California Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support (alimony) in California. Understand the types of alimony available, how courts calculate amounts, and how long payments may last. Updated for 2026.
Temporary spousal support uses the Santa Clara Guideline formula (most widely adopted across California counties): 40% of the higher earner's net income minus 50% of the lower earner's net income, calculated via DissoMaster or XSpouse software. This formula applies ONLY to temporary support. Long-term/permanent support is determined by the court's analysis of all 14 factors in Family Code Section 4320 -- the guideline formula cannot be used for long-term support.
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Get Started with Divorce.aiTypes of Alimony in California
Temporary (Pendente Lite) Support
Awarded during the divorce proceedings to maintain the status quo. Calculated using county-specific guideline software, most commonly the Santa Clara Guideline formula: 40% of the higher earner's net income minus 50% of the lower earner's net income. Ends when the divorce is finalized and a long-term order is made.
Long-term (Permanent) Support
Ordered as part of the final judgment based on Family Code Section 4320 factors. For marriages of long duration (10+ years per FC 4336), the court retains jurisdiction indefinitely and shall not set a termination date. For short marriages (under 10 years), support is typically ordered for half the length of the marriage.
Rehabilitative Support
A form of long-term support aimed at enabling the supported party to become self-supporting through education, training, or retraining. Family Code Section 4320(l) establishes the goal that the supported party shall be self-supporting within a reasonable period of time.
Reimbursement Support
Available when one spouse supported the other through education or training with the expectation of shared benefit. Community contributions to education or training may be reimbursed under Family Code Section 2641.
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Factors California Courts Consider
When determining whether to award alimony and how much, California courts evaluate:
(a) Earning capacity of each party to maintain the marital standard of living, including marketable skills, job market, time and expenses for education/training, and impairment of earning capacity by periods of unemployment during marriage for domestic duties (FC 4320(a))
(b) Extent the supported party contributed to the education, training, career position, or license of the supporting party (FC 4320(b))
(c) Ability of the supporting party to pay, considering earning capacity, earned and unearned income, assets, and standard of living (FC 4320(c))
(d) Needs of each party based on the standard of living established during the marriage (FC 4320(d))
(e) Obligations and assets, including separate property, of each party (FC 4320(e))
(f) Duration of the marriage (FC 4320(f))
(g) Ability of the supported party to engage in gainful employment without unduly interfering with interests of dependent children in their custody (FC 4320(g))
(h) Age and health of the parties (FC 4320(h))
(i) All documented evidence of domestic violence history, including emotional distress resulting from such violence (FC 4320(i))
(j) Immediate and specific tax consequences to each party (FC 4320(j))
(k) Balance of hardships to each party (FC 4320(k))
(l) Goal that the supported party shall be self-supporting within a reasonable period of time, generally half the length of the marriage for non-long-term marriages (FC 4320(l))
(m) Criminal conviction of an abusive spouse considered for reduction or elimination of support award (FC 4320(m), FC 4324.5, FC 4325)
(n) Any other factors the court determines are just and equitable (FC 4320(n))
How Long Does Alimony Last?
While there is no universal rule, alimony duration in California generally correlates with the length of the marriage:
| Marriage Length | Typical Alimony Duration |
|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 0-2 years |
| 5-10 years | 2-5 years |
| 10-20 years | 5-10 years |
| 20+ years | Indefinite / Permanent |
These are general guidelines. Actual duration depends on the specific facts of your case and the court's discretion.
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Divorce.ai helps you understand potential alimony in your California divorce so you can plan your finances with confidence.
When Does Alimony End?
Tax Implications of Alimony
Post-2018 Federal Tax Rules
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the tax treatment of alimony:
For the Payer
Alimony payments are not deductible from federal taxes.
For the Recipient
Alimony payments are not taxable income for federal taxes.
State tax treatment may differ. Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.