StateTally

Tennessee Alimony Calculator (2026)

Tenn. Code § 36‑5‑121 makes clear that Tennessee has no statutory alimony formula; judges weigh the factors listed in the statute and generally favor rehabilitative or transitional support, reserving long‑term alimony for spouses who cannot be economically self‑sufficient. The numbers below are a rule‑of‑thumb estimate—not legal authority—derived from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers guideline.

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

Tennessee has no statutory alimony formula. Courts decide case by case under Tenn. Code § 36-5-121. 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: Tennessee alimony (four types; rehabilitative preferred) — Tenn. Code § 36-5-121.

How Tennessee calculates it

  • Identify each spouse’s annual gross income.
  • Calculate 30% of the higher earner’s income and 20% of the lower earner’s income.
  • Subtract the lower‑earner amount from the higher‑earner amount to get a preliminary support figure.
  • Apply the 40% combined‑income cap so the recipient’s total income does not exceed 40% of the couple’s combined earnings.
  • Determine a duration guide: 30% of marriage length if under 3 years, 50% if 3–10 years, 75% if 10–20 years, and consider indefinite if over 20 years.
  • Remember: Tennessee courts decide alimony case‑by‑case using statutory factors, not this guideline.

Worked example

Higher earner $100,000/year, lower earner $40,000/year, 12-year marriage: 30% × $100,000 = $30,000; 20% × $40,000 = $8,000; difference $22,000/year, reduced to $16,000 by the 40% cap ≈ $1,333/month as a rule-of-thumb starting point. Duration guide for 12 years (10–20 years): 75% of 144 months ≈ 108 months. The court is not bound by any of this.

Frequently asked questions

Can a short‑term marriage in Tennessee still result in alimony?

Tennessee courts may award alimony for marriages under three years, but the rule‑of‑thumb suggests a duration of 30% of the marriage length, and judges often limit or deny support if rehabilitative needs are minimal.

Is alimony taxable in Tennessee?

Tennessee has no state income tax, so alimony is not taxed at the state level. Federally, alimony from agreements executed after Dec 31 2018 is neither taxable to the recipient nor deductible by the payer.

How does the 40% income cap affect the support amount?

The guideline caps the recipient’s total income—including any personal earnings—at 40% of the couple’s combined income. If the calculated support would push the recipient above that threshold, the amount is reduced to meet the cap.

What types of alimony are most common in Tennessee courts?

Rehabilitative and transitional alimony are preferred under Tenn. Code § 36‑5‑121. Long‑term alimony (alimony in futuro) is reserved for economically disadvantaged spouses who cannot be rehabilitated.

Has Tennessee recently changed its alimony approach?

There is still no statutory formula, but recent case law shows Tennessee judges increasingly reference the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers guideline while maintaining the statutory preference for rehabilitative support.

Is the calculation different in Nashville, Memphis or Knoxville?

No. Tenn. Code § 36-5-121 applies statewide, so courts in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville 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 Tennessee.

Embed this calculator

Attorneys, HR teams, and publishers: add this calculator to your own site free — copy the snippet below. Attribution stays visible.

More calculators