Nc Spousal Support Calculator

North Carolina Spousal Support Calculator

Estimate Post-Separation Support & Alimony based on NC Guidelines

Estimated Calculation Results

*Disclaimer: North Carolina does not have a statutory formula for alimony. This tool uses common judicial "rules of thumb" used in NC courts for estimation only.

How Spousal Support Works in North Carolina

Under North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. ยง 50-16.3A), spousal support is divided into two categories: Post-Separation Support (PSS) and Alimony. Unlike child support, North Carolina does not provide a rigid mathematical formula that judges must follow. Instead, support is based on the concept of a "Supporting Spouse" and a "Dependent Spouse."

Post-Separation Support vs. Permanent Alimony

Post-Separation Support is temporary and is intended to provide for the dependent spouse until a final decision on alimony is made or until the divorce is finalized. Permanent Alimony is a longer-term arrangement ordered after the divorce decree.

Factors Influencing the Calculation

While this calculator uses a common income-differential method (35% of the payor's income minus 40% of the recipient's income), NC judges consider 16 specific factors including:

  • Marital Misconduct: Acts like illicit sexual behavior can significantly impact or even bar alimony claims.
  • Relative Earnings: The disparity between what each spouse actually earns versus their earning capacity.
  • Ages and Health: The physical, mental, and emotional condition of both spouses.
  • Standard of Living: The lifestyle established during the marriage.
  • Duration: Generally, the longer the marriage, the longer the duration of support.

Calculation Example

If the Supporting Spouse earns $8,000 per month and the Dependent Spouse earns $2,000 per month after a 20-year marriage:

  1. The income difference is $6,000.
  2. Using a common NC rule of thumb (30-35% of payor income), the estimate might range between $1,500 to $2,400 monthly.
  3. The duration is often calculated as 50% of the length of the marriage (10 years in this case).
function calculateNCSupport() { var payorIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('payorIncome').value); var recipientIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('recipientIncome').value); var marriageLength = parseFloat(document.getElementById('marriageLength').value); var recipientExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('recipientExpenses').value); var output = document.getElementById('ncOutput'); var resultArea = document.getElementById('resultArea'); if (isNaN(payorIncome) || isNaN(recipientIncome) || isNaN(marriageLength)) { alert("Please enter valid numbers for income and marriage length."); return; } // NC common 'Rule of Thumb' (The AAML/Equitable Distribution Hybrid) // Formula: (35% of Supporting Spouse Income) – (40% of Dependent Spouse Income) var estimate1 = (payorIncome * 0.35) – (recipientIncome * 0.40); // Check for "Need" vs "Ability to Pay" // Difference between recipient's expenses and their own income var need = 0; if (!isNaN(recipientExpenses)) { need = recipientExpenses – recipientIncome; } // Average the formulaic estimate with the actual financial need for a more realistic NC figure var monthlySupport = 0; if (need > 0) { monthlySupport = (estimate1 + need) / 2; } else { monthlySupport = estimate1; } // Support cannot be negative if (monthlySupport < 0) { monthlySupport = 0; } // Duration: 1 year of alimony for every 2 or 3 years of marriage is common in NC var durationMin = Math.round(marriageLength / 3); var durationMax = Math.round(marriageLength / 2); resultArea.style.display = "block"; var html = '
'; html += 'Estimated Monthly Support: $' + monthlySupport.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + ''; if (marriageLength > 0) { html += 'Estimated Duration: ' + durationMin + ' to ' + durationMax + ' years'; } html += 'Analysis:'; if (payorIncome <= recipientIncome) { html += 'Warning: The "Supporting Spouse" must have higher income than the "Dependent Spouse" for a support claim to be valid in NC.'; } else if (marriageLength = 20) { html += 'Note: For marriages of 20+ years, NC judges may consider "permanent" alimony (until retirement or death).'; } html += '
'; output.innerHTML = html; // Scroll to result resultArea.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' }); }

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