Indiana Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support and how long it lasts under Ind. Code § 31-15-7-2. Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate with a step-by-step breakdown and statute citations.
Indiana 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 Ind. Code § 31-15-7-2 · Verified June 1, 2026
Indiana has no statutory alimony formula
Indiana 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 Indiana 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: Maintenance is not generally available. It is limited to: a physically/mentally incapacitated spouse whose self-support is materially affected; a spouse who must forgo employment to care for an incapacitated child; or rehabilitative maintenance (max 3 years) based on education, interrupted employment, earning capacity, and retraining needs.
Factors Indiana Courts Weigh
- •Educational level of each spouse at the time of marriage and at the time the dissolution action was commenced
- •Whether an interruption in the education, training, or employment of the spouse seeking maintenance occurred during the marriage due to homemaking or child-care responsibilities
- •The earning capacity of each spouse, including educational background, training, employment skills, work experience, and length of absence from the job market
- •The time and expense necessary for the spouse seeking maintenance to acquire sufficient education or training to find appropriate employment
- •Whether a spouse is physically or mentally incapacitated to the extent that their ability to support themselves is materially affected
- •Whether a spouse must forgo or has materially reduced employment to care for a physically or mentally incapacitated child requiring custody and care
- •Duration of the period of incapacity (for incapacity-based maintenance, maintenance continues during incapacity, subject to further court order)
How Indiana Alimony Works
- •Indiana does not have traditional, open-ended 'alimony.' Courts may only order 'spousal maintenance' in the three limited circumstances in IC 31-15-7-2: spousal incapacity, caregiver maintenance for an incapacitated child, or rehabilitative maintenance.
- •There is NO percentage-of-income or shares-offset formula for the amount. Judges set the dollar amount in their discretion within the statutory categories.
- •Rehabilitative maintenance is hard-capped at 3 years from the date of the final decree and cannot be extended, even if the recipient has not become self-supporting.
- •Indiana strongly favors a one-time, roughly equal division of the marital estate (presumed 50/50 under IC 31-15-7-5) and often resolves support through property division rather than ongoing maintenance.
- •Maintenance, once ordered, is modifiable only on a showing of changed circumstances so substantial and continuing as to make the existing terms unreasonable (IC 31-15-7-3).
This is an estimate for educational purposes only, not legal advice. Alimony is highly discretionary; a Indiana judge can order a different amount or duration. Consult a licensed Indiana family-law attorney about your situation. See the official Indiana resource.
How Indiana Calculates Alimony
Indiana addresses spousal support under Ind. Code § 31-15-7-2. 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 Indiana
- Indiana does not have traditional, open-ended 'alimony.' Courts may only order 'spousal maintenance' in the three limited circumstances in IC 31-15-7-2: spousal incapacity, caregiver maintenance for an incapacitated child, or rehabilitative maintenance.
- There is NO percentage-of-income or shares-offset formula for the amount. Judges set the dollar amount in their discretion within the statutory categories.
- Rehabilitative maintenance is hard-capped at 3 years from the date of the final decree and cannot be extended, even if the recipient has not become self-supporting.
- Indiana strongly favors a one-time, roughly equal division of the marital estate (presumed 50/50 under IC 31-15-7-5) and often resolves support through property division rather than ongoing maintenance.
- Maintenance, once ordered, is modifiable only on a showing of changed circumstances so substantial and continuing as to make the existing terms unreasonable (IC 31-15-7-3).
How Long Alimony Lasts in Indiana
Under the AAML national guideline, duration is a share of the marriage length that rises with the length of the marriage; marriages of 20+ years may receive indefinite support. This is an illustration, not a state durational rule.
What Counts as Income
Indiana'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
Maintenance is not generally available. It is limited to: a physically/mentally incapacitated spouse whose self-support is materially affected; a spouse who must forgo employment to care for an incapacitated child; or rehabilitative maintenance (max 3 years) based on education, interrupted employment, earning capacity, and retraining needs.
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 Indiana law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Indiana alimony calculator accurate?
It applies the Indiana guideline from Ind. Code § 31-15-7-2 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 Indiana?
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 Indiana's current rules for state income tax.
Does cheating affect alimony in Indiana?
It depends on the state. Some states let courts consider marital misconduct among the alimony factors, while others bar it entirely. Review Ind. Code § 31-15-7-2 and speak with a Indiana 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 Indiana court actually orders may differ significantly from any estimate here. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed Indiana family-law attorney.
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