Alimony / Spousal Support Estimator
Estimate alimony payments based on income difference, marriage length, and state guidelines.
General reference for spousal support.
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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 (the most common guideline):
Alimony = (Higher Income - Lower Income) × Percentage
The percentage varies by state and jurisdiction, typically 25–40% of the income difference. This calculator uses 30%, the middle of that band.
Method 2, the AAML (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers) formula:
Alimony = (30% × Payor's Gross Income) - (20% × Payee's Gross Income)
The AAML cap is easy to state wrong, and it matters. The rule is that alimony must not leave the recipient holding more than 40% of the couple’s combined gross income. So the ceiling is 40% of combined minus what the recipient already earns, not a flat 40% of combined.
On $120,000 against $40,000 the raw formula gives $36,000 − $8,000 = $28,000 a year. Combined income is $160,000, so 40% of it is $64,000, and the recipient already has $40,000 of that. The cap is therefore $24,000, and it binds: alimony comes down from $28,000 to $24,000, or $2,000 a month rather than $2,333. Read the cap as a flat 40% of combined and you would never notice it applied at all.
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.
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