Texas Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support (alimony) in Texas. Understand the types of alimony available, how courts calculate amounts, and how long payments may last. Updated for 2026.
Texas has a partial formula: court-ordered spousal maintenance is capped at the lesser of $5,000/month or 20% of the paying spouse's average gross monthly income (Tex. Fam. Code Section 8.055). The actual amount within that cap is at the court's discretion based on statutory factors.
Estimate Your Alimony
Interactive Calculator Coming Soon
Our Texas alimony estimator will help you understand potential spousal support amounts based on your income, marriage length, and other factors. Sign up to be notified when it launches.
Get Started with Divorce.aiTypes of Alimony in Texas
Temporary Spousal Support
Court-ordered support during the divorce proceedings. Ends when the divorce is finalized. Governed by general equitable powers of the court. No statutory cap on amount.
Contractual Alimony
Agreed-upon spousal support negotiated between the parties as part of the divorce settlement. Enforceable as a contract. Not subject to the statutory limitations on court-ordered maintenance.
Court-Ordered Spousal Maintenance
Post-divorce maintenance ordered by the court under Tex. Fam. Code Chapter 8. Subject to strict eligibility requirements: requesting spouse must lack sufficient property to provide for minimum reasonable needs AND meet one of these conditions: (1) other spouse convicted of family violence within 2 years, (2) marriage lasted 10+ years and spouse cannot earn sufficient income, (3) requesting spouse has incapacitating disability, or (4) requesting spouse is custodian of a child with a physical or mental disability requiring substantial care. Duration limits: 5 years for family violence or 10-20 year marriage, 7 years for 20-30 year marriage, 10 years for 30+ year marriage, indefinite for disability.
Understand your alimony options
Divorce.ai helps you evaluate whether alimony is likely in your Texas divorce and plan accordingly.
Factors Texas Courts Consider
When determining whether to award alimony and how much, Texas courts evaluate:
Each spouse's ability to provide for their own minimum reasonable needs independently
Education and employment skills of the spouses
Duration of the marriage
Age, employment history, earning ability, and physical and emotional condition of the requesting spouse
Effect on each party's ability to provide for their own minimum reasonable needs while providing child support
Excessive or abnormal expenditures or destruction/concealment of community property
Contribution by one spouse to the education, training, or increased earning power of the other spouse
Property brought to the marriage by either spouse
Contribution of a spouse as homemaker
Marital misconduct (including adultery and cruel treatment) by either spouse
History or pattern of family violence
How Long Does Alimony Last?
While there is no universal rule, alimony duration in Texas 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.
Plan your financial future
Divorce.ai helps you understand potential alimony in your Texas 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.