Marriage (Durational Maintenance)
Marriage (Indefinite Maintenance)
Post-Divorce Cohabitation (Less than 20 years)
Post-Divorce Cohabitation (20 years or more)
Understanding New York State Maintenance (Alimony) Calculations
Calculating spousal maintenance (often referred to as alimony) in New York State involves a statutory formula designed to provide a guideline. The actual amount and duration can be influenced by various factors and are ultimately determined by the court. This calculator uses the basic statutory formulas for guideline maintenance, which are often the starting point for negotiations and court decisions.
The calculation depends on the incomes of both parties, the duration of the marriage, and whether the maintenance is sought during the marriage or after a divorce. New York has different guidelines for marriages of shorter duration (durational maintenance) and longer duration, as well as for post-divorce cohabitation.
Guideline Formulas (Effective October 26, 2015, subject to legislative changes):
1. Durational Maintenance (Marriage Duration Less Than 20 Years):
The guideline amount is the lesser of:
Formula A: 30% of the Payer's gross income minus 20% of the Recipient's gross income.
Formula B: 20% of the sum of the Payer's and Recipient's gross incomes.
The guideline duration is one year for every three years of marriage.
2. Indefinite Maintenance (Marriage Duration 20 Years or More):
The guideline amount is the lesser of:
Formula A: 30% of the Payer's gross income minus 20% of the Recipient's gross income.
Formula B: 20% of the sum of the Payer's and Recipient's gross incomes.
The guideline duration is indefinite.
3. Post-Divorce Cohabitation (Less than 20 years):
The guideline amount is the lesser of:
Formula A: 30% of the Payer's gross income minus 20% of the Recipient's gross income.
Formula B: 20% of the sum of the Payer's and Recipient's gross incomes.
The guideline duration is one year for every three years of marriage.
4. Post-Divorce Cohabitation (20 years or more):
The guideline amount is the lesser of:
Formula A: 30% of the Payer's gross income minus 20% of the Recipient's gross income.
Formula B: 20% of the sum of the Payer's and Recipient's gross incomes.
The guideline duration is indefinite.
Important Considerations:
Income Cap: As of the last legislative update, the guideline formulas are generally applied to the first $203,000 of the Payer's gross income (this cap is subject to change). Incomes above this cap are often addressed by the court based on specific circumstances. This calculator applies formulas to the full income provided, but users should be aware of the statutory cap.
Child Support: If child support is being paid, the amount is deducted from the Payer's income and added to the Recipient's income before calculating maintenance. This calculator adjusts for this deduction.
Deviation from Guidelines: Courts are not strictly bound by these formulas and can deviate based on factors like the length of the marriage, the age and health of the parties, the contributions of each party to the marriage, the present and future earning capacity of each party, and the need for the recipient to become self-supporting.
This is a Guideline Tool: This calculator provides an estimate based on standard formulas. It is not a substitute for legal advice. Consult with a qualified New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.
function calculateMaintenance() {
var payerIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payerIncome").value);
var payeeIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payeeIncome").value);
var childSupportAmount = parseFloat(document.getElementById("childSupportAmount").value) || 0;
var duration = parseFloat(document.getElementById("duration").value);
var relationshipType = parseInt(document.getElementById("relationshipType").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous results
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(payerIncome) || payerIncome < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid annual gross income for the Payer.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(payeeIncome) || payeeIncome < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid annual gross income for the Recipient.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(duration) || duration < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid duration of marriage in years.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(childSupportAmount) || childSupportAmount < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid annual child support amount (or 0 if none).";
return;
}
var adjustedPayerIncome = payerIncome – childSupportAmount;
var adjustedPayeeIncome = payeeIncome + childSupportAmount;
// Ensure adjusted incomes are not negative
if (adjustedPayerIncome < 0) adjustedPayerIncome = 0;
if (adjustedPayeeIncome incomeCap) {
formulaA_amount = (0.30 * incomeCap) – (0.20 * payeeIncome);
formulaB_amount = 0.20 * (incomeCap + payeeIncome);
guidelineMaintenance = Math.min(formulaA_amount, formulaB_amount);
if(guidelineMaintenance < 0) guidelineMaintenance = 0; // Ensure not negative
}
// Duration calculation
var durationInYears = Math.floor(duration);
var calculatedDuration = Math.floor(durationInYears / 3);
if (calculatedDuration incomeCap) {
formulaA_amount = (0.30 * incomeCap) – (0.20 * payeeIncome);
formulaB_amount = 0.20 * (incomeCap + payeeIncome);
guidelineMaintenance = Math.min(formulaA_amount, formulaB_amount);
if(guidelineMaintenance incomeCap) {
formulaA_amount = (0.30 * incomeCap) – (0.20 * payeeIncome);
formulaB_amount = 0.20 * (incomeCap + payeeIncome);
guidelineMaintenance = Math.min(formulaA_amount, formulaB_amount);
if(guidelineMaintenance < 0) guidelineMaintenance = 0;
}
// Duration calculation
var durationInYears = Math.floor(duration);
var calculatedDuration = Math.floor(durationInYears / 3);
if (calculatedDuration incomeCap) {
formulaA_amount = (0.30 * incomeCap) – (0.20 * payeeIncome);
formulaB_amount = 0.20 * (incomeCap + payeeIncome);
guidelineMaintenance = Math.min(formulaA_amount, formulaB_amount);
if(guidelineMaintenance < 0) guidelineMaintenance = 0;
}
guidelineDuration = "Indefinite";
}
// Ensure maintenance is not negative and not more than the recipient's income
if (guidelineMaintenance payeeIncome) {
guidelineMaintenance = payeeIncome; // Maintenance cannot exceed recipient's income
}
resultDiv.innerHTML =
"Relationship Type: " + typeDescription + "" +
"Guideline Maintenance Amount (Annual): $" + guidelineMaintenance.toFixed(2) + "" +
"Guideline Maintenance Duration: " + guidelineDuration + "" +
"Note: This is a guideline estimate. Actual awards may vary.";
}