How is alimony calculated?

Alimony calculation varies by state. Common factors: income difference between spouses, marriage duration, age/health, earning capacity, standard of living, and property division. California uses ~40% of higher earner - 50% of lower earner. New York uses 30% - 20%. Texas caps at 20% of payor's income. Courts have discretion based on individual circumstances.

How long do you pay alimony?

Duration depends on marriage length. Short marriages (<5 years): 1-3 years rehabilitative alimony. Medium (5-10 years): often 50% of marriage length. Long (10-20 years): 50-75% of length. Very long (20+ years): may be permanent or until recipient remarries, cohabitates, or payor retires. Varies significantly by state and case.

Is alimony tax deductible in 2024?

No. For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is NOT tax-deductible for the payor and NOT taxable income for the recipient (per Tax Cuts and Jobs Act). For divorces before 2019, old rules apply: payor deducts, recipient pays taxes. This significantly changed the financial impact of alimony negotiations.

Can alimony be modified or terminated?

Yes. Alimony can be modified if there's a substantial change in circumstances: job loss, disability, retirement, recipient's remarriage, or cohabitation with new partner. Either party can petition the court for modification. Termination triggers: recipient remarries (most states), recipient cohabitates (some states), payor retires at reasonable age, or death of either party.

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Alimony Calculator

Estimate spousal support (alimony) payments based on income, marriage duration, and state laws. Understand alimony duration and total payment obligations.

Inputs

Payor Annual Income

Gross annual income of the person paying alimony

Recipient Annual Income

Gross annual income of the person receiving alimony

Marriage Duration (years)

Total years of marriage

State

Has Children

Enter values to see results

What is this?

Alimony (spousal support or spousal maintenance) is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other after divorce. It is designed to help the lower-earning spouse maintain a reasonable standard of living. Unlike child support, there is no single national formula — amount and duration vary significantly by state and the specific circumstances of the marriage.

How to use

Enter both spouses' gross annual incomes, the length of the marriage, and your state. The calculator applies your state's common guideline formula to estimate monthly alimony. Select your divorce year to apply the correct tax rules (pre-2019 vs. post-2018). Review the reasoning section in the results to understand how the estimate was derived — then consult a family law attorney for advice tailored to your situation.

Tips

Alimony estimates are highly state-specific. Texas caps payments at $5,000/month or 20% of gross income; California uses ~40% of higher earner minus 50% of lower earner.
For divorces finalized after Dec 31, 2018, alimony is NOT tax-deductible for the payor and NOT taxable for the recipient (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act).
Duration is often tied to marriage length: short marriages (<5 yrs) → 1–3 years rehabilitative; medium (5–10 yrs) → ~50% of marriage length; long (20+ yrs) → potentially permanent.
Either party can petition to modify alimony if there is a substantial change in circumstances: job loss, income increase, disability, or retirement.
Alimony terminates automatically upon recipient's remarriage in all states, and often upon cohabitation with a romantic partner.
A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can waive or limit alimony entirely if properly executed with full financial disclosure.
This is an educational estimate only — courts have broad discretion and actual awards can differ significantly from formula-based guidelines.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Actual results may vary based on lender terms, market conditions, and individual circumstances. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making financial decisions. See our full disclaimer for details.

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What is this?

How to use

Tips

Alimony estimates are highly state-specific. Texas caps payments at $5,000/month or 20% of gross income; California uses ~40% of higher earner minus 50% of lower earner.

For divorces finalized after Dec 31, 2018, alimony is NOT tax-deductible for the payor and NOT taxable for the recipient (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act).

Duration is often tied to marriage length: short marriages (<5 yrs) → 1–3 years rehabilitative; medium (5–10 yrs) → ~50% of marriage length; long (20+ yrs) → potentially permanent.

Either party can petition to modify alimony if there is a substantial change in circumstances: job loss, income increase, disability, or retirement.

Alimony terminates automatically upon recipient's remarriage in all states, and often upon cohabitation with a romantic partner.

A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can waive or limit alimony entirely if properly executed with full financial disclosure.

This is an educational estimate only — courts have broad discretion and actual awards can differ significantly from formula-based guidelines.