Nevada Alimony Laws: How Spousal Support Works (2026)

Nevada alimony is discretionary under NRS 125.150. Courts award spousal support when it appears "just and equitable," weighing 11 statutory factors with no binding formula. Either spouse may seek support regardless of gender.

Information last verified on June 1, 2026.

Estimate your situation: Try our free Nevada alimony calculator to estimate spousal support and see the factors a Nevada court weighs.

What is alimony in Nevada?

Alimony in Nevada is a financial payment from one spouse to the other following separation or divorce. Courts may award it as a lump sum, as periodic monthly payments, or as a combination of both.

The governing statute is NRS 125.150, which authorizes a court to award alimony "as appears just and equitable." That phrase gives Nevada judges broad discretion. There is no presumption in favor of, or against, any particular award. Either spouse may request alimony, and courts consider requests from both men and women.

Alimony is distinct from the division of marital property. Nevada is a community property state, and a court divides assets and debts separately under NRS 123.220. The property settlement and the alimony analysis are independent, although courts may consider the property award when evaluating the recipient spouse's financial need.

Alimony is also separate from child support. Child support in Nevada is calculated under a different statutory scheme (NRS 125B) using income guidelines, while alimony is entirely fact-specific and discretionary.

The types of alimony in Nevada

Nevada courts recognize three main forms of spousal support, each suited to different circumstances.

Temporary alimony. Also called pendente lite support, temporary alimony is authorized under NRS 125.040 for the period while a divorce action is pending. It is designed to maintain the financial status quo while the case moves through the court. Temporary alimony ends automatically when the final divorce decree is entered. A temporary award does not bind the court to any particular amount in the final order.

Rehabilitative alimony. Rehabilitative alimony is the most frequently awarded type in Nevada. It is time-limited and designed to help a lower-earning spouse obtain education, job training, or work experience necessary to become self-supporting. The term of a rehabilitative award should be tied to a realistic timeline for the recipient to re-enter the workforce. Courts assess the recipient's existing marketable skills, the education or training needed, and the time required to complete it.

General periodic alimony. General or periodic alimony is ongoing monthly support that can, in appropriate cases, continue indefinitely. For longer marriages where one spouse has been out of the workforce for an extended time, or where age or health significantly limits earning capacity, a court may award support without a fixed end date. Courts sometimes refer to this as permanent alimony, although "permanent" does not mean the obligation can never be changed.

Courts may also order a lump-sum payment instead of, or in addition to, periodic payments. The decree controls the structure of the award.

How Nevada courts decide alimony: the NRS 125.150 factors

The Nevada Legislature codified 11 factors in NRS 125.150 that a court must consider when evaluating an alimony request. The court has discretion to weigh each factor according to the specific circumstances of the case. No single factor is controlling, and there is no formula that combines these factors into a predetermined dollar figure.

The 11 statutory factors are:

1. Financial condition of each spouse. The court compares assets, liabilities, income, and each spouse's overall financial picture.

2. Nature and value of the respective property of each spouse. This includes both community property and any separate property each spouse holds going into the divorce.

3. Contribution of each spouse to any property held jointly. Courts consider who contributed financially and otherwise to the accumulation of marital assets.

4. Duration of the marriage. Longer marriages increase the likelihood and duration of a support award. Short marriages of only a few years typically produce little or no alimony.

5. Income, earning capacity, age, and health of each spouse. This factor encompasses both current earnings and the realistic future ability to earn. Age and health conditions that limit employability weigh heavily here.

6. Standard of living during the marriage. Courts look at the lifestyle the spouses shared, including housing, travel, and spending. A significant disparity in what each spouse can afford post-divorce is relevant.

7. Career before the marriage of the spouse who would receive alimony. If the requesting spouse left an established career to support the marriage or raise children, that sacrifice is considered.

8. Specialized education, training, or marketable skills attained during the marriage. If one spouse improved their professional qualifications during the marriage while the other did not, courts account for the resulting income gap.

9. Contribution of either spouse as homemaker. Non-economic contributions, including childcare, household management, and supporting the other spouse's career, are recognized as having real economic value.

10. Award of property granted by the divorce decree. If the recipient spouse is receiving significant assets in the property division, the court may adjust or reduce the alimony award accordingly.

11. Physical and mental condition of each party. Conditions that affect a spouse's ability to work or maintain employment factor into both need and the ability to become self-sufficient.

A court may also consider any other relevant circumstances it finds equitable.

A note on the "Tonopah formula." Some practitioners and online sources reference a non-binding rule of thumb sometimes called the "Tonopah formula" as a starting-point estimate for Nevada alimony calculations. This is not a statute, not a court rule, and not binding on any Nevada court. Courts are free to follow it, ignore it, or depart from it. It has no legal force, and no Nevada court is required to apply it. Do not treat any informally named formula as a substitute for individualized judicial analysis under NRS 125.150.

Modifying and ending alimony

The 20 percent modification rule. Under NRS 125.150, a change of 20 percent or more in the gross monthly income of the spouse who is ordered to pay alimony constitutes a changed circumstance sufficient to support a motion to modify the award. The statute does not impose a minimum duration before this rule may be invoked.

"Gross monthly income" under the statute means the total amount received each month from any source for a non-self-employed payor, or gross income from any source after deduction of legitimate business expenses (but before personal income taxes or retirement contributions) for a self-employed payor.

Either an increase or a decrease in the payor's income can trigger a review. A significant raise may support an upward modification for the recipient; a job loss or pay cut may support a reduction. The court retains full discretion to determine the appropriate modification after a review.

For support orders entered on or after July 1, 1975, unaccrued future payments may be modified upon a showing of changed circumstances even if the original order did not expressly retain jurisdiction for modification.

Death. Alimony obligations terminate on the death of either party, unless the divorce decree expressly provides otherwise. The obligation does not pass to the paying spouse's estate by default.

Remarriage. When the recipient spouse remarries, periodic alimony payments cease, unless the court has specifically ordered continuation. Parties sometimes negotiate an exception in their settlement agreement, which the court may then incorporate into the decree.

By agreement. Spouses may enter into a marital settlement agreement that includes specific terms about alimony duration, modification rights, and termination events. Courts will generally enforce those terms if they are incorporated into the divorce decree.

Is alimony taxable, and how it differs from Nevada child support

Federal tax rules after 2018. For any divorce or separation agreement executed after December 31, 2018, alimony is not deductible by the paying spouse and is not included in the recipient's gross income for federal income tax purposes. The IRS confirmed this change under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (see IRS Topic No. 452). If your divorce was finalized before January 1, 2019, the prior rules apply: the payer could deduct payments and the recipient reported them as taxable income. A pre-2019 agreement that is later modified with language expressly adopting the post-2018 rules will also follow the new tax treatment from the date of that modification.

Nevada state income tax. Nevada imposes no state income tax on individuals. There is no state-level tax deduction or income inclusion to worry about for either spouse, regardless of when the divorce was finalized.

How alimony differs from child support. Child support and alimony are legally distinct obligations in Nevada. Alimony supports a former spouse and is entirely discretionary under NRS 125.150. Nevada child support, by contrast, is calculated under statutory guidelines in NRS 125B using a formula based on each parent's gross income. Child support has never been deductible by the payer or taxable to the recipient under federal law, regardless of when the order was entered. For a full explanation of how Nevada child support is calculated, see our Nevada child support laws page.

For a broader overview of how other states approach spousal support, see our alimony laws by state guide.

Legal Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Alimony determinations in Nevada involve complex, fact-specific judicial analysis. Consult a licensed Nevada family law attorney for guidance about your specific circumstances.

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Sources

• NRS 125.150 - Alimony, adjudication of property rights, and explanation of disposition of pension or retirement benefits; award of attorney's fee; postjudgment motion; subsequent modification by court (leg.state.nv.us)
• NRS 125.040 - Temporary alimony during pendency of action (leg.state.nv.us)
• NRS 125B - Obligation of Support (leg.state.nv.us)
• Nevada Self-Help Center - Divorce overview and alimony information (selfhelp.nvcourts.gov)
• IRS Topic No. 452 - Alimony and Separate Maintenance (irs.gov)

Last updated: June 1, 2026.