Missouri Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support and how long it lasts under RSMo § 452.335. Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate with a step-by-step breakdown and statute citations.
Missouri 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 RSMo § 452.335 · Verified June 1, 2026
Missouri has no statutory alimony formula
Missouri 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 Missouri 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: Threshold finding required under RSMo 452.335: the requesting spouse must lack sufficient property to meet reasonable needs AND be unable to support themselves through appropriate employment (or be the custodian of a child whose circumstances make at-home care appropriate). There is no minimum marriage-length eligibility bar in the current statute.
Factors Missouri Courts Weigh
- •Financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to them, and their ability to meet needs independently
- •Time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment
- •Comparative earning capacity of each spouse
- •Standard of living established during the marriage
- •Obligations and assets, including marital property apportioned to each party and each party's separate property
- •Duration of the marriage
- •Age and the physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance
- •Ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet their own needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance
- •Conduct of the parties during the marriage
- •Any other relevant factors the court deems just
How Missouri Alimony Works
- •Missouri has NO statutory formula for the AMOUNT of maintenance (the state term for alimony). The amount is set at judicial discretion based on the RSMo 452.335 factors after a threshold needs/inability-to-support finding.
- •A maintenance award is not automatic: the court must first find the requesting spouse lacks sufficient property to meet reasonable needs and cannot support themselves through appropriate employment (or must stay home to care for a child).
- •Missouri also has NO statutory cap or percentage limit on the DURATION of maintenance. Duration is discretionary; the court may set a termination date or leave the award open-ended, and a court may award maintenance of indefinite duration in appropriate cases.
- •A 2025 reform bill (SB 562) proposed restructuring maintenance into bridge, rehabilitative, and durational types with marriage-length duration caps (50%/60%/75%), but that bill did NOT become law — it advanced only to a committee 'Do Pass' vote and was not enacted. The current statute (RSMo 452.335, effective since 1988) contains none of those provisions.
- •Maintenance can be ordered modifiable or non-modifiable; unless made non-modifiable, it may be increased, decreased, extended, terminated, or otherwise modified on a substantial and continuing change of circumstances. Maintenance generally terminates on the death of either party or the remarriage of the recipient.
This is an estimate for educational purposes only, not legal advice. Alimony is highly discretionary; a Missouri judge can order a different amount or duration. Consult a licensed Missouri family-law attorney about your situation. See the official Missouri resource.
How Missouri Calculates Alimony
Missouri addresses spousal support under RSMo § 452.335. 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 Missouri
- Missouri has NO statutory formula for the AMOUNT of maintenance (the state term for alimony). The amount is set at judicial discretion based on the RSMo 452.335 factors after a threshold needs/inability-to-support finding.
- A maintenance award is not automatic: the court must first find the requesting spouse lacks sufficient property to meet reasonable needs and cannot support themselves through appropriate employment (or must stay home to care for a child).
- Missouri also has NO statutory cap or percentage limit on the DURATION of maintenance. Duration is discretionary; the court may set a termination date or leave the award open-ended, and a court may award maintenance of indefinite duration in appropriate cases.
- A 2025 reform bill (SB 562) proposed restructuring maintenance into bridge, rehabilitative, and durational types with marriage-length duration caps (50%/60%/75%), but that bill did NOT become law — it advanced only to a committee 'Do Pass' vote and was not enacted. The current statute (RSMo 452.335, effective since 1988) contains none of those provisions.
- Maintenance can be ordered modifiable or non-modifiable; unless made non-modifiable, it may be increased, decreased, extended, terminated, or otherwise modified on a substantial and continuing change of circumstances. Maintenance generally terminates on the death of either party or the remarriage of the recipient.
How Long Alimony Lasts in Missouri
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
Missouri'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
Threshold finding required under RSMo 452.335: the requesting spouse must lack sufficient property to meet reasonable needs AND be unable to support themselves through appropriate employment (or be the custodian of a child whose circumstances make at-home care appropriate). There is no minimum marriage-length eligibility bar in the current statute.
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 Missouri law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Missouri alimony calculator accurate?
It applies the Missouri guideline from RSMo § 452.335 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 Missouri?
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 Missouri's current rules for state income tax.
Does cheating affect alimony in Missouri?
It depends on the state. Some states let courts consider marital misconduct among the alimony factors, while others bar it entirely. Review RSMo § 452.335 and speak with a Missouri 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 Missouri court actually orders may differ significantly from any estimate here. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed Missouri family-law attorney.
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