California Temporary Spousal Support Calculator

This calculator provides an estimate of temporary spousal support (alimony) in California, often based on common county guidelines like the "Santa Clara County formula." This formula is frequently used by courts as a starting point for temporary support orders, which are intended to maintain the status quo during the divorce proceedings.

Important Note: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. California spousal support is complex, especially for long-term marriages, and is ultimately determined by a judge considering many factors under Family Code Section 4320. This tool estimates *temporary* support, which differs significantly from *long-term* or *permanent* spousal support. Always consult with a qualified California family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.

Your Financial Information

Please enter the estimated monthly financial details for both parties. For tax and other deductions, use your best estimate of monthly amounts.

Higher Earner's Monthly Financials

Gross Monthly Income ($): Estimated Monthly Federal Tax ($): Estimated Monthly State Tax ($): Estimated Monthly FICA Tax (Social Security & Medicare) ($): Other Mandatory Monthly Deductions (e.g., health insurance, union dues) ($): Estimated Monthly Child Support Paid (if any) ($):

Lower Earner's Monthly Financials

Understanding California Temporary Spousal Support

Temporary spousal support is ordered by the court to help the lower-earning spouse maintain their financial stability during the divorce process. Unlike long-term spousal support, which considers a wide range of factors under Family Code Section 4320, temporary support is often calculated using a more straightforward formula.

The "Santa Clara County Formula" (and similar guidelines)

Many California counties, including Santa Clara, use a guideline formula as a starting point for temporary spousal support. While the exact percentages can vary slightly by county, a common approach is:

40% of the higher earner's net disposable income, minus 50% of the lower earner's net disposable income.

This calculator uses a similar methodology. "Net disposable income" generally refers to income after mandatory deductions like federal and state taxes, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and other mandatory deductions such as health insurance premiums or union dues. Child support payments also significantly impact net disposable income for spousal support calculations.

How Child Support Impacts Spousal Support

In California, child support takes precedence over spousal support. This means that child support is calculated first, and the amount paid or received is then factored into each parent's net disposable income before spousal support is determined. The logic is that the funds used for child support are no longer available for spousal support, and vice-versa for the recipient.

Factors Not Considered by This Calculator (But Important in Court)

While this calculator provides a formulaic estimate, a judge has discretion and will consider other factors, especially if the formula produces an inequitable result. These can include:

The marital standard of living.
The needs of each party.
The ability of the supporting spouse to pay.
The duration of the marriage.
Any documented agreements between the parties.

For long-term marriages (generally 10 years or more), the court retains jurisdiction indefinitely over spousal support, and the determination becomes much more complex, focusing on the Family Code Section 4320 factors.

Disclaimer

This calculator is designed to give you a general idea of potential temporary spousal support based on common guidelines. It cannot account for all the nuances of individual financial situations, tax implications, or specific court interpretations. Tax laws regarding spousal support have changed; for divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, spousal support payments are generally no longer tax-deductible for the payer nor taxable income for the recipient at the federal level. California state tax laws may differ. Always consult with a qualified California family law attorney and a tax professional for personalized advice.

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var heFedTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('heFedTax').value); var heStateTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('heStateTax').value); var heFicaTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('heFicaTax').value); var heOtherDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('heOtherDeductions').value); var heChildSupportPaid = parseFloat(document.getElementById('heChildSupportPaid').value); // Get input values for Lower Earner var leGrossIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('leGrossIncome').value); var leFedTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('leFedTax').value); var leStateTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('leStateTax').value); var leFicaTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById('leFicaTax').value); var leOtherDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('leOtherDeductions').value); var leChildSupportReceived = parseFloat(document.getElementById('leChildSupportReceived').value); // Validate inputs if (isNaN(heGrossIncome) || heGrossIncome < 0) heGrossIncome = 0; if (isNaN(heFedTax) || heFedTax < 0) heFedTax = 0; if (isNaN(heStateTax) || heStateTax < 0) heStateTax = 0; if (isNaN(heFicaTax) || heFicaTax < 0) heFicaTax = 0; if (isNaN(heOtherDeductions) || heOtherDeductions < 0) heOtherDeductions = 0; if (isNaN(heChildSupportPaid) || heChildSupportPaid < 0) heChildSupportPaid = 0; if (isNaN(leGrossIncome) || leGrossIncome < 0) leGrossIncome = 0; if (isNaN(leFedTax) || leFedTax < 0) leFedTax = 0; if (isNaN(leStateTax) || leStateTax < 0) leStateTax = 0; if (isNaN(leFicaTax) || leFicaTax < 0) leFicaTax = 0; if (isNaN(leOtherDeductions) || leOtherDeductions < 0) leOtherDeductions = 0; if (isNaN(leChildSupportReceived) || leChildSupportReceived < 0) leChildSupportReceived = 0; // Calculate Net Disposable Income (NDI) for each party before child support adjustment var heNDI_preCS = heGrossIncome – heFedTax – heStateTax – heFicaTax – heOtherDeductions; var leNDI_preCS = leGrossIncome – leFedTax – leStateTax – leFicaTax – leOtherDeductions; // Adjust NDI for child support var heNDI_adjusted = heNDI_preCS – heChildSupportPaid; var leNDI_adjusted = leNDI_preCS + leChildSupportReceived; // Ensure NDI doesn't go negative due to excessive deductions/child support if (heNDI_adjusted < 0) heNDI_adjusted = 0; if (leNDI_adjusted < 0) leNDI_adjusted = 0; // Apply the common temporary spousal support formula (e.g., Santa Clara County guideline) // 40% of higher earner's NDI minus 50% of lower earner's NDI var calculatedSpousalSupport = (0.40 * heNDI_adjusted) – (0.50 * leNDI_adjusted); // Spousal support cannot be negative (meaning higher earner pays lower earner, not vice-versa in this context) if (calculatedSpousalSupport < 0) { calculatedSpousalSupport = 0; } // Format the result var formattedResult = calculatedSpousalSupport.toLocaleString('en-US', { style: 'currency', currency: 'USD' }); // Display the result var resultDiv = document.getElementById('alimonyResult'); resultDiv.innerHTML = ` Estimated Monthly Temporary Spousal Support: ${formattedResult} (This is an estimate based on common county guidelines and is not legal advice.) Breakdown: Higher Earner's Adjusted Net Disposable Income: $${heNDI_adjusted.toFixed(2)} Lower Earner's Adjusted Net Disposable Income: $${leNDI_adjusted.toFixed(2)} Calculation: (40% of Higher Earner's NDI) – (50% of Lower Earner's NDI) (${ (0.40 * heNDI_adjusted).toLocaleString('en-US', { style: 'currency', currency: 'USD' }) }) – (${ (0.50 * leNDI_adjusted).toLocaleString('en-US', { style: 'currency', currency: 'USD' }) }) = ${formattedResult} `; } // Run calculation on page load with default values window.onload = calculateAlimony;

Alimony Calculator California