Alimony Laws

Alabama Alimony Laws: The 2017 Reform and How It Works (2026)

Alabama alimony law after the 2017 reform: three types (interim, rehabilitative, periodic), duration limits, court factors, and when support ends. Updated 2026.

Alaska Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Alaska calls spousal support "spousal maintenance" under AS 25.24.160(a)(2). No formula -- courts weigh 6 factors. Property division comes first; reorientation and rehabilitative awards are short-term.

Alimony by State: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

How alimony (spousal support) works in every US state: the types, how courts calculate amount and duration, how long it lasts, who qualifies, the federal tax rules, and a 50-state comparison table.

Arizona Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: The 2023 Guidelines (2026)

Arizona calls alimony "spousal maintenance." Learn the two-step eligibility test under A.R.S. 25-319, how the 2023 court guidelines (updated Sept 2025) calculate amount and duration ranges, and when maintenance ends.

Arkansas Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Learn how Arkansas alimony laws work under Ark. Code Ann. 9-12-312: no formula, discretionary need-and-ability standard, types of spousal support, and when alimony automatically ends.

California Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

California calls spousal support what most states call alimony. Learn how temporary guideline support and long-term discretionary support under Fam. Code § 4320 work, how long support lasts, and what SB 711 (2026) means for California state taxes.

Colorado Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: The Advisory Guideline (2026)

Colorado calls spousal support "spousal maintenance." An advisory guideline under C.R.S. § 14-10-114 suggests amount and duration when combined income is $240,000 or less and the marriage lasted 3+ years. Courts retain full discretion.

Connecticut Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Connecticut alimony is governed by Conn. Gen. Stat. section 46b-82. No formula exists, fault is an explicit factor, and permanent alimony is still available. Learn how courts decide awards, duration, and modification.

Delaware Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Delaware alimony is governed by 13 Del. C. section 1512. Learn the dependent-spouse threshold, the 50-percent duration cap for marriages under 20 years, how courts set amounts, and when alimony terminates.

Florida Alimony Laws: Types, Duration, and the 2023 Reform (2026)

Florida abolished permanent alimony in 2023. Learn the four current types under Fla. Stat. 61.08, durational caps, the 35% amount rule, and how alimony ends.

Georgia Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Georgia alimony is discretionary under O.C.G.A. 19-6-1 and 19-6-5. Courts weigh eight factors with no formula. Adultery or desertion by the requesting spouse bars alimony entirely.

Hawaii Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Hawaii spousal support (alimony) is governed by HRS § 580-47. Courts weigh 13 statutory factors with no formula. Learn how courts decide, what types exist, how long support lasts, and when it ends.

Idaho Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Learn how Idaho spousal maintenance works under Idaho Code 32-705: the two-part threshold test, court factors including marital fault, no formula, tax rules, and when support ends.

Illinois Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: The Formula Explained (2026)

Illinois calls spousal support "maintenance." A statutory formula under 750 ILCS 5/504 sets amount (33.3% payer net minus 25% recipient net, capped at 40% combined) and duration (marriage years x multiplier) when combined income is under $500,000.

Indiana Spousal Maintenance Laws: Why Indiana Has No General Alimony (2026)

Indiana has no general alimony. Under Indiana Code 31-15-7-2, spousal maintenance is available only for incapacity, caregiving for an incapacitated child, or up to 3 years of rehabilitative support. Learn the rules, the 3-year cap, and how property division fills the gap.

Iowa Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Iowa spousal support (alimony) law explained: Iowa Code § 598.21A, four types (traditional, rehabilitative, reimbursement, transitional), 10 court factors, no formula, modification and tax rules for 2026.

Kansas Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Kansas calls spousal support "maintenance." Learn how courts award it, the 121-month statutory cap, termination on remarriage, and how local guidelines differ from state law.

Kentucky Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Kentucky calls court-ordered post-divorce support "maintenance," governed by KRS 403.200. No formula exists; courts apply a two-part eligibility test and six factors to set amount and duration.

Louisiana Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: Interim and Final Support (2026)

Louisiana spousal support law explained: interim support during divorce, the 180-day termination rule, the not-at-fault requirement for final support, and the one-third net income cap under La. Civ. Code arts. 111-113.

Maine Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Maryland Alimony Laws: Rehabilitative and Indefinite Alimony (2026)

Maryland favors rehabilitative alimony. Indefinite alimony requires proving the recipient cannot become self-supporting, or that living standards would be unconscionably disparate. No formula.

Massachusetts Alimony Laws: Types, Duration Limits, and the Reform Act (2026)

Massachusetts Alimony Reform Act (2011) set four types of alimony under M.G.L. c. 208 ss. 48-55: general term, rehabilitative, reimbursement, and transitional. Durational caps, amount limits, and termination rules explained.

Michigan Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Michigan uses the term spousal support, not alimony. No statutory formula exists. Courts weigh the Sparks v. Sparks factors under MCL 552.23 to make a just and reasonable award. Learn how periodic support and alimony in gross differ, when support ends, and the post-TCJA tax rules.

Minnesota Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: The 2024 Reform (2026)

Minnesota calls it spousal maintenance. The 2024 reform (HF 3204, eff. Aug 1, 2024) renamed the types to transitional and indefinite and added three marriage-length rebuttable presumptions under Minn. Stat. section 518.552. No amount formula exists.

Mississippi Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Learn how Mississippi alimony works: the Armstrong factors, four types of spousal support, fault rules, cohabitation termination, and federal tax treatment under current law.

Missouri Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Missouri maintenance is governed by Mo. Rev. Stat. 452.335. No formula exists; courts apply a two-part threshold test and 10 factors. Learn how courts set amount and duration, when maintenance ends, and how it differs from child support.

Montana Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Montana calls spousal support "maintenance." Learn how courts apply the two-part threshold test and six statutory factors under MCA 40-4-203 to decide if: and how much: maintenance is awarded.

Nebraska Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Nebraska alimony law explained: Neb. Rev. Stat. 42-365, how courts apply the reasonableness standard, statutory factors, termination on remarriage or death, modification rules, and tax treatment for 2026.

Nevada Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Nevada alimony is discretionary under NRS 125.150. Learn the 11 factors courts weigh, the 20% modification rule, termination rules, and how spousal support differs from child support.

New Hampshire Alimony Laws: The 2019 Formula and How It Works (2026)

New Hampshire alimony laws use a statutory formula under RSA 458:19-a: term alimony equals 23% of the income difference between spouses, capped at reasonable need, with a maximum duration of 50% of the marriage length.

New Jersey Alimony Laws: Open Durational Alimony and the 2014 Reform (2026)

New Mexico Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

New Mexico spousal support (alimony) is governed by NMSA 1978, Section 40-4-7. No binding formula -- courts weigh 10 factors. Four types: rehabilitative, transitional, indefinite, and single sum. Discretionary awards.

New York Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: The Formula and Duration (2026)

New York calls spousal support "maintenance." A statutory formula under DRL section 236(B) applies to income up to $241,000 (2026 cap). Advisory duration ranges from 15 to 50 percent of the marriage length depending on how long the marriage lasted.

North Carolina Alimony Laws: Dependent Spouse, Fault, and Support (2026)

North Carolina alimony law uses a dependent-spouse/supporting-spouse framework under N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-16.3A. Learn about the 16 factors, the adultery bar and mandate, postseparation support, and when alimony ends.

North Dakota Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: No Permanent Support (2026)

North Dakota calls spousal support what other states call alimony. Under N.D.C.C. 14-05-24.1, permanent support is prohibited. Learn how courts use the Ruff-Fischer factors to set limited-term awards.

Ohio Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Ohio calls it spousal support, not alimony. No formula exists. Courts weigh 14 factors under ORC 3105.18, and can only modify support if the decree expressly reserves jurisdiction.

Oklahoma Alimony Laws: How Support Alimony Works (2026)

Oklahoma calls court-ordered spousal support "support alimony." Learn how courts decide under 43 O.S. 121 and 134, why there is no formula, how alimony ends on remarriage (with the 90-day exception), and the federal tax rules.

Oregon Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Oregon calls it spousal support, not alimony. Learn about the three statutory types under ORS 107.105(1)(d) — transitional, compensatory, and spousal maintenance — how courts decide, and when it ends.

Pennsylvania Alimony Laws: Spousal Support, APL, and Post-Divorce Alimony (2026)

Pennsylvania recognizes three support types: spousal support and APL (formula-based under Pa. R.C.P. 1910.16-4) and post-divorce alimony (discretionary, 17 factors, no formula under 23 Pa. C.S. 3701). Learn amounts, duration, and tax rules.

Rhode Island Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Learn how Rhode Island alimony works under R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-16: the rehabilitative purpose, court factors, no-formula discretion, modification rules, and tax treatment.

South Carolina Alimony Laws: Types, Fault, and Permanent Alimony (2026)

South Carolina still allows permanent periodic alimony under S.C. Code 20-3-130. Learn the five types, the adultery bar, the 90-day cohabitation rule, and the 13 factors courts use.

South Dakota Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

South Dakota alimony laws explained: SDCL 25-4-41, the six discretionary factors (including fault), four types of spousal support, modification rules, and tax treatment.

Tennessee Alimony Laws: The Four Types of Spousal Support (2026)

Tennessee recognizes four types of alimony under Tenn. Code Ann. section 36-5-121: rehabilitative (preferred), alimony in futuro, transitional, and alimony in solido. No formula; courts weigh 12 factors.

Texas Alimony Laws: Spousal Maintenance and Support (2026)

Texas calls court-ordered support spousal maintenance (Tex. Fam. Code ch. 8). Learn who qualifies, the $5,000/month or 20% cap, duration limits by marriage length, contractual alimony, and the federal tax rules.

Utah Alimony Laws: Duration Limits and the 2024 Update (2026)

Utah alimony is governed by Utah Code section 81-4-502. Courts weigh nine statutory factors with no formula. Duration cannot exceed the marriage length. A 2024 law adds a rebuttable presumption of income equalization for marriages of 10 or more years.

Vermont Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Learn how Vermont spousal maintenance (alimony) works under 15 V.S.A. § 752: the two-part threshold test, rehabilitative vs. long-term awards, the advisory guidelines table, modification rules, and tax treatment.

Virginia Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Virginia calls it spousal support, not alimony. Final awards are discretionary under Va. Code section 20-107.1 (13 factors). Adultery generally bars support. A pendente lite formula applies for combined income under $10,000.

Washington Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Washington calls spousal support "maintenance" under RCW 26.09.090. Courts have full discretion -- no formula -- guided by six statutory factors. A 2024 Supreme Court ruling confirmed need is not a strict prerequisite.

Washington, D.C. Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

West Virginia Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

West Virginia spousal support laws explained: the four types, the 20 court factors under W. Va. Code 48-6-301, fault rules, termination on remarriage or death, and modification. Updated June 2026.

Wisconsin Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)

Wisconsin maintenance (alimony) is governed by Wis. Stat. 767.56. No formula exists. Courts weigh 10 factors and aim for both support and fairness. Learn how courts decide, how long it lasts, and when it ends.

Wyoming Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Learn how Wyoming alimony laws work in 2026: the just-and-equitable standard, why courts prefer property division, how need and ability to pay determine awards, and when alimony ends.