Delaware Alimony Calculator (2026)

Delaware courts have no statutory formula, but a common rule‑of‑thumb uses 30% of the higher earner’s gross income minus 20% of the lower earner’s gross income, then reduces the result if the recipient’s total income would exceed 40% of the couple’s combined earnings.

For divorces finalized after 2019, federal law treats alimony as non‑taxable to the recipient and non‑deductible to the payer; Delaware follows that federal treatment, so alimony is not taxed at the state level either.

The rule‑of‑thumb duration for a 12‑year marriage falls in the 10–20‑year band, suggesting 75% of the marriage length (about 108 months). However, Delaware law caps the actual period at 50% of the marriage for marriages under 20 years, so the statutory maximum is 72 months (6 years).

Yes. The rule‑of‑thumb includes a cap so the recipient’s total income—including alimony—does not exceed 40% of the combined income of both spouses.

While Delaware’s statutory duration cap of 50% for marriages under 20 years remains unchanged, the 2019 federal tax reform eliminated the tax deductibility for payers and taxability for recipients, which directly impacts the net benefit of alimony in Delaware.

No. 13 Del. C. § 1512 applies statewide, so courts in Wilmington, Dover, Newark 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 Delaware.