Alimony Calculator

Alimony calculations vary by state. About 16 states have some form of formula or advisory guideline — for example, New York uses 30% of the payer's income minus 20% of the recipient's income (without child support). Illinois uses 33.33% of the payer's net income minus 25% of the recipient's net income. The remaining states use judicial discretion, where judges weigh factors such as marriage length, income disparity, age, health, and earning capacity.

The duration depends on your state and the length of the marriage. Texas caps alimony at 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.

They are usually the same thing — different states use different terms. "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" (after divorce). Formulas may differ between the types.

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

In most states, yes — if there is a substantial change in circumstances, such as job loss, retirement, a significant income change, or the recipient becoming self-sufficient. However, certain types of alimony are not modifiable (such as Florida's durational or lump-sum awards). Alimony usually terminates when the recipient remarries and often when they cohabit.

In some states, yes. Georgia and South Carolina bar an adulterous spouse from receiving alimony. North Carolina denies alimony to a dependent spouse who engaged in "illicit sexual behavior," but it must be paid if the supporting spouse did so. Virginia treats adultery as one factor. In no-fault states like California, adultery generally does not affect alimony.

The highest alimony estimates come from states like New York, California, and Illinois — all of which have formulas or guidelines that produce substantial awards when there is a large income gap. Texas and Indiana are the most restrictive: Texas caps alimony at $5,000 per month with strict eligibility, and Indiana limits it to only 3 years for rehabilitation purposes. Mississippi courts are also reluctant to award alimony.

For states with statutory formulas (New York, Illinois, New Hampshire, Colorado, Pennsylvania), this calculator closely follows the actual formulas. For states with caps (Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, Louisiana), it accurately applies the caps. For discretionary states, it uses the AAML (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers) recommended guidelines as a rough estimate. Actual awards depend on many factors the calculator cannot capture, including judicial discretion, property division, health, earning capacity, and the standard of living during the marriage.