Alimony Calculator
Spousal support amount and duration estimates based on your state's framework.
How spousal support works
Alimony, also called spousal support or maintenance, is money one spouse pays the other after a divorce to help with the income gap a marriage often creates. It is not automatic and it is not a punishment. The idea is simpler than it sounds: when one spouse earns much more, or one stepped back from a career to raise children or support the household, a court can order payments so both people can move forward on steadier footing. Nationally, support tends to run around $1,160 a month, though the real number swings widely with income and the length of the marriage.
What your state does with alimony depends on which of three approaches it follows. Some states use a statutory formula that starts the math with a set percentage of the income difference. Others use a hybrid approach, where a formula gives the starting point but the judge can move off it based on the facts. Many states are purely discretionary, meaning a judge weighs a list of statutory factors with no fixed formula at all. The length of the marriage matters everywhere: a median award in the data tends to follow marriages of roughly 11 years.
Use this estimate to understand the likely shape of support in your situation, not to predict an exact court order. Pick your state to see which approach it uses, what factors carry weight, and a realistic range for amount and duration. Then take those numbers to a family law attorney who can apply them to the details of your case.
Tell us the basics
Use your gross (before-tax) annual income.
Use their gross (before-tax) annual income.
This estimate is for planning purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a licensed family law attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Alimony Calculator by State
Divorce laws, fees, and formulas change at every state line, so the same situation can cost very different amounts depending on where you file. Choose your state for an estimate built on its own rules.
Alimony - Frequently Asked Questions
How is alimony calculated?
It depends on your state. Formula states start with a set percentage of the difference between the spouses' incomes and adjust for the length of the marriage. Hybrid states use a formula as a starting point but let the judge deviate. Discretionary states use no formula at all, so a judge weighs factors like income, need, marriage length, health, and each spouse's earning capacity. Pick your state to see which approach applies.
Who qualifies for alimony?
Either spouse can request support, regardless of gender. What matters is the financial picture: a meaningful gap in income or earning capacity, and a demonstrated need by one spouse alongside an ability to pay by the other. Longer marriages and situations where one spouse gave up career growth to care for children or the household make an award more likely.
How long does alimony last?
Duration usually scales with the length of the marriage. Short marriages often produce limited, rehabilitative support meant to cover a transition back to work. Medium-length marriages commonly produce support lasting a portion of the marriage length. Long marriages can lead to long-term or, in some states, indefinite support, especially when one spouse cannot realistically become self-supporting.
Is alimony tax deductible?
No, not for divorces finalized after December 31, 2018. Under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the paying spouse can no longer deduct alimony and the receiving spouse no longer reports it as taxable income. This applies in every state. Orders entered before 2019 generally keep the older tax treatment unless they are later modified.
Can alimony be changed later?
Usually, yes. Either spouse can ask the court to modify support after a substantial change in circumstances, such as a large change in income, a job loss, retirement, a serious illness, or the recipient remarrying or moving in with a new partner. Courts generally expect the change to be material and not something that was already expected when the original order was set.
Does cheating or fault affect alimony?
It depends on the state. Some states let courts consider marital fault, such as adultery or abandonment, as one factor that can raise, lower, or in some cases bar an award. Many other states are no-fault for this purpose and focus only on finances and need. Your state page shows whether fault is a factor where you live.
This estimate is for planning purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a licensed family law attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.