Spousal Support Calculator Wa

Washington State Spousal Maintenance Calculator

Estimated Alimony & Duration Based on WA Advisory Guidelines

Calculation Results

Estimated Monthly Payment: $0.00

Estimated Duration: 0 Years

Note: Washington is a discretionary state. These figures are based on common advisory formulas (AAML guidelines) used by many WA courts but are not legally binding.

How Spousal Maintenance Works in Washington State

In Washington, alimony is officially called "spousal maintenance." Unlike some states that have a rigid mathematical formula, Washington RCW 26.09.090 grants judges significant discretion. The goal is to provide a "just" amount based on the financial need of one spouse and the ability of the other to pay.

The Logic Behind This Calculator

This tool utilizes the advisory guidelines often referenced in Washington family law cases (similar to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers formula). It considers two primary factors:

• The 30/20 Rule: 30% of the payor's gross monthly income minus 20% of the recipient's gross monthly income.
• The 40% Cap: The total spousal support plus the recipient's income generally does not exceed 40% of the couple's combined gross income.

Determining the Duration of Support

The length of the marriage is the primary driver for the duration of maintenance in WA. While every case is unique, courts often follow these general benchmarks:

• Short-term marriages (0-5 years): Maintenance is rare or very brief (transitional).
• Mid-term marriages (5-25 years): Often 1 year of support for every 3 to 4 years of marriage.
• Long-term marriages (25+ years): May result in permanent maintenance or support until the payor reaches retirement age to equalize the parties' standards of living.

Factors a Judge Will Consider

When you head to court in King, Pierce, or Spokane County, the judge will look at:

1. The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance.
2. The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to find employment.
3. The standard of living established during the marriage.
4. The duration of the marriage.
5. The age, physical and emotional condition, and financial obligations of the spouse seeking maintenance.
6. The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet their needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance.

Example Calculation:

If Spouse A earns $10,000/month and Spouse B earns $2,000/month, and they were married for 12 years: The formula might suggest roughly $2,600 per month for approximately 3 to 4 years.

function calculateWASupport() { var payor = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payorIncome").value); var payee = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payeeIncome").value); var years = parseFloat(document.getElementById("marriageLength").value); var resultsDiv = document.getElementById("resultsArea"); if (isNaN(payor) || isNaN(payee) || isNaN(years)) { alert("Please enter valid numbers for all fields."); return; } // Calculation Logic: AAML-style formula often used in WA advisory // 30% of payor's income – 20% of payee's income var amount = (payor * 0.30) – (payee * 0.20); // Check the 40% cap (Recipient's income + maintenance shouldn't exceed 40% of total) var combined = payor + payee; var cap = (combined * 0.40) – payee; if (amount > cap) { amount = cap; } // Floor it at zero if (amount < 0) { amount = 0; } // Duration Logic for WA var durMin, durMax, durString; if (years 3 && years = 20 && years < 25) { durMin = (years * 0.40).toFixed(1); durMax = (years * 0.50).toFixed(1); durString = durMin + " to " + durMax + " Years"; } else { durString = "Permanent or until Retirement (Long-term marriage)"; } // Display Results document.getElementById("monthlyAmount").innerText = "$" + amount.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById("durationYears").innerText = durString; resultsDiv.style.display = "block"; resultsDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' }); }