Alimony & Spousal Support by State (2026)
Alimony is set entirely by state law and is far more discretionary than child support. This page maps the calculation method, permanent-alimony status, and community-property system for all 50 states + D.C. — with an interactive explorer and a full 51-state matrix.
State explorer
Pick a state to see its method, statutory cap, and whether indefinite alimony is available.
California — alimony / spousal support at a glance
Judge discretionIndefinite possibleCommunity-property state
Statute: Fam. Code § 4336
Community-property state; 'spousal support' is discretionary, length often tied to marriage duration.
In a discretionary state, no calculator can predict the award — a judge weighs the statutory factors below. Online "alimony calculators" are only meaningful in formula states.
Factors a court weighs (discretionary states)
- Length of the marriage
- Each spouse’s income and earning capacity
- Standard of living established during the marriage
- Age and health of each spouse
- Contributions to the marriage (including homemaking and child care)
- Financial need of the recipient vs. the other spouse’s ability to pay
Alimony vs. child support
Child support runs on a state formula and is the child’s right. Alimony is for the spouse and is usually discretionary. ChildSupportFig’s calculators cover the child-support side; this page covers the spousal side of a divorce or separation.
Key takeaways
- Permanent alimony is disappearing — abolished or capped in 8 states.
- ~9 states use a formula; the rest are judge-discretion.
- Community-property states: AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI.
- Alimony is not tax-deductible for agreements signed after 2018 (TCJA).
51-State Alimony Matrix
Method = how amount/duration is set. “Indefinite possible” means courts may award open-ended support in appropriate (usually long-marriage) cases. Source: state family-code statutes, 2026.
| State | Method | Permanent / indefinite | Community property | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Ala. Code § 30-2-57 |
| Alaska (AK) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | AS § 25.24.160 |
| Arizona (AZ) | Guidelines | Capped / restricted | Yes | A.R.S. § 25-319 |
| Arkansas (AR) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Ark. Code § 9-12-312 |
| California (CA) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | Yes | Fam. Code § 4336 |
| Colorado (CO) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | C.R.S. § 14-10-114 |
| Connecticut (CT) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-82 |
| Delaware (DE) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | 13 Del. Code § 1512 |
| District of Columbia (DC) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | D.C. Code § 16-913 |
| Florida (FL) | Formula | Abolished | No | Fla. Stat. § 61.08 |
| Georgia (GA) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | O.C.G.A. § 19-6-1 |
| Hawaii (HI) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | HRS § 580-47 |
| Idaho (ID) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | Yes | Idaho Code § 32-705 |
| Illinois (IL) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | 750 ILCS 5/504 |
| Indiana (IN) | Discretionary | Capped / restricted | No | Ind. Code § 31-15-7 |
| Iowa (IA) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Iowa Code § 598.21 |
| Kansas (KS) | Discretionary | Capped / restricted | No | Kan. Stat. § 23-2905 |
| Kentucky (KY) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | KRS § 403.200 |
| Louisiana (LA) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | Yes | La. Civ. Code art. 111 |
| Maine (ME) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A § 951 |
| Maryland (MD) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Md. Fam. Law § 11-106 |
| Massachusetts (MA) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | M.G.L. c. 208 § 49 |
| Michigan (MI) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | MCL § 552.23 |
| Minnesota (MN) | Guidelines | Indefinite possible | No | Minn. Stat. § 518.552 |
| Mississippi (MS) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Miss. Code § 93-5-23 |
| Missouri (MO) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.335 |
| Montana (MT) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Mont. Code § 40-4-203 |
| Nebraska (NE) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-365 |
| Nevada (NV) | Formula | Indefinite possible | Yes | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 125.150 |
| New Hampshire (NH) | Formula | Capped / restricted | No | RSA 458:19-a |
| New Jersey (NJ) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | N.J.S.A. § 2A:34-23 |
| New Mexico (NM) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | Yes | N.M. Stat. § 40-4-7 |
| New York (NY) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | DRL § 236 |
| North Carolina (NC) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | G.S. § 50-16.3A |
| North Dakota (ND) | Formula | Capped / restricted | No | N.D. Cent. Code § 14-05-24 |
| Ohio (OH) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | Ohio Rev. Code § 3105.18 |
| Oklahoma (OK) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | 43 O.S. § 121 |
| Oregon (OR) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | ORS 107.105 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701 |
| Rhode Island (RI) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16 |
| South Carolina (SC) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | S.C. Code § 20-3-130 |
| South Dakota (SD) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | S.D. Codified Laws § 25-4-42 |
| Tennessee (TN) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Tenn. Code § 36-5-121 |
| Texas (TX) | Formula | Capped / restricted | Yes | Tex. Fam. Code § 8.051 |
| Utah (UT) | Discretionary | Capped / restricted | No | Utah Code § 30-3-5 |
| Vermont (VT) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Vt. Stat. tit. 15 § 752 |
| Virginia (VA) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | Va. Code § 20-107.1 |
| Washington (WA) | Formula | Indefinite possible | Yes | Rev. Code § 26.09.090 |
| West Virginia (WV) | Discretionary | Indefinite possible | No | W. Va. Code § 48-8-103 |
| Wisconsin (WI) | Formula | Indefinite possible | Yes | Wis. Stat. § 767.56 |
| Wyoming (WY) | Formula | Indefinite possible | No | Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-114 |
Frequently asked questions
Not legal or financial advice. Child support is determined by a court based on your state’s official worksheet. Online estimators provide an informal planning figure only. Laws change — always confirm the current guideline with your state child support agency or a licensed family law attorney in your state before relying on any number.