USA States Alimony Law Directory
Master analytical directory of spousal support statutes, judicial standards, and mathematical modeling frameworks across all 50 U.S. jurisdictions.
| Jurisdiction | Analytical Model | Analytical Summary | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Periodic alimony based on need and ability to pay. Fault may be considered. | High |
| Alaska (AK) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Fair and equitable distribution. Rehabilitative alimony is common. | Moderate |
| Arizona (AZ) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Needs-based determination. Focus on standard of living during marriage. | High |
| Arkansas (AR) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Discretionary based on circumstances of the parties and fault. | High |
| California (CA) | FORMULA ADVISORY | 14 statutory factors. Formula used for temporary; discretionary for final. | Moderate |
| Colorado (CO) | FORMULA STATUTORY | Statutory guidelines/formula for combined incomes up to $360k. | Low |
| Connecticut (CT) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Length of marriage and causes for dissolution are primary factors. | High |
| Delaware (DE) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Limited to 50% of marriage length for marriages under 20 years. | Moderate |
| Florida (FL) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Durational, bridge-the-gap, and rehabilitative. Needs and ability. | High |
| Georgia (GA) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Equitable determination. Adultery may bar alimony in Georgia. | High |
| Hawaii (HI) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Just and equitable. Focus on standard of living and duration. | High |
| Idaho (ID) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Innocent spouse focus. Needs-based with broad judicial discretion. | High |
| Illinois (IL) | FORMULA STATUTORY | Rigid mathematical formula for combined gross under $500k. | Low |
| Indiana (IN) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Maintenance limited to disability or short-term rehabilitation. | Low |
| Iowa (IA) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Equitable distribution. Focus on earning capacity and duration. | Moderate |
| Kansas (KS) | FORMULA ADVISORY | Fair, just, and equitable. Kansas uses advisory local formulas. | Moderate |
| Kentucky (KY) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Maintenance awarded if spouse lacks sufficient property and ability. | High |
| Louisiana (LA) | FORMULA STATUTORY | Final periodic support limited to 1/3 of payer's net income. | Moderate |
| Maine (ME) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | General, transitional, and reimbursement alimony categories. | Moderate |
| Maryland (MD) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Primarily rehabilitative. Indefinite only for disability/unconscionability. | Moderate |
| Massachusetts (MA) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Statutory caps on amount and duration based on marriage length. | Low |
| Michigan (MI) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Fair and peculiar circumstances. Fault is a common factor. | High |
| Minnesota (MN) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Focus on standard of living and ability to meet needs independently. | High |
| Mississippi (MS) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Armstrong factors. Discretionary based on equitable principles. | High |
| Missouri (MO) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Awarded if spouse lacks property and cannot support self. | High |
| Montana (MT) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Maintenance based on UMDA standards. Focus on property and need. | High |
| Nebraska (NE) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Reasonableness and duration. Focus on standard of living. | High |
| Nevada (NV) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Just and equitable. Focus on standard of living and career path. | Moderate |
| New Hampshire (NH) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Awarded if spouse lacks income/property to meet reasonable needs. | Moderate |
| New Jersey (NJ) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Open durational alimony eliminated for marriages under 20 years. | Moderate |
| New Mexico (NM) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Rehabilitative, transitional, or indefinite. Broad discretion. | High |
| New York (NY) | FORMULA STATUTORY | Strict statutory maintenance formula for amount and duration. | Low |
| North Carolina (NC) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Marital misconduct is a key factor in NC alimony determinations. | High |
| North Dakota (ND) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Equitable distribution. Duration based on marriage length. | Moderate |
| Ohio (OH) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Appropriate and reasonable. 14 statutory factors considered. | High |
| Oklahoma (OK) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Awarded on the basis of need and ability. Broad discretion. | High |
| Oregon (OR) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Transitional, compensatory, and spousal maintenance tiers. | Moderate |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | FORMULA ADVISORY | Alimony depends on 17 factors. Focus on rehabilitative support. | High |
| Rhode Island (RI) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Fair and equitable. Focus on standard of living and fault. | High |
| South Carolina (SC) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Fault-based state. Adultery is a complete bar to alimony. | High |
| South Dakota (SD) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Just and proper based on circumstances and fault. | High |
| Tennessee (TN) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Presumption in favor of rehabilitative alimony (rehabilitative/in futuro). | Moderate |
| Texas (TX) | FORMULA STATUTORY | Strict eligibility. 10yr baseline or disability. Caps at 20% gross. | Low |
| Utah (UT) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Standard of living and duration. Support limited to marriage length. | Moderate |
| Vermont (VT) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Awarded if spouse lacks property and cannot support self. | High |
| Virginia (VA) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Adultery bar exists. Discretionary based on 13 factors. | High |
| Washington (WA) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Just and equitable. Focus on standard of living and duration. | High |
| West Virginia (WV) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Fault considered. Four types: fixed, rehabilitative, permanent, transitional. | High |
| Wisconsin (WI) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Support based on standard of living and contribution to education. | High |
| Wyoming (WY) | DISCRETIONARY FACTOR | Just and equitable. Focus on payer's ability and recipient's property. | High |
Alabama (AL)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Periodic alimony based on need and ability to pay. Fault may be considered.
Alaska (AK)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Fair and equitable distribution. Rehabilitative alimony is common.
Arizona (AZ)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Needs-based determination. Focus on standard of living during marriage.
Arkansas (AR)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Discretionary based on circumstances of the parties and fault.
California (CA)
FORMULA ADVISORY
Analytical Summary
14 statutory factors. Formula used for temporary; discretionary for final.
Colorado (CO)
FORMULA STATUTORY
Analytical Summary
Statutory guidelines/formula for combined incomes up to $360k.
Connecticut (CT)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Length of marriage and causes for dissolution are primary factors.
Delaware (DE)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Limited to 50% of marriage length for marriages under 20 years.
Florida (FL)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Durational, bridge-the-gap, and rehabilitative. Needs and ability.
Georgia (GA)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Equitable determination. Adultery may bar alimony in Georgia.
Hawaii (HI)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Just and equitable. Focus on standard of living and duration.
Idaho (ID)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Innocent spouse focus. Needs-based with broad judicial discretion.
Illinois (IL)
FORMULA STATUTORY
Analytical Summary
Rigid mathematical formula for combined gross under $500k.
Indiana (IN)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Maintenance limited to disability or short-term rehabilitation.
Iowa (IA)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Equitable distribution. Focus on earning capacity and duration.
Kansas (KS)
FORMULA ADVISORY
Analytical Summary
Fair, just, and equitable. Kansas uses advisory local formulas.
Kentucky (KY)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Maintenance awarded if spouse lacks sufficient property and ability.
Louisiana (LA)
FORMULA STATUTORY
Analytical Summary
Final periodic support limited to 1/3 of payer's net income.
Maine (ME)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
General, transitional, and reimbursement alimony categories.
Maryland (MD)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Primarily rehabilitative. Indefinite only for disability/unconscionability.
Massachusetts (MA)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Statutory caps on amount and duration based on marriage length.
Michigan (MI)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Fair and peculiar circumstances. Fault is a common factor.
Minnesota (MN)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Focus on standard of living and ability to meet needs independently.
Mississippi (MS)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Armstrong factors. Discretionary based on equitable principles.
Missouri (MO)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Awarded if spouse lacks property and cannot support self.
Montana (MT)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Maintenance based on UMDA standards. Focus on property and need.
Nebraska (NE)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Reasonableness and duration. Focus on standard of living.
Nevada (NV)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Just and equitable. Focus on standard of living and career path.
New Hampshire (NH)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Awarded if spouse lacks income/property to meet reasonable needs.
New Jersey (NJ)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Open durational alimony eliminated for marriages under 20 years.
New Mexico (NM)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Rehabilitative, transitional, or indefinite. Broad discretion.
New York (NY)
FORMULA STATUTORY
Analytical Summary
Strict statutory maintenance formula for amount and duration.
North Carolina (NC)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Marital misconduct is a key factor in NC alimony determinations.
North Dakota (ND)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Equitable distribution. Duration based on marriage length.
Ohio (OH)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Appropriate and reasonable. 14 statutory factors considered.
Oklahoma (OK)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Awarded on the basis of need and ability. Broad discretion.
Oregon (OR)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Transitional, compensatory, and spousal maintenance tiers.
Pennsylvania (PA)
FORMULA ADVISORY
Analytical Summary
Alimony depends on 17 factors. Focus on rehabilitative support.
Rhode Island (RI)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Fair and equitable. Focus on standard of living and fault.
South Carolina (SC)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Fault-based state. Adultery is a complete bar to alimony.
South Dakota (SD)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Just and proper based on circumstances and fault.
Tennessee (TN)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Presumption in favor of rehabilitative alimony (rehabilitative/in futuro).
Texas (TX)
FORMULA STATUTORY
Analytical Summary
Strict eligibility. 10yr baseline or disability. Caps at 20% gross.
Utah (UT)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Standard of living and duration. Support limited to marriage length.
Vermont (VT)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Awarded if spouse lacks property and cannot support self.
Virginia (VA)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Adultery bar exists. Discretionary based on 13 factors.
Washington (WA)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Just and equitable. Focus on standard of living and duration.
West Virginia (WV)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Fault considered. Four types: fixed, rehabilitative, permanent, transitional.
Wisconsin (WI)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Support based on standard of living and contribution to education.
Wyoming (WY)
DISCRETIONARY FACTOR
Analytical Summary
Just and equitable. Focus on payer's ability and recipient's property.