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Alimony Calculator (Spousal Maintenance)

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Estimate spousal maintenance or alimony based on income difference, marriage length, and applicable jurisdiction guidelines.

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💍 Alimony Calculator (Spousal Maintenance)

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$
years
Estimated Monthly Alimony
$0
Guideline estimate — courts have broad discretion
Monthly Amount
$0
Annual Amount
$0
Est. Duration
0 yrs
Total Estimated
$0
⚠️ Alimony is highly discretionary. Courts consider earning capacity, standard of living, age, health, and many other factors. This is a rough educational estimate only.

How to Use the Alimony Calculator

1

Enter both spouses' monthly incomes

Input gross monthly earnings before tax for both the paying and receiving spouse. These are the most influential figures in any alimony calculation.

2

Enter the marriage length

Input the number of years married. Courts use this directly — longer marriages typically result in higher amounts and longer payment duration.

3

Select your jurisdiction

Choose US, UK, or South Africa. Each jurisdiction has different calculation methods — US uses income-based formulas, UK uses needs-based assessment, SA uses the Divorce Act.

4

Review the estimate

Use the result as a planning figure, not a legal outcome. Alimony is ultimately decided by a court weighing multiple factors. Consult a family law attorney for your specific situation.

How Alimony Is Calculated

There is no single universal alimony formula — courts in most common-law jurisdictions have broad discretion. However, several states (including California and New York) use guideline formulas as starting points. A common rough guideline: 40% of the higher earner's net income minus 50% of the lower earner's net income.

Duration Guidelines

Alimony duration is often tied to marriage length. Common guidelines: short marriages (under 5 years): 30–50% of marriage length; medium (5–10 years): 40–60%; long marriages (10+ years): indefinite or 50–100% of marriage length in some states. Some jurisdictions (e.g., Massachusetts) use a strict formula tied to marriage length.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alimony (spousal support) is paid to an ex-spouse to maintain their standard of living after divorce. Child support is paid specifically for the financial needs of the children. Key tax difference: for divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is neither deductible for the payer nor taxable for the recipient under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Child support has no tax impact for either party.
In the USA: For divorces finalised after 31 December 2018, alimony is neither deductible by the payer nor taxable to the recipient (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act). Pre-2019 divorces follow the old rules. In the UK: Maintenance payments are generally not taxable income for the recipient and not deductible for the payer. In South Africa: maintenance received is generally not taxable.
Alimony duration depends on the length of the marriage and jurisdiction. A common guideline is one year of support for every three to five years of marriage. Long-term marriages (20+ years) may result in indefinite or permanent alimony. Courts consider factors like age, health, earning capacity, and the recipient's ability to become self-supporting.
Alimony duration varies by state and marriage length. Common rules: marriages under 5 years — short-term support (1–2 years); 5–15 years — 30–50% of marriage length; 15+ years — potentially indefinite (until remarriage or significant financial change). Some states (Texas, Mississippi) rarely award long-term alimony. Rehabilitative alimony is most common today.
No — for divorces finalized after December 31, 2018 (under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act): alimony payments are not deductible by the payer and not taxable income to the recipient. For divorces finalized before 2019, the old rules apply: deductible for payer, taxable for recipient. Pre-2019 agreements modified after 2018 may elect new rules.
Courts consider: length of marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, standard of living during marriage, age and health of both spouses, contributions to the marriage (including homemaking), time needed to become self-supporting, and marital misconduct (in some states). There is no standard formula — outcomes vary significantly by state and judge.
⚠️ Disclaimer Estimates only. Not financial or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional.

Sources & Methodology

Calculations are based on the most current publicly available data from authoritative government and industry sources: