circumstances.

Marriage Length Alimony Type Typical Duration
Under 3 years Temporary / None 0–18 months
3–7 years Rehabilitative 1–4 years
7–15 years Durational 3–9 years
15–20 years Durational / Permanent 7–15 years
20+ years Permanent / Long-term 10+ years or indefinite

Frequently Asked Questions

Most states use a two-step approach: (1) calculate the monthly amount based on roughly 25–40% of the income difference, and (2) determine the duration based on marriage length. For example, if one spouse earns $8,000/month and the other earns $2,500/month, the income gap is $5,500 — typical alimony might be $1,375–$2,200/month. States like Massachusetts and New Mexico have specific formulas; others rely entirely on judicial discretion.

Under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (effective for divorce agreements after December 31, 2018), alimony is no longer deductible for the payer or taxable income for the recipient. For divorces finalized before January 1, 2019, the old rules apply: deductible for payer, taxable for recipient.

Yes. Either party can petition for modification if there is a substantial change in circumstances — typically a job loss, significant income change, or the recipient's remarriage. In most states, alimony automatically terminates when the recipient remarries or either party dies.

Judges award more alimony when: the marriage was longer, the income gap is larger, one spouse sacrificed a career for family, the recipient has limited earning capacity or is older, or the standard of living during marriage was high. Adultery can affect alimony in some states.

They are the same thing — just different terminology used across states. California uses "spousal support," New York uses "maintenance," Texas calls it "spousal maintenance," and federal tax law uses "alimony." All refer to court-ordered payments from one spouse to another after separation or divorce.

Yes — significantly. If one spouse left the workforce or reduced their career to support the family, raise children, or relocate for a partner's job, courts treat this as a major statutory factor in alimony awards. The rationale: that spouse sacrificed earning capacity and career progression. Judges typically award roughly 20% more in monthly alimony and around 15% longer duration to compensate for the career setback. Combined with a long marriage and a wide income gap, career sacrifice is one of the clearest paths to a higher alimony award.

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