Delaware Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support and how long it lasts under 13 Del. C. § 1512. Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate with a step-by-step breakdown and statute citations.
Delaware Alimony Calculator
This state publishes a guideline equation that takes a share of the payor’s income and subtracts a share of the payee’s.
Based on 13 Del. C. § 1512 · Verified June 1, 2026
Delaware has no statutory alimony formula
Delaware has no statutory alimony formula, so this figure uses the AAML national guideline (30% of the payor's gross income minus 20% of the payee's, capped at 40% of combined income) purely as a ballpark. The figure below is an estimate to give you a ballpark — a Delaware judge decides the actual amount and duration using the factors listed beneath the calculator. About this method.
Enter income details to see your estimate
Eligibility: Recipient must qualify as a 'dependent' party: dependent on the other spouse, lacking sufficient property to meet reasonable needs, and unable to self-support through appropriate employment (or custodian of a child making employment inappropriate). The 50%-of-marriage duration cap applies to marriages under 20 years; marriages of 20+ years have no time limit.
Factors Delaware Courts Weigh
- •Financial resources of the party seeking alimony, including marital and separate property apportioned to them, and their ability to meet their own reasonable needs independently
- •Time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the seeking party to find appropriate employment
- •Standard of living established during the marriage
- •Duration of the marriage
- •Age and physical and emotional condition of both parties
- •Any financial or other contribution made by either party to the education, training, vocational skills, career, or earning capacity of the other party
- •Ability of the party from whom alimony is sought to meet their own needs while paying alimony
- •Tax consequences
- •Whether either party has foregone or postponed economic, education, or other employment opportunities during the marriage
- •Any other factor the Court expressly finds is just and appropriate to consider
How Delaware Alimony Works
- •Delaware has NO statutory formula for the amount of alimony. The Family Court sets the amount and duration entirely by judicial discretion after weighing the § 1512 factors; any calculator output is an illustration, not law.
- •Eligibility is gated: a party must be a 'dependent' spouse who (a) is dependent on the other party, (b) lacks sufficient property (including apportioned marital property) to provide for their own reasonable needs, and (c) is unable to support themselves through appropriate employment (or is the custodian of a child whose condition/circumstances make outside employment inappropriate).
- •Alimony is awarded 'without regard to marital misconduct' — adultery and other fault do not increase or bar an award.
- •Duration is capped by statute: a person is eligible for alimony for a period not to exceed 50% of the length of the marriage, UNLESS the marriage lasted 20 years or longer, in which case there is no time limit on eligibility.
- •Interim/pendente-lite alimony during the divorce proceeding is available under 13 Del. C. § 1512(a); there is no published percentage guideline for the temporary amount either.
This is an estimate for educational purposes only, not legal advice. Alimony is highly discretionary; a Delaware judge can order a different amount or duration. Consult a licensed Delaware family-law attorney about your situation. See the official Delaware resource.
How Delaware Calculates Alimony
Delaware addresses spousal support under 13 Del. C. § 1512. It uses a guideline equation that takes a percentage of the payor's gross income and subtracts a percentage of the payee's gross income, with statutory caps. The calculator above applies that equation to your figures and shows each step.
Unlike child support, alimony is one of the most discretionary areas of family law. Even in states with a guideline equation, the figure is a starting point a judge can adjust after weighing the statutory factors, the length of the marriage, and each spouse's needs and ability to pay. Treat any number here as an informed estimate, not a guaranteed award.
Key Rules in Delaware
- Delaware has NO statutory formula for the amount of alimony. The Family Court sets the amount and duration entirely by judicial discretion after weighing the § 1512 factors; any calculator output is an illustration, not law.
- Eligibility is gated: a party must be a 'dependent' spouse who (a) is dependent on the other party, (b) lacks sufficient property (including apportioned marital property) to provide for their own reasonable needs, and (c) is unable to support themselves through appropriate employment (or is the custodian of a child whose condition/circumstances make outside employment inappropriate).
- Alimony is awarded 'without regard to marital misconduct' — adultery and other fault do not increase or bar an award.
- Duration is capped by statute: a person is eligible for alimony for a period not to exceed 50% of the length of the marriage, UNLESS the marriage lasted 20 years or longer, in which case there is no time limit on eligibility.
- Interim/pendente-lite alimony during the divorce proceeding is available under 13 Del. C. § 1512(a); there is no published percentage guideline for the temporary amount either.
How Long Alimony Lasts in Delaware
Statutory cap (13 Del. C. § 1512(d)): eligibility for alimony may not exceed 50% of the length of the marriage. If the marriage lasted 20 years or more, there is no time limit on eligibility (potentially indefinite/permanent). Bands below encode the 50% cap by marriage length, with the final 20+ year band open-ended.
What Counts as Income
Delaware's calculation uses each spouse’s gross income — earnings before taxes, including wages, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, and many recurring sources. Courts can also impute income to a spouse who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, meaning support can be based on what a spouse could earn rather than what they currently do. Use your most recent pay stubs and tax return for the most accurate estimate.
Eligibility & Modifying an Order
Recipient must qualify as a 'dependent' party: dependent on the other spouse, lacking sufficient property to meet reasonable needs, and unable to self-support through appropriate employment (or custodian of a child making employment inappropriate). The 50%-of-marriage duration cap applies to marriages under 20 years; marriages of 20+ years have no time limit.
Alimony orders can usually be modified when there is a substantial change in circumstances — for example, a significant change in either spouse's income, the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation, retirement, or the payor's loss of employment. The specific rules and any non-modifiable agreements depend on your court order and Delaware law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Delaware alimony calculator accurate?
It applies the Delaware guideline from 13 Del. C. § 1512 to the numbers you enter, so it gives a close estimate of a typical guideline award. It is not an official court calculation — a judge can order a different amount after weighing the statutory factors.
Is alimony taxable in Delaware?
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is not deductible by the payor and is not taxable income to the recipient under federal law. Most states follow the federal treatment, but check Delaware's current rules for state income tax.
Does cheating affect alimony in Delaware?
It depends on the state. Some states let courts consider marital misconduct among the alimony factors, while others bar it entirely. Review 13 Del. C. § 1512 and speak with a Delaware attorney about how fault is treated where you live.
Can alimony be changed later?
Usually yes. Alimony can often be modified when there is a substantial change in circumstances — such as a large change in income, the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation, or the payor's retirement — unless your order or agreement makes it non-modifiable.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Alimony is highly fact-specific and discretionary; the amount and duration a Delaware court actually orders may differ significantly from any estimate here. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed Delaware family-law attorney.
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