Minnesota Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support and how long it lasts under Minn. Stat. § 518.552. Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate with a step-by-step breakdown and statute citations.
Minnesota 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 Minn. Stat. § 518.552 · Verified June 1, 2026
Minnesota has no statutory alimony formula
Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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: A maintenance award requires a threshold finding under subd. 1 that the spouse seeking maintenance lacks sufficient property to provide for reasonable needs OR is unable to be adequately self-supporting through appropriate employment (including a custodian of a child whose circumstances make outside employment inappropriate). For marriages under 5 years, the 2024 reform adds a rebuttable presumption that no maintenance should be awarded (Minn. Stat. § 518.552, subd. 3).
Factors Minnesota Courts Weigh
- •The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to the party, and the party's ability to meet needs independently
- •The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment, and the probability, given the party's age and skills, of completing education or training and becoming fully or partially self-supporting
- •The standard of living established during the marriage and the extent to which the standard of living was funded by debt
- •The duration of the marriage and the earnings, seniority, benefits, and other employment opportunities forgone by the spouse seeking maintenance to support the other spouse or children, the length of absence from employment, and the extent to which education, skills, or experience have become outmoded and earning capacity has become permanently diminished
- •The age, and physical, mental, or chemical health of both spouses
- •The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance
- •The contribution of a spouse in furtherance of the other party's employment or business
- •The need and ability of each spouse to prepare for retirement and the anticipated time of retirement
How Minnesota Alimony Works
- •Minnesota calls alimony 'spousal maintenance.' The amount is purely discretionary -- there is NO statutory or guideline formula tying the award to a percentage of either spouse's income. Courts weigh the eight factors in Minn. Stat. § 518.552, subd. 2.
- •Effective August 1, 2024, Minnesota enacted a major reform (2024 Minn. Laws ch. 101, art. 2) adding a statutory DURATION framework in subd. 3 with rebuttable presumptions based on the length of the marriage (measured from the marriage date to the commencement of the dissolution action). Awards entered before August 1, 2024 are grandfathered under the prior temporary/permanent categories.
- •Duration presumptions: under 5 years -> rebuttably presumed no maintenance; 5 to under 20 years -> rebuttably presumed 'transitional' maintenance lasting no longer than one-half the length of the marriage; 20 years or more -> rebuttably presumed indefinite maintenance.
- •The 2024 reform also updated subdivisions addressing cohabitation/modification (subd. 6) and the obligor's retirement (subd. 7, with a presumption favoring modification at customary retirement age), and added subd. 8 requiring standardized modification forms. Maintenance is awarded without regard to marital misconduct.
- •Any maintenance award can be temporary (during a pending case) or final; indefinite maintenance remains modifiable on a substantial change in circumstances under Minn. Stat. § 518A.39 (and subd. 5b).
This is an estimate for educational purposes only, not legal advice. Alimony is highly discretionary; a Minnesota judge can order a different amount or duration. Consult a licensed Minnesota family-law attorney about your situation. See the official Minnesota resource.
How Minnesota Calculates Alimony
Minnesota addresses spousal support under Minn. Stat. § 518.552. 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 Minnesota
- Minnesota calls alimony 'spousal maintenance.' The amount is purely discretionary -- there is NO statutory or guideline formula tying the award to a percentage of either spouse's income. Courts weigh the eight factors in Minn. Stat. § 518.552, subd. 2.
- Effective August 1, 2024, Minnesota enacted a major reform (2024 Minn. Laws ch. 101, art. 2) adding a statutory DURATION framework in subd. 3 with rebuttable presumptions based on the length of the marriage (measured from the marriage date to the commencement of the dissolution action). Awards entered before August 1, 2024 are grandfathered under the prior temporary/permanent categories.
- Duration presumptions: under 5 years -> rebuttably presumed no maintenance; 5 to under 20 years -> rebuttably presumed 'transitional' maintenance lasting no longer than one-half the length of the marriage; 20 years or more -> rebuttably presumed indefinite maintenance.
- The 2024 reform also updated subdivisions addressing cohabitation/modification (subd. 6) and the obligor's retirement (subd. 7, with a presumption favoring modification at customary retirement age), and added subd. 8 requiring standardized modification forms. Maintenance is awarded without regard to marital misconduct.
- Any maintenance award can be temporary (during a pending case) or final; indefinite maintenance remains modifiable on a substantial change in circumstances under Minn. Stat. § 518A.39 (and subd. 5b).
How Long Alimony Lasts in Minnesota
Per the 2024 reform (Minn. Stat. § 518.552, subd. 3, eff. Aug. 1, 2024), duration follows rebuttable presumptions by marriage length: under 5 years -> presumed no award; 5 to under 20 years -> 'transitional' maintenance no longer than one-half (0.5) the length of the marriage; 20 years or more -> indefinite. 'Length of marriage' runs from the marriage date to the commencement of the action.
What Counts as Income
Minnesota'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
A maintenance award requires a threshold finding under subd. 1 that the spouse seeking maintenance lacks sufficient property to provide for reasonable needs OR is unable to be adequately self-supporting through appropriate employment (including a custodian of a child whose circumstances make outside employment inappropriate). For marriages under 5 years, the 2024 reform adds a rebuttable presumption that no maintenance should be awarded (Minn. Stat. § 518.552, subd. 3).
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 Minnesota law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Minnesota alimony calculator accurate?
It applies the Minnesota guideline from Minn. Stat. § 518.552 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 Minnesota?
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 Minnesota's current rules for state income tax.
Does cheating affect alimony in Minnesota?
It depends on the state. Some states let courts consider marital misconduct among the alimony factors, while others bar it entirely. Review Minn. Stat. § 518.552 and speak with a Minnesota 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 Minnesota court actually orders may differ significantly from any estimate here. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed Minnesota family-law attorney.
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