New York Alimony Calculator
Plan a New York maintenance range from both spouses’ incomes and years married. Below the statutory income cap, courts often start from DRL §236 formulas — above the cap, awards are discretionary. This educational tool uses difference-% and duration bands for broader planning. Click any i for detail.
New York planning inputs
Income figures are
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Income basis
Use comparable figures for both spouses (both annual or both monthly). |
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Payor income ($)
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Payor income
Spouse with greater ability to pay. Net is preferable when available. |
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Recipient income ($)
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Recipient income
Spouse seeking support — include wages and steady other income. |
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Marriage length (years)
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Marriage length
New York duration discussions often track short / moderate / long marriages. We sketch a duration ceiling from your years married. |
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Share of income difference (%)
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Difference share
Planning dial for amount. New York does not mandate this percent — adjust to match settlement talks. |
How to use this calculator
- Enter both incomes on the same annual/monthly basis.
- Enter years married.
- Set the difference-share percent used for the amount sketch.
- Compare the monthly estimate with the modeled duration band for your marriage length.
Results explained
New York maintenance (alimony) may follow statutory formulas when payor income is under the cap. This calculator does not replicate the exact §236 two-formula comparison — it offers a transparent income-gap percent and duration sketch for negotiation.
Quick reference: New York Alimony bands
Educational duration ceilings — not a substitute for current statute analysis.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amount model | % of income difference ÷ 12 (default 30%) |
| Short (<5 yrs) | Duration sketch ~20% of marriage years |
| Mid (5–15 yrs) | Up to ~33% of marriage years |
| Long (15+ yrs) | Up to ~40% of marriage years |
For house equity in a divorce, see the divorce buyout calculator.
How the estimate is built
Monthly = diff% × max(0, payor − recipient) ÷ 12. Duration = marriage_years × band factor.
Example scenario
Payor $180,000, recipient $60,000, 30% → $36,000/year (~$3,000/month). Eighteen-year marriage → long-band duration sketch ~7.2 years.
FAQ
What is the income cap?
New York maintenance formulas apply when payor income is at or below a statutory cap that changes by year. Confirm the current cap with counsel.
Pendente lite vs final?
Temporary awards may differ from final maintenance. This is a generic planning overlay.
Does this include add-ons?
Health insurance, education, and other add-ons are separate from basic maintenance.
Is this legal advice?
No — educational planning only.