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California Alimony Calculator (2026)

Cal. Fam. Code § 4320 makes clear California has no statutory formula for post‑judgment spousal support; judges must weigh 14 statutory factors. Many counties only apply a formula for temporary support while a case is pending, but the estimate below follows the widely cited American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers rule‑of‑thumb and should be treated as a rough guide, not legal authority.

Reviewed 2026-09-02 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice.

California has no statutory alimony formula. Courts decide case by case under Cal. Fam. Code § 4320. The calculator below shows a widely used rule of thumb (the AAML guideline) as a negotiation starting point — it is not the law and a judge may land anywhere the factors justify.
Before taxes.
Before taxes.
The law behind this calculator: California spousal support factors (post-judgment) — Cal. Fam. Code § 4320.

How California calculates it

  • Calculate 30% of the higher‑earning spouse’s annual gross income.
  • Calculate 20% of the lower‑earning spouse’s annual gross income.
  • Subtract the lower‑earner amount from the higher‑earner amount to get a preliminary support figure.
  • Apply the cap so the recipient’s total income does not exceed 40% of the combined income, reducing the figure if necessary.
  • Determine duration: 30% of marriage length if under 3 years, 50% if 3–10 years, 75% if 10–20 years, and indefinite if over 20 years.

Worked example

In the example, the higher‑earning spouse makes $100,000 per year and the lower‑earning spouse makes $40,000 per year in a 12‑year marriage. Applying the rule‑of‑thumb, 30% × $100,000 = $30,000 and 20% × $40,000 = $8,000, giving a difference of $22,000 per year; the 40% cap reduces this to $16,000 per year, or about $1,333 per month as a starting point. For a 12‑year marriage, the duration guide falls in the 10–20‑year band, so 75% of 144 months ≈ 108 months. The court is not bound by any of these calculations.

Frequently asked questions

How does California calculate temporary alimony while a divorce is pending?

California has no statutory formula for permanent support, but many counties use a temporary guideline such as 40% of the payer’s net income minus 50% of the payee’s net income; the rule‑of‑thumb shown here is only an estimate for post‑judgment support.

Is alimony taxable in California?

For divorces finalized after 2018, California follows federal law: alimony received is not deductible by the payer and is not taxable to the recipient.

Can a California alimony order end before the guideline duration?

Yes. The court can modify or terminate support earlier if a material change in circumstances occurs, even though the rule‑of‑thumb suggests a duration based on marriage length.

What happens if my income changes after the alimony order?

California courts may adjust the amount or duration if either party experiences a significant increase or decrease in income, because the judge must consider the 14 statutory factors, not just the initial estimate.

Have there been recent changes to California alimony law?

The statute still lists the same 14 factors; however, courts have increasingly relied on the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers guideline for rough estimates, and temporary support formulas vary by county.

Is the calculation different in Los Angeles, San Diego or San Francisco?

No. Cal. Fam. Code § 4320 applies statewide, so courts in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and every other county start from the same guideline. Local practice can differ in how judges weigh deviation factors and in typical negotiated outcomes, but the formula on this page is the one used across California.

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