How long does alimony last?

Alimony duration is typically tied to the length of the marriage. A common rule of thumb is one-third to one-half the length of the marriage. For marriages over 20 years, some states allow indefinite alimony.

Can alimony be modified?

In most states, alimony can be modified if there is a significant change in circumstances, such as job loss, retirement, or a significant increase in the recipient spouse earning capacity.

For divorce agreements finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is no longer tax-deductible for the payer or taxable income for the recipient under federal tax law. Agreements finalized before 2019 follow the old rules unless modified.

How much alimony will I have to pay?

The amount of alimony you pay depends on the income difference between spouses, the length of your marriage, and your state's guidelines. States with formulas (like California, Illinois, and New York) typically calculate alimony as 20–40% of the income difference. In discretionary states, courts weigh multiple factors. Use our free calculator above for a quick estimate based on your specific situation.

What percentage is alimony?

Alimony percentages vary by state. California and Colorado use roughly 40% of the higher earner's income minus 50% of the lower earner's income. Illinois uses 33.3% minus 25%. New York uses 30% minus 20%. Pennsylvania uses 33% of the income difference. Most states without formulas generally award 20–35% of the income difference, though actual amounts depend on judicial discretion.

How to calculate alimony in my state?

To calculate alimony in your state: 1) Determine both spouses' gross annual incomes. 2) Check if your state uses a formula (CA, CO, IL, NY, PA, MA do) or judicial discretion. 3) For formula states, apply the state-specific calculation. 4) Estimate duration based on marriage length — typically one-third to one-half the years married. Use our free alimony calculator to get an instant estimate for any of the 50 states.

Wisconsin Maintenance Calculator

Estimate maintenance (alimony / spousal support) for Wisconsin based on income, marriage length, and state guidelines. This is a starting point, not legal advice — every case is different.

Community Property

Higher earner's annual gross income

Lower earner's annual gross income

Length of marriage (years)

I am the...

How is maintenance calculated in Wisconsin?

Maintenance based on need and fairness. No specific formula. Under current law, Wisconsin is a community property state, meaning marital assets are generally divided equally.

Maintenance (also called alimony, spousal support, spousal maintenance) in Wisconsin is typically based on factors including: the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning potential, the standard of living established during the marriage, age and health of both parties, and each spouse's financial needs and obligations.

How long does maintenance last in Wisconsin?

Duration is typically tied to the length of the marriage. A common rule of thumb is that maintenance lasts for about one-third to one-half the length of the marriage. The actual duration in Wisconsin depends on the specific circumstances of your case and judicial discretion.

Maintenance usually ends when the recipient remarries, either spouse dies, or the court determines the recipient has had enough time to become self-supporting.

Related resources

Wisconsin Settlement Calculator →

Full settlement projection for Wisconsin

Alimony Calculator — All States →

Compare alimony estimates across all 50 states

How Long Does Maintenance Last in Wisconsin? →

Duration rules, examples, and guidelines for Wisconsin

Alimony Rules by State →

Formulas, duration guidelines, and key patterns in all 50 states

Run Your Full Settlement Projection →

See if your settlement lasts through retirement

How Is Alimony Calculated? →

State-by-state breakdown of formulas and factors

SamplePro Analysis Preview

See how maintenance interacts with housing, savings, and retirement in a full 30-year projection.

Money lasts to

~Age 93

with current plan

Peak savings

~$892K

around age 58

Sell the home?

Age 100+

if equity is unlocked

Built for a fictional person — see how we model settlements over 30+ years. Pro starts at $19.

See Full Sample Analysis →

DISCLAIMER

This calculator provides rough estimates for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal or financial advice. Actual maintenance awards depend on many factors specific to your case, including local court practices, individual circumstances, and judicial discretion. State laws and guidelines change frequently. Consult a family law attorney in Wisconsin for advice specific to your situation.

Other states

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wyoming

From uncertainty to clarity in 3 steps

No account required. No credit card. Just your numbers.

Enter your numbers

Settlement amount, income, expenses, alimony, house — takes about 2 minutes. Everything runs privately in your browser.

See the projection

Get a year-by-year chart showing your net worth from now through age 100. Green, yellow, or red — you'll know where you stand instantly.

Model & export

Test different settlement terms to find which saves you the most money, compare offers side-by-side, and export a report for your attorney.

Built on objective, deterministic financial models

Every projection is deterministic — same inputs always produce the same outputs. Results are estimates based on the assumptions you provide.

Deterministic Math EnginePublished Tax & Actuarial DataEducational Tool Only

Free to explore

See what a Pro analysis looks like

We built a complete Pro analysis for a fictional person named Sarah. Explore every section — charts, what-if scenarios, risk timeline, negotiation leverage — so you can see what’s included before running your own numbers.

View Sample AnalysisNo sign-up required

You don’t need a $5,000 CDFA retainer to understand your own numbers

Start with the free projection. If the numbers raise questions you can’t answer, upgrade to Pro for $19 — one-time, no subscription — and discover which settlement terms could save you thousands.

Free

Year-by-year projection