Free Texas Alimony Calculator
This Texas alimony calculator shows the most spousal maintenance a Texas court can order, and for how long, under the Texas Family Code.
Estimate only, not legal advice. This calculator applies the published Texas rules to the numbers you enter. A judge can order a different amount, and the result depends on how income is proven in your case. Settle101 is not a law firm. For advice on your situation, talk to a family-law attorney, legal aid or your state's child support agency.
How Texas alimony is calculated
- Eligibility (8.051): the spouse asking must lack enough property to meet minimum reasonable needs, plus one of the grounds in the calculator.
- Amount cap (8.055): the lesser of $5,000 a month or 20% of the paying spouse's average monthly gross income.
- Duration cap (8.054): based on the length of the marriage, and limited to the shortest reasonable period.
| Length of marriage | Maximum duration |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years (family violence only) | 5 years |
| 10 to 20 years | 5 years |
| 20 to 30 years | 7 years |
| 30 years or more | 10 years |
| Disability or disabled child | While the condition lasts |
Worked example
After a 22-year marriage, the paying spouse earns $12,000 a month gross. 20% is $2,400, below the $5,000 cap, so the most a court can order is $2,400 a month for up to 7 years.
Texas alimony vs contractual alimony
Court-ordered spousal maintenance in Texas is tightly limited by statute. Many couples instead agree to contractual alimony in their settlement, which can be larger or longer because the statutory caps do not apply to an agreement.
What counts as gross income
Wages, overtime, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, interest, dividends, net rental income and most other income. It excludes Social Security, disability, VA service-connected disability and workers' compensation benefits (8.055(a-1)).
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Frequently asked questions
How is alimony calculated in Texas?
Texas calls court-ordered alimony spousal maintenance. The court may not order more than the lesser of $5,000 a month or 20% of the paying spouse’s average monthly gross income (Texas Family Code 8.055). Within that limit, the amount is based on the receiving spouse’s minimum reasonable needs.
How long does alimony last in Texas?
Up to 5 years for a marriage of 10 to 20 years (or under 10 years with family violence), up to 7 years for 20 to 30 years, and up to 10 years for 30 years or more. Maintenance based on a disability, or on caring for a disabled child, can continue as long as that condition lasts (Family Code 8.054).
Who qualifies for alimony in Texas?
The spouse asking must lack enough property, including separate property, to meet their minimum reasonable needs, and also: have been married 10 years or more and be unable to earn enough; or have an incapacitating disability; or care for a disabled child of the marriage; or the other spouse was convicted of family violence within two years before filing or during the case (Family Code 8.051).
Is contractual alimony different?
Yes. Spouses can agree to alimony in a divorce settlement, and those agreements are not limited by the statutory caps. This calculator shows court-ordered spousal maintenance only.