In Louisiana, "alimony" is legally referred to as Spousal Support. Unlike child support, which follows strict mathematical guidelines, spousal support is based primarily on the "needs" of one spouse and the "ability to pay" of the other. There are two primary types of support recognized under Louisiana Civil Code.
1. Interim Periodic Support
Interim support is designed to maintain the standard of living the parties enjoyed during the marriage while the divorce is pending. It typically lasts until 180 days after the judgment of divorce is signed. The court looks at the claimant's income versus their reasonable expenses to determine the "deficit."
2. Final Periodic Support
Final support is more restrictive. To qualify, the spouse seeking support must be free from fault in the breakup of the marriage. Even if free from fault, the amount awarded is strictly capped by law. According to Louisiana Civil Code Article 112, final periodic support cannot exceed one-third (1/3) of the payor's net income.
Key Factors Considered by Louisiana Courts
The income and assets of each party.
The financial obligations of each party.
The earning capacity of the parties.
The duration of the marriage.
The health and age of the parties.
The tax consequences to either party.
Realistic Calculation Examples
Scenario
Payor Net
Recipient Net
Recipient Expenses
Est. Final Support
Moderate Gap
$5,000
$1,500
$2,500
$1,000 (The Need)
High Need / Cap Limit
$4,500
$0
$3,000
$1,500 (1/3 Cap)
No Deficit
$8,000
$4,000
$3,500
$0
Note: This calculator provides a mathematical estimation based on common Louisiana legal formulas and the statutory 1/3 cap. However, spousal support is highly discretionary and depends on specific court rulings regarding "fault" and "reasonable expenses." Consult with a licensed Louisiana family law attorney for legal advice.
function calculateLouisianaAlimony() {
var payorIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payorIncome").value);
var recipientIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("recipientIncome").value);
var recipientExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById("recipientExpenses").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("resultDisplay");
var interimText = document.getElementById("interimResult");
var finalText = document.getElementById("finalResult");
var capWarning = document.getElementById("capWarning");
if (isNaN(payorIncome) || isNaN(recipientIncome) || isNaN(recipientExpenses)) {
alert("Please enter valid numeric values for all fields.");
return;
}
// 1. Calculate the financial gap (The Need)
var need = recipientExpenses – recipientIncome;
if (need (payorIncome * 0.5)) {
estimatedInterim = payorIncome * 0.5; // Practical cap for estimation
}
// 4. Logic for Final Support
var estimatedFinal = need;
var capped = false;
if (estimatedFinal > finalCap) {
estimatedFinal = finalCap;
capped = true;
}
// Display Results
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
interimText.innerHTML = "Estimated Interim Support: $" + estimatedInterim.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + " per month.";
finalText.innerHTML = "Estimated Final Periodic Support: $" + estimatedFinal.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + " per month.";
if (capped) {
capWarning.innerHTML = "Notice: The Final Support estimate was limited by the Louisiana '1/3 Net Income' statutory cap.";
} else {
capWarning.innerHTML = "";
}
if (need <= 0) {
interimText.innerHTML = "Result: Based on the data, the recipient's income covers their expenses. No alimony is likely.";
finalText.innerHTML = "";
capWarning.innerHTML = "";
}
}