Tennessee Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support and how long it lasts under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121. Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate with a step-by-step breakdown and statute citations.
Tennessee 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 Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121 · Verified June 1, 2026
Tennessee has no statutory alimony formula
Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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: No minimum marriage length. Alimony is available only to an "economically disadvantaged" spouse relative to the other; the court first determines whether one spouse is economically disadvantaged before considering type, amount, and duration.
Factors Tennessee Courts Weigh
- •The relative earning capacity, obligations, needs, and financial resources of each party, including income from pension, profit-sharing, retirement plans, and all other sources
- •The relative education and training of each party, and the ability, opportunity, and necessity to secure further education or training to improve earning capacity to a reasonable level
- •The duration of the marriage
- •The age and mental condition of each party
- •The physical condition of each party, including any physical disability or incapacity due to a chronic, debilitating disease
- •The extent to which it would be undesirable for a party to seek employment outside the home because that party will be the custodian of a minor child of the marriage
- •The separate assets of each party, both real and personal, tangible and intangible
- •The provisions made with regard to the marital property and the division of that property
- •The standard of living the parties established during the marriage
- •The extent of each party's tangible and intangible contributions to the marriage, including monetary and homemaker contributions and contributions to the education, training, or increased earning power of the other party
- •The relative fault of the parties, where the court, in its discretion, deems it appropriate
- •Other factors, including the tax consequences to each party, necessary to consider the equities between the parties
How Tennessee Alimony Works
- •Tennessee has NO statutory formula, percentage, or guideline for the AMOUNT of alimony. Under T.C.A. § 36-5-121, the nature, amount, length of term, and manner of payment are committed to the trial court's discretion based on the statutory factors, with the two most important being the disadvantaged spouse's NEED and the obligor spouse's ABILITY TO PAY.
- •Tennessee recognizes four distinct classes of spousal support: rehabilitative alimony (preferred, to help a spouse become self-sufficient), transitional alimony (short-term adjustment when rehabilitation is not needed), alimony in futuro/periodic alimony (long-term or indefinite, for long marriages where rehabilitation is not feasible), and alimony in solido/lump-sum (a fixed total, often paid in installments).
- •Statutory preference: the legislature expressly favors rehabilitative or transitional (short-term) alimony over long-term alimony in futuro; in futuro is reserved for cases where economic rehabilitation is not feasible.
- •Modifiability varies by type: rehabilitative and in futuro alimony are modifiable on a substantial and material change in circumstances; transitional alimony is generally non-modifiable (with limited exceptions); alimony in solido is non-modifiable except by agreement.
- •The statute was last substantively amended in 2022 (2022 Tenn. Acts ch. 762); no 2023-2025 reform created an amount or duration formula. Because no real equation exists, this calculator applies the AAML national model purely as a clearly-labeled illustration, not Tennessee law.
This is an estimate for educational purposes only, not legal advice. Alimony is highly discretionary; a Tennessee judge can order a different amount or duration. Consult a licensed Tennessee family-law attorney about your situation. See the official Tennessee resource.
How Tennessee Calculates Alimony
Tennessee addresses spousal support under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121. 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 Tennessee
- Tennessee has NO statutory formula, percentage, or guideline for the AMOUNT of alimony. Under T.C.A. § 36-5-121, the nature, amount, length of term, and manner of payment are committed to the trial court's discretion based on the statutory factors, with the two most important being the disadvantaged spouse's NEED and the obligor spouse's ABILITY TO PAY.
- Tennessee recognizes four distinct classes of spousal support: rehabilitative alimony (preferred, to help a spouse become self-sufficient), transitional alimony (short-term adjustment when rehabilitation is not needed), alimony in futuro/periodic alimony (long-term or indefinite, for long marriages where rehabilitation is not feasible), and alimony in solido/lump-sum (a fixed total, often paid in installments).
- Statutory preference: the legislature expressly favors rehabilitative or transitional (short-term) alimony over long-term alimony in futuro; in futuro is reserved for cases where economic rehabilitation is not feasible.
- Modifiability varies by type: rehabilitative and in futuro alimony are modifiable on a substantial and material change in circumstances; transitional alimony is generally non-modifiable (with limited exceptions); alimony in solido is non-modifiable except by agreement.
- The statute was last substantively amended in 2022 (2022 Tenn. Acts ch. 762); no 2023-2025 reform created an amount or duration formula. Because no real equation exists, this calculator applies the AAML national model purely as a clearly-labeled illustration, not Tennessee law.
How Long Alimony Lasts in Tennessee
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
Tennessee'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
No minimum marriage length. Alimony is available only to an "economically disadvantaged" spouse relative to the other; the court first determines whether one spouse is economically disadvantaged before considering type, amount, and duration.
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 Tennessee law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Tennessee alimony calculator accurate?
It applies the Tennessee guideline from Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121 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 Tennessee?
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 Tennessee's current rules for state income tax.
Does cheating affect alimony in Tennessee?
It depends on the state. Some states let courts consider marital misconduct among the alimony factors, while others bar it entirely. Review Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121 and speak with a Tennessee 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 Tennessee court actually orders may differ significantly from any estimate here. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed Tennessee family-law attorney.
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