How long does alimony last?

Duration depends on your state and the length of your marriage. Short marriages (under 10 years) typically result in alimony lasting a fraction of the marriage length. Long marriages (20+ years) may result in indefinite alimony in some states.

Can alimony be extended?

In most states, alimony can be modified or extended if circumstances change significantly, such as a health crisis or inability to become self-supporting despite good-faith efforts.

When does alimony end automatically?

Alimony typically ends when the term expires, when the recipient remarries, or when either party dies. In some states, cohabitation with a new partner can also terminate or reduce alimony.

What is permanent alimony?

Permanent (or indefinite) alimony has no set end date. It is typically reserved for long marriages (20+ years) where the recipient spouse cannot become self-supporting. Several states have reformed or eliminated permanent alimony in recent years.

Does the length of marriage affect alimony amount?

Not directly in most states, but longer marriages generally result in both longer duration and higher amounts because courts recognize greater economic interdependence and sacrifice over time.

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Alimony Duration Estimator

See how long alimony might last based on your state's rules and your marriage length.

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Marriage length (years)

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DISCLAIMER

This tool provides rough estimates for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Alimony duration depends on many factors beyond marriage length, including income disparity, earning capacity, age, health, standard of living during marriage, and contributions (financial and non-financial) to the marriage. States with “judicial discretion” have no statutory formula — the judge decides based on the totality of circumstances. Even in states with statutory formulas, judges retain significant discretion and actual awards may differ from these estimates. Duration shown represents the statutory maximum — actual awards may be shorter. Tax treatment of alimony varies (post-2018 federal divorces: alimony is not deductible by payer and not taxable to recipient). Consult a family law attorney in your state for advice specific to your situation.

Data sources: State statutes as cited per state (see source field). Formula states include MA (M.G.L. c.208 s.49), IL (750 ILCS 5/504), FL (SB 1416, eff. 2023), CO (C.R.S. 14-10-114), NY (DRL s.236), CA (Fam. Code s.4320), TX (Fam. Code s.8.054), and others. Judicial discretion estimates based on common case law patterns.

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