California 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
Incomes
Length of Marriage
From wedding date to separation — the single biggest driver of duration.
Case Factors discretion states
These adjust the estimate where judges have discretion.
Estimated alimony
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 in California?
How long does alimony last in California?
Does California award permanent alimony?
What bars or reduces alimony in California?
Walk into mediation with numbers
The Alimony Calculator app adds saved scenarios, settlement comparisons, duration charts, and works fully offline — nothing leaves your phone.
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