Alimony / Spousal Support Estimator
Estimate alimony payments based on income difference, marriage length, and state guidelines.
General reference for spousal support.
Alimony (spousal support) is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to another after separation or divorce. The amount and duration vary significantly by jurisdiction.
Common calculation methods:
Method 1 — Income Difference (most common guideline):
Alimony = (Higher Income - Lower Income) × Percentage
The percentage varies by state/jurisdiction, typically 25–40% of the income difference.
Method 2 — AAML (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers) formula:
Alimony = (30% × Payor's Gross Income) - (20% × Payee's Gross Income)
If the result exceeds 40% of their combined gross income, the amount is capped at 40%.
Duration guidelines by marriage length:
| Marriage Length | Typical Duration of Alimony |
|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 1–2 years or none |
| 5–10 years | 3–5 years |
| 10–15 years | 5–8 years |
| 15–20 years | 8–12 years |
| Over 20 years | May be permanent |
Factors courts consider:
- Length of the marriage
- Income and earning capacity of each spouse
- Standard of living during the marriage
- Age and health of both spouses
- Contributions as homemaker or to the other spouse’s career
- Education and job skills of the lower-earning spouse
- Custody arrangements and childcare responsibilities
Types of alimony:
- Temporary: During the divorce process.
- Rehabilitative: Time-limited, to allow the recipient to become self-supporting.
- Permanent: Ongoing, usually for long marriages where one spouse cannot become self-supporting.
- Lump sum: One-time payment instead of ongoing monthly payments.
Tax note (US): For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is no longer tax-deductible for the payor and is not taxable income for the recipient (under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act).
Important: This calculator provides rough estimates only. Actual alimony depends on state law, judge discretion, and individual circumstances. Consult a family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
SuperGlobalCalculator is independently built and maintained. See how we build and verify our calculators.