{
  "slug": "alimony-estimate",
  "title": "Alimony / Spousal Support Estimator",
  "heading": "Alimony Estimator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/alimony-estimate",
  "summary": "Common formula ranges for support amount and duration.",
  "description": "Many jurisdictions use a rough guideline: a percentage of the higher earner's income minus a percentage of the lower earner's, capped so the recipient does not exceed a share of combined income. Duration is often tied to marriage length.",
  "formula": "Support = (a% × payor income) − (b% × recipient income); duration ≈ marriage years × factor.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=alimony-estimate",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "payor",
      "label": "Payor monthly income",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 9000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "recipient",
      "label": "Recipient monthly income",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "payorPct",
      "label": "Payor factor",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 33,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 10,
      "max": 50
    },
    {
      "id": "recipPct",
      "label": "Recipient factor",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 25,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 10,
      "max": 50
    },
    {
      "id": "years",
      "label": "Length of marriage",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 12,
      "unit": "years",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "capped",
      "label": "Estimated monthly support",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "support",
      "label": "Formula amount before cap",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "duration",
      "label": "Likely duration",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Total over the term",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Payor monthly income: 9000 $",
      "Recipient monthly income: 3000 $",
      "Payor factor: 33 %",
      "Recipient factor: 25 %",
      "Length of marriage: 12 years"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Estimated monthly support: $1,800",
      "Formula amount before cap: $2,220",
      "Likely duration: 6",
      "Total over the term: $129,600"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter payor monthly income ($).",
      "Enter recipient monthly income ($).",
      "Enter payor factor (%).",
      "Enter recipient factor (%).",
      "Enter length of marriage (years).",
      "Read your estimated monthly support on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "payor": 5400,
        "recipient": 1800,
        "payorPct": 20,
        "recipPct": 15,
        "years": 7
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "payor": 9000,
        "recipient": 3000,
        "payorPct": 33,
        "recipPct": 25,
        "years": 12
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "payor": 14400,
        "recipient": 4800,
        "payorPct": 50,
        "recipPct": 40,
        "years": 19
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Is alimony tax deductible?",
      "a": "For US divorce agreements executed after 2018, alimony is not deductible by the payor and not taxable to the recipient. Older agreements may follow the previous rules."
    },
    {
      "q": "Do judges have to follow a formula?",
      "a": "In most places guideline formulas are advisory for spousal support. Judges weigh earning capacity, health, and standard of living, so real orders vary widely."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Alimony / Spousal Support Estimator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/alimony-estimate)"
}