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Alimony Calculator

Estimate alimony (spousal support) payments for all 50 states. Uses your state's formula, advisory guidelines, or AAML estimates for discretion states. Includes duration estimates based on marriage length.

Important Disclaimer

This is an estimate only. Actual alimony varies based on judicial discretion, property division, and your state's specific guidelines. Consult a family law attorney for accurate calculations.

State

Statutory Formula

Marriage Length (years)

Your Gross Monthly Income ($)

Est. net: $5,480/mo

Other Spouse's Gross Monthly Income ($)

Est. net: $2,205/mo

Also paying child supportHave minor children

Estimated Monthly Alimony

$1,400

$16,800 per year

You would pay this amount to your spouse

Estimated Duration

~3 years (15-30% of marriage)

0-15 yrs: 15-30%. 15-20: 30-40%. 20+: 35-50% of marriage

New York

NY CSSA: 30% payor - 20% payee (no child support)

1.Your gross monthly: $8,000 (est. net: $5,480)

2.Other spouse gross monthly: $3,000 (est. net: $2,205)

3.Marriage length: 12 years

4.Payor income (capped at $241,000/yr): $96,000/yr

5.Formula (a): $21,600/yr

6.Formula (b): 40% combined - payee = $16,800/yr

7.Award = lower of (a) and (b): $16,800/yr = $1,400/mo

State Comparison

State	Method	Est. Monthly	Est. Annual
New York (selected)	Formula	$1,400	$16,800
California	Local	$1,048	$12,574
Texas	Cap	$1,600	$19,200
Florida	Cap	$1,266	$15,194
Illinois	Formula	$1,312	$15,740
Colorado	Advisory	$1,275	$15,300
Pennsylvania	Formula	$981	$11,770

This calculator provides estimates based on state formulas, advisory guidelines, or AAML recommendations. Actual alimony depends on judicial discretion, property division, health, earning capacity, standard of living, and many factors specific to your case. Always consult a family law attorney in your state.

How This Alimony Calculator Works

This calculator estimates spousal support (alimony) based on your state's calculation method, both spouses' incomes, and the length of your marriage. It implements state-specific formulas where they exist and uses professional guidelines for discretion states.

State Calculation Methods

States fall into several categories for alimony calculation:

Formula states (NY, IL, NH, PA) — have statutory formulas that produce a specific dollar amount
Advisory guideline states (CO, AZ, NM) — formulas exist but judges may deviate
Cap-only states (TX, FL, MA, LA) — no formula for calculating amount, but statutory caps on maximum award
Local formula states (CA, MI, VA, NV, KS) — county-level guidelines used in practice, not codified in statute
Discretion states (remaining ~30 states) — judges use statutory factors with no formula. This calculator uses the AAML recommended guideline (30% of payor's gross minus 20% of payee's gross) as an approximation.

Duration Estimates

Many states tie alimony duration to marriage length. This calculator estimates duration based on your state's guidelines — for example, Florida caps durational alimony at 50% of marriage length for short marriages and 75% for long marriages. States like Texas have absolute maximum durations (5-10 years). For marriages over 20 years in most states, indefinite alimony remains possible.

Why Results Are Estimates

Even in formula states, judges have discretion to deviate based on factors like the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, contributions to the other's career, health and age, and the division of marital property. This calculator provides a starting point — not a guarantee. Always consult a family law attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is alimony calculated?+

Alimony calculation varies significantly by state. About 16 states have some form of formula or advisory guideline — for example, New York uses 30% of the payor's income minus 20% of the payee's income (without child support). Illinois uses 33.33% of payor's net minus 25% of payee's net. The remaining states use judicial discretion, where judges consider factors like marriage length, income disparity, age, health, and earning capacity.

How long does alimony last?+

Duration depends on your state and marriage length. Texas limits alimony to 5-10 years maximum. Florida caps durational alimony at 50-75% of the marriage length (and eliminated permanent alimony in 2023). Massachusetts caps it at 50-80% depending on marriage length. For marriages over 20 years, many states allow indefinite or longer-term support. Several states have recently reformed their laws to limit alimony duration.

What's the difference between alimony and spousal support?+

They're generally the same thing — different states use different terminology. 'Alimony' is the traditional term. Some states use 'spousal support' (California), 'spousal maintenance' (New York, Colorado), or 'maintenance' (Illinois). Pennsylvania distinguishes between 'spousal support' (during separation), 'APL' (during divorce proceedings), and 'alimony' (post-divorce). The formulas may differ between types.

Is alimony tax-deductible?+

No. For divorce and separation agreements executed after December 31, 2018, alimony is not tax-deductible for the payer and not taxable income for the recipient. This changed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Agreements from before 2019 retain the old tax treatment (deductible for payor, taxable for recipient) unless specifically modified.

Can alimony be modified?+

In most states, yes — if there's a substantial change in circumstances like job loss, retirement, significant income change, or the recipient becoming self-supporting. However, some types of alimony are non-modifiable (like Florida's bridge-the-gap alimony or lump-sum awards). Alimony typically terminates upon the recipient's remarriage and often upon cohabitation.

Does adultery affect alimony?+

In some states, yes. Georgia and South Carolina bar alimony for the spouse who committed adultery. North Carolina bars a dependent spouse who committed 'illicit sexual behavior' but requires alimony if the supporting spouse did. Virginia considers adultery as a factor. In no-fault states like California, adultery generally does not affect alimony.

Which states have the most and least alimony?+

States with the highest estimated alimony include New York, California, and Illinois — all have formulas or guidelines that produce significant awards for large income disparities. Texas and Indiana are among the most restrictive: Texas caps alimony at $5,000/month with strict eligibility, and Indiana limits it to 3 years for rehabilitative purposes only. Mississippi courts are also reluctant to award alimony.

How accurate is this calculator?+

For states with statutory formulas (NY, IL, NH, CO, PA), this calculator closely follows the actual formula. For states with caps (TX, FL, MA, LA), it applies the cap accurately. For discretion states, it uses the AAML (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers) recommended guideline as a rough estimate. Actual awards depend on many factors a calculator can't capture, including judicial discretion, property division, health, earning capacity, and standard of living during the marriage.