Washington Alimony Calculator
Estimate Washington spousal maintenance from both incomes and marriage length. RCW 26.09.090 lists need, ability to pay, standard of living, and related factors — no rigid statewide formula — so this page uses a clear difference-% amount plus duration bands. Click any i for detail.
Washington 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
Washington 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. Washington 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
Washington courts order maintenance when just and equitable after weighing statutory factors. This calculator uses a share of income difference (default 30%) and marriage-length duration fractions for stress-testing settlements — not a decree.
Quick reference: Washington Alimony bands
Educational duration ceilings — not a substitute for current statute analysis.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amount model | % of (payor − recipient) income ÷ 12 (default 30%) |
| Short (<5 yrs) | Duration sketch ~25% of marriage years — often bridge-style |
| Mid (5–15 yrs) | Up to ~40% of marriage years |
| Long (15+ yrs) | Up to ~50% of marriage years; longer terms remain fact-specific |
Washington maintenance is discretionary under RCW 26.09.090. For house equity, see the divorce buyout calculator.
How the estimate is built
Annual sketch = diff% × max(0, payor − recipient). Monthly = annual ÷ 12. Duration sketch uses marriage-year × band factor (0.25 / 0.40 / 0.50).
Example scenario
Payor $130,000, recipient $48,000, 30% → gap $82,000 → ~$24,600/year (~$2,050/month). Ten-year marriage → mid band duration sketch ~4 years.
FAQ
Is Washington maintenance formula-driven?
No single statewide amount formula. Judges apply RCW 26.09.090 factors to the facts of each case.
Separate property and maintenance?
Property division and maintenance interact. This tool does not allocate assets — only an income-gap sketch.
How long does maintenance last?
Terms range from short rehabilitative awards to longer support after long marriages. Duration bands here are educational only.
Educational only?
Yes — not a prediction of Superior Court outcomes.