Guideline Estimates · All 50 States + DC

Alimony Calculator 2026

Every state calculates differently. Enter two incomes and a marriage length — see the monthly amount, how long it lasts, and the lifetime total, with the math shown step by step.

Your State

Hybrid Formula California: the 10-year marriage is the key threshold

Incomes

Paying spouse — income

Receiving spouse — income

Length of Marriage

Years married

From wedding date to separation — the single biggest driver of duration.

Case Factors discretion states

These adjust the estimate where judges have discretion.

Career sacrifice for the family +20% Health issues or disability +15% High standard of living during marriage +10% Needs education or job training +5% Custody of young children (bars new work) −10%

Estimated alimony

$1,800 / month

Range $1,260 – $2,430 · Hybrid Formula in California

How long it lasts

Expected duration

Open-ended / Indefinite

Lifetime total

$324,000

Conservative

$151,200

Guideline

$324,000

Aggressive

$874,800

Alimony is likely

The income gap and marriage length suggest spousal support is likely to be considered. The range above is your negotiation baseline.

The math, step by step

AAML: 30% × $8,000 − 20% × $3,000
= $1,800/mo (cap 40% combined)

What if the marriage lasted longer?

Same incomes — only the length of marriage changes. Lifetime totals at each length:

5 yrs

$54,000

10 yrs

$324,000

15 yrs

$324,000

20 yrs

$324,000

Most likely type of award

📅Durational / Bridge-the-Gap

Time-limited support for a defined period — typically up to half the marriage length.

Educational estimate only — not legal advice. Alimony is highly fact-specific; judges deviate for misconduct, assets, and each family's circumstances. Post-2018 federal law made alimony neither taxable nor deductible. Consult a licensed family law attorney.

Alimony Calculators by State

Three different approaches, 51 rulebooks. Open your state for its formula, duration rules, and permanent-alimony stance.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Washington D.C.

How Alimony Works in California

Hybrid Formula state. Courts start from a guideline formula but adjust for the circumstances of the case — the number is a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Guideline: 40% of payer net − 50% of receiver net for temporary support.

Duration: Presumed half the marriage for marriages under 10 years; over 10 years = open-ended — and California can award permanent support after long marriages.

Worth knowing: California: the 10-year marriage is the key threshold.

Tax treatment: for agreements finalized after 2018, alimony is neither deductible by the payer nor taxable to the receiver in California or anywhere else in the US.

Formula, Hybrid, or Discretion — Which Applies?

Which one applies to you depends entirely on your state.

Formula State

7 states

The math is written into statute: plug in both incomes and the guideline number falls out. Estimates here are the most reliable in these states.

Hybrid Formula

3 states

Courts start from a guideline formula but adjust for the circumstances of the case — the number is a strong starting point, not a guarantee.

Judicial Discretion

41 states

No formula. Judges weigh need, ability to pay, marriage length, and the factors you toggle below. Treat estimates as a wide negotiation range.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is alimony calculated?

It depends on your state. A few states (Illinois, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts) write a formula into statute; hybrid states like California start from a guideline but let judges adjust; the rest give judges broad discretion over need and ability to pay. This calculator models each state's common approach.

What is the standard formula?

Where a guideline exists, it is usually some version of "30% of the payer's income minus 20% of the receiver's income," capped at a share of combined income. The calculator shows the exact statute-style math for your state, step by step.

How long does alimony last?

Duration is driven by the length of the marriage. Most states award roughly 0.3–0.5 months of support per year of marriage. Texas caps awards by marriage tier, Kansas caps at 121 months, and California presumes anything from a 10+ year marriage open-ended.

Is alimony taxable?

For divorce agreements executed after December 31, 2018, no — under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, alimony is neither deductible by the payer nor taxable income for the receiver. Older agreements may still follow the old rules.

Can an alimony order be changed?

Usually yes, on a substantial change of circumstances: job loss, retirement, the receiver cohabiting or remarrying, or a cost-of-living shift. Permanent awards from long California-style marriages are the hardest to end.

Can this estimate be wrong?

It is a guideline estimate. Real orders deviate for misconduct, assets, earning capacity, and judicial discretion. Treat it as a negotiation baseline, not a court prediction.

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