Texas Alimony Calculator

If you are heading into divorce, one of the first questions is whether spousal support will be part of it. This tool gives you a quick, honest read using how Texas actually treats what the law calls spousal maintenance.

Texas is stricter than most states. There is no formula that turns two incomes into a monthly payment.[1] So this calculator does two things. It checks whether your situation is likely to meet the eligibility rules, and it estimates the most a court could order. To qualify, a spouse must show they cannot meet their minimum reasonable needs, plus one further ground, such as a marriage of ten years or longer, a disability, or a family violence conviction or deferred adjudication against the other spouse. Where a spouse qualifies, the monthly amount is capped at the lesser of $5,000 or 20 percent of the paying spouse’s average monthly gross income. What you see here is a starting point, not a ruling. A judge weighs every statutory factor and your full financial picture before deciding.

★ Michael Ireland & Associates · Advisory Estimate

Texas Spousal Maintenance Calculator

From the date of marriage to the date of divorce. Decimals are fine (e.g., 12.5). Marriage length sets both eligibility and the maximum duration.
Texas allows maintenance only on specific grounds (Tex. Fam. Code § 8.051). Choose the one that fits.
Monthly gross income from all sources before taxes (§ 8.055(a-1)) — wages, bonuses, self-employment, rental, dividends, retirement. Not take-home pay.
The recipient’s minimum reasonable needs (housing, food, transport, healthcare). The award is capped at the lesser of the statutory max and actual need. Leave blank to see the statutory ceiling.
This tool covers court-ordered maintenance only. Spouses can also agree to contractual alimony in a settlement, which is not subject to the $5,000 / 20% cap or the duration limits below.

Advisory Estimate

Likely Eligible
Length of Marriage: -
Estimated Maximum Monthly Amount: -
How the ceiling is figured: -
Estimated Maximum Duration: -
Estimate only — not legal advice. Texas court-ordered spousal maintenance (Tex. Fam. Code §§ 8.051–8.055) is capped, time-limited, and presumed not warranted in many cases. The amount shown is a statutory ceiling, not an entitlement: a court awards only what the recipient needs to meet minimum reasonable needs, for the shortest reasonable period, after weighing the § 8.052 factors. Figures use gross monthly income and assume a non-taxable, post-2018 order. This tool does not calculate temporary (pre-decree) support, contractual alimony, or child support, and does not account for the § 8.053 diligence presumption or case-specific deviations. For an evaluation of your situation, contact Michael Ireland & Associates at (210) 776-1847.

What your Estimate is good for

An estimate turns an open question into a number you can plan around. Before anything is filed, it helps you build a realistic post-divorce budget, weigh whether a settlement offer is reasonable, and see how support sits alongside property division and the children’s needs.

It also makes your first meeting with our team more productive. You can bring your own figures, and we can spend the time on what the statute does not capture, such as income that is hard to document, a business or bonus structure, or the evidence a disability claim would need.

Ready to talk through your own numbers? Call (830) 357-7437 to schedule a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this estimate what a court will order?

No. It reflects the eligibility rules and the statutory limit, not a court order. A Texas judge can order less, or nothing at all, after weighing every factor in your case. Use it as a starting point for planning and for the conversation with your attorney.

Is alimony the same as spousal maintenance in Texas?

In everyday use, yes. Texas law calls court-ordered support spousal maintenance, and most people call it alimony. Texas also recognizes contractual alimony, which spouses agree to and which sits outside the Chapter 8 limits.

Who qualifies for spousal maintenance in Texas?

Eligibility is narrow. A spouse must lack enough property or income to meet minimum reasonable needs after divorce, and must meet one further condition. Those conditions include a marriage of ten years or longer, a disability affecting the spouse or a child, or family violence by the other spouse within a set period.

How is the maximum amount set?

The cap is the lesser of $5,000 per month or 20 percent of the paying spouse’s average monthly gross income. Gross income covers wages, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, and retirement benefits. Courts do not award the maximum automatically. The amount is tied to what the receiving spouse reasonably needs.

How long can payments last?

Duration depends on how long the marriage lasted. A marriage of ten to twenty years can support up to five years of maintenance, twenty to thirty years up to seven, and thirty years or more up to ten. A qualifying disability can extend that period. These are ceilings, and courts often order less.

Can spousal maintenance change later?

Often, yes. Either spouse can ask the court to change maintenance after a material and substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant shift in income. Certain events, including the receiving spouse’s remarriage, end it.

Michael Ireland and Associates helps Texas families understand where a maintenance figure comes from and what it means for the years ahead. To talk through the facts of your own marriage with a board-certified family law specialist Michael Ireland, reach out today. You are welcome to meet with us at any of our locations.

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