Tennessee Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support (maintenance) amount and duration in Tennessee. Updated for 2026.
Last reviewed July 2026 · Free · Nothing you enter is stored
Judicial discretion state
$0
estimated monthly spousal support ·
Educational estimate, not legal advice. Alimony in Tennessee is discretionary — actual awards vary widely by judge and circumstances.
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How alimony works in Tennessee
Tennessee does not use a fixed statutory formula for alimony amounts. Judges weigh statutory factors — length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, age and health, standard of living, and contributions to the marriage. Our calculator uses the AAML guideline formula (30% of payor's income minus 20% of recipient's) that attorneys commonly use for ballpark estimates.
Governing law: Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121 — Statute declares a legislative preference for short-term rehabilitative alimony, with alimony in futuro reserved for cases where rehabilitation is not feasible.
Frequently asked questions
How is alimony calculated in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not use a fixed statutory formula for alimony amounts. Judges weigh statutory factors — length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, age and health, standard of living, and contributions to the marriage. Our calculator uses the AAML guideline formula (30% of payor's income minus 20% of recipient's) that attorneys commonly use for ballpark estimates. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-121.
How long does alimony last in Tennessee?
Duration is generally tied to the length of the marriage. Short marriages (under ~5 years) typically produce short-term or no support; long marriages (20+ years) can produce long-term support. Tennessee courts set duration case-by-case.
What types of alimony does Tennessee recognize?
Tennessee recognizes: rehabilitative, transitional, alimony in futuro, alimony in solido. Statute declares a legislative preference for short-term rehabilitative alimony, with alimony in futuro reserved for cases where rehabilitation is not feasible.
Is alimony taxable in Tennessee?
For divorces finalized after 2018, federal law (TCJA) makes alimony non-deductible for the payer and non-taxable for the recipient. A few states differ for state income tax — confirm with a tax professional.
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