A transparent, multi-method estimate of monthly spousal support and how long it may last, with your state's approach and the governing statute.
| Method | Monthly | What it is |
|---|
Estimate only. Alimony is decided by a judge and varies by state and facts. Verify the cited statute before relying on any figure.
Alimony, also called spousal support or maintenance, is money one spouse pays the other after separation or divorce. Its purpose is to limit the financial unfairness of divorce, especially where one spouse earns far more or one paused a career for the family.
Two questions drive almost every decision: does the lower earner have a genuine need, and does the higher earner have the ability to pay. Everything else, including the formulas above, is a way of turning those two questions into a number.
There is no national alimony formula. States fall into three groups, which is why a calculator that ignores your state can be misleading.
The calculator shows two transparent methods so you see a low-to-high range rather than one false-precision number. Formula states publish their own equation; for those, the result panel names the statute so you can check the exact figure.
| Method | How it works | Read it as |
|---|---|---|
| AAML guideline | 30% of the higher gross income minus 20% of the lower, capped so the lower earner's total stays near 40% of combined income. | A middle estimate |
| Income-difference share | About one third of the gap between the two incomes. | A second data point |
In factor states the court has discretion, but the same themes appear in almost every statute:
| Factor | Why it moves the number |
|---|---|
| Length of the marriage | Longer marriages support longer and larger awards. |
| Income and earning capacity | The core of need vs ability to pay. |
| Standard of living during the marriage | Courts try to avoid a sharp drop for the lower earner. |
| Age and health of each spouse | Affects ability to work and to re-enter the workforce. |
| Contributions to the marriage | Includes homemaking and supporting the other's career or education. |
| Custody and childcare | A primary caregiver may have reduced earning capacity. |
| Marital fault (some states) | A minority of states reduce or bar support for misconduct. |
Duration usually scales with the length of the marriage. The bands below are a common pattern, not a rule; your state and facts control.
| Type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Temporary (pendente lite) | Support while the divorce is pending. |
| Rehabilitative | Time-limited support while the recipient gains skills or work. |
| Permanent / long-term | Ongoing support, usually after long marriages; increasingly rare. |
| Reimbursement | Repays a spouse who funded the other's education or career. |
| Lump-sum | A single fixed payment instead of monthly support. |
Most awards can change if circumstances change substantially. Common triggers include job loss, a large income change, the payer's retirement, or the recipient remarrying or cohabiting. Lump-sum and some negotiated awards may be non-modifiable, so the wording of the order matters.
Search your state to see whether it uses a formula, weighs factors, or caps support, plus the governing statute. Verify the citation before relying on it.
Whether you expect to pay or receive, the same preparation helps: document all income and assets, keep records of contributions to the marriage and to the other spouse's career, get a realistic read on earning capacity, and put any agreement in clear written terms. A well-drafted written agreement is often faster and cheaper than litigating the number.
Most states have no fixed formula; a judge weighs factors like income, marriage length, earning capacity, and standard of living. A minority publish a statutory formula. This tool shows two transparent methods and names your state's approach and statute.
Select your state above. States such as New York, Illinois, Colorado, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire use a statutory formula; Texas caps the amount; most other states are factor-based and discretionary.
Duration usually scales with the length of the marriage. Short marriages often get short-term or no support; marriages of 20 years or more can lead to long-term or indefinite support in some states.
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is no longer deductible for the payer or taxable to the recipient at the federal level under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Older orders may follow the prior rules.
Usually yes. A substantial change such as job loss, a large income change, retirement, or the recipient remarrying can be grounds to modify or end support, depending on the order and state law.
It depends on the state. Some states reduce or bar support for marital misconduct; many no-fault states do not consider it for alimony.
Cohabitation or remarriage frequently reduces or terminates alimony, and some states consider a new partner's financial support.
It is a directional estimate to set expectations, not a court prediction. Actual awards depend on facts the tool does not capture and on judicial discretion. Treat the range as a starting point and verify the cited statute.