Spousal maintenance, also called alimony or spousal support in many states, is handled differently across the country. Some states use formulas, worksheets, or guideline calculators. Others do not have a strict formula and instead rely on statutory factors such as the length of the marriage, each party’s income and earning capacity, standard of living during the marriage, age, health, and ability to become self-supporting. Because of that, these resources are best viewed as starting points rather than guarantees of what a court will order.
State-by-state links
- Alabama — No statewide formula; start with self-help forms and resources: https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/resource/do-it-yourself-instructions-and-forms
- Alaska — Court self-help on spousal support: https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/shcspousal.htm
- Arizona — Official spousal maintenance guidelines: https://www.azcourts.gov/familylaw/Child-Support-Family-Law-Information/Spousal-Maintenance-Guidelines
- Arkansas — Self-help resources: https://arcourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/library/self-help
- California — California Courts spousal support overview: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/spousal-support
- Colorado — Official child support and maintenance calculator portal: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/calculate-support-payments
- Connecticut — Official Connecticut dissolution/alimony statutes chapter: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2024/sup/chap_815j.htm
- Delaware — Delaware Courts spousal support information: https://courts.delaware.gov/Forms/Download.aspx?id=122828
- Florida — Florida Courts self-help information for family law matters, including alimony: https://www.flcourts.gov/Services/Family-Courts/self-help-information
- Georgia — Georgia Legal Aid alimony resource: https://www.georgialegalaid.org/resource/what-should-i-know-about-alimony
- Hawaii — Hawaii Judiciary divorce law overview covering alimony: https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/divorce/divorce_law_in_hawaii
- Idaho — Idaho Court Assistance Office spousal support guide: https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/docs/publications/DCCS-7.pdf
- Illinois — Official Illinois maintenance statute with formula: https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/075000050k504.htm
- Indiana — Indiana Judicial Branch self-service legal center: https://www.in.gov/courts/selfservice/
- Iowa — Iowa Judicial Branch divorce page discussing spousal support: https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/divorce
- Kansas — Kansas Legal Services maintenance overview: https://www.kansaslegalservices.org/page/255/spousal-support-maintenance
- Kentucky — Kentucky legal self-help portal: https://kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Pages/default.aspx
- Louisiana — Louisiana final periodic support statute: https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=108548
- Maine — Maine Judicial Branch spousal support page: https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/family/spousal-support.html
- Maryland — Maryland Courts divorce page with alimony information: https://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/family/divorce
- Massachusetts — Massachusetts alimony law and guidance: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-alimony
- Michigan — Michigan Legal Help spousal support overview: https://michiganlegalhelp.org/resources/family/spousal-support-alimony
- Minnesota — Official Minnesota maintenance statute: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/518.552
- Mississippi — Mississippi Bar consumer page on how alimony is determined: https://www.msbar.org/for-the-public/consumer-information/how-is-the-amount-of-alimony-determined/
- Missouri — Missouri maintenance statute: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=452.335
- Montana — Montana maintenance statute: https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0400/chapter_0040/part_0020/section_0030/0400-0040-0020-0030.html
- Nebraska — Nebraska alimony statute: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=42-365
- Nevada — Nevada self-help center: https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/
- New Hampshire — New Hampshire uniform alimony order: https://www.courts.nh.gov/documents/uniform-alimony-order
- New Jersey — NJ Courts alimony resource: https://www.njcourts.gov/glossary/alimony
- New Mexico — New Mexico alimony guidelines and commentaries: https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2024/01/forms_AlimonyGuidelines.pdf
- New York — New York Courts maintenance and child support tools: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/divorce/MaintenanceChildSupportTools.shtml
- North Carolina — North Carolina Judicial Branch family law page: https://www.nccourts.gov/courts/family-law
- North Dakota — North Dakota legal self-help divorce resources: https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/divorce
- Ohio — Ohio Supreme Court spousal support resource guide: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/services-to-courts/domestic-relations-resource-guide/spousal-support/
- Oklahoma — Oklahoma official divorce and alimony statutes: https://govt.westlaw.com/okjc/Browse/Home/Oklahoma/OfficialOklahomaStatutes?guid=NB86FFE30C68C11DB8F04FB3E68C8F4C5
- Oregon — Oregon Law Help FAQ on spousal support: https://oregonlawhelp.org/topics/family/divorce-separation-and-annulment/divorce-process/faqs-about-spousal-support-oregon
- Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania support guidelines PDF: https://www.pacourts.us/assets/opinions/Supreme/out/306civ-5attach%28amend%29.pdf
- Rhode Island — Rhode Island Family Court: https://www.courts.ri.gov/courts/familycourt/pages/default.aspx
- South Carolina — South Carolina alimony statute: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t20c003.php
- South Dakota — South Dakota Unified Judicial System self-help: https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/
- Tennessee — Tennessee alimony statute: https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-36/chapter-5/part-1/section-36-5-121/
- Texas — TexasLawHelp spousal maintenance overview: https://texaslawhelp.org/article/spousal-maintenance-alimony
- Utah — Utah Courts alimony page: https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/divorce/alimony.html
- Vermont — Vermont Judiciary financial issues in divorce, including spousal maintenance: https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/family/divorce/financial-issues
- Virginia — Virginia legal help guide for divorce, child support, and spousal support: https://guides.valawhelp2go.org/divorce
- Washington — Washington self-help resources and court forms: https://www.courts.wa.gov/self-help/
- West Virginia — West Virginia spousal support statute chapter: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/email/48-8/
- Wisconsin — Wisconsin self-help divorce and family law page: https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/divorce.htm
- Wyoming — Wyoming Courts spousal support page: https://www.wyocourts.gov/legal-help-by-topic/divorce-spousal-support/
The examples above reflect the national split: some jurisdictions publish formulas, worksheets, or calculators, while many use factor-based, case-by-case determinations. Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania are among the states with especially useful guideline-style resources, while many others primarily provide statutes, forms, or general judicial guidance instead.
Important disclaimer
These resources are for general informational purposes only. A worksheet, statute, or calculator may help estimate possible spousal maintenance or alimony, but courts often have discretion to deviate based on the facts of the case. The outcome can depend on issues such as income, need, ability to pay, marital lifestyle, property division, health, employability, and the length of the marriage. This page is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
If you are going through a divorce or separation and have questions about spousal maintenance or alimony, it is important to understand that every case is unique. While the resources above can provide helpful guidance, they cannot replace personalized legal advice. Speaking with an experienced family law attorney can help you evaluate your rights, understand potential outcomes, and develop a strategy tailored to your situation. To learn more or to get help with your case, consider reaching out to a qualified family law attorney in your area who can guide you through the process and help you move forward with confidence.
