Missouri Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support in Missouri using the state's Judicial Discretion. Includes likelihood, amount range, duration, and the statutory factors that drive the result.
Missouri divorces typically cost 52% less than the national average of $12,900.
Alimony in Missouri
- Formula type
- Judicial Discretion
- Fault considered
- No
- Domestic violence factor
- No
- Equal parenting presumption
- Yes - 50/50 default
- Waiting period before final
- 30 days (about 1 month)
Alimony Calculator in Missouri: What You Should Know
Missouri decides maintenance at the court's discretion and only after a threshold test. The spouse seeking support must show they lack sufficient property to meet reasonable needs and cannot adequately support themselves through appropriate employment. If that threshold is met, the court weighs the length of the marriage, the standard of living during the marriage, earning capacity, and each spouse's financial resources. Missouri maintenance can be set for a fixed term or left open-ended, and courts can include a provision allowing later modification as circumstances change.
Key point: Missouri requires a threshold showing of need before maintenance is considered, then sets it at the court's discretion as either a fixed-term or modifiable open-ended award.
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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 in Missouri - Frequently Asked Questions
How is alimony calculated in Missouri?
Missouri does not use a fixed formula. Judges determine alimony case by case using statutory factors including marriage length, standard of living, earning capacity, financial resources.
How long does alimony last in Missouri?
Duration in Missouri typically scales with marriage length. Short marriages (under 5 years) often produce limited rehabilitative support. Medium marriages (5 to 15 years) commonly produce alimony lasting roughly one third to one half of the marriage length. Long marriages (20+ years) may produce indefinite or permanent alimony, particularly when the recipient cannot reasonably become self-supporting.
Can alimony be modified in Missouri?
Yes. Either spouse can ask the court to modify alimony based on a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant change in income, retirement, the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation, or a serious health change. Missouri courts typically require the change to be material and not anticipated at the time of the original order.
Does fault affect alimony in Missouri?
No. Missouri does not weigh marital fault in setting alimony. Courts focus on financial need, ability to pay, and the other statutory factors rather than blame for the divorce.
Is alimony tax deductible in Missouri?
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is no longer deductible by the payer or taxable to the recipient under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This federal rule applies in Missouri as it does in every state. Older orders entered before 2019 generally retain the prior tax treatment unless modified.
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.