Note: Tennessee law does not use a rigid mathematical formula for alimony. Judges have broad discretion based on "need and ability to pay." This calculator provides an estimate based on common durational patterns and income differentials used in many Tennessee judicial districts.
How Tennessee Spousal Support is Calculated
In Tennessee, alimony (spousal support) is governed by Tennessee Code Annotated ยง 36-5-121. Unlike child support, which follows a strict grid, alimony is determined by the court's evaluation of the recipient spouse's financial need and the other spouse's ability to pay.
While no statutory formula exists, legal professionals often use a percentage of the income difference (ranging from 20% to 35%) to find a starting point for negotiations. This calculator uses a median baseline of 25% of the gross income differential, adjusted for the length of the marriage.
Key Factors Considered by Tennessee Courts
The Duration of the Marriage: Longer marriages (typically 15-20+ years) are more likely to result in long-term support.
Standard of Living: The court attempts to maintain a standard of living similar to what was enjoyed during the marriage, where possible.
Earning Capacity: The education, training, and vocational skills of each party are assessed.
Age and Health: Physical and mental conditions that affect a spouse's ability to work.
Fault: Tennessee is a state where marital fault (like adultery) can be considered by the judge when determining alimony amounts.
Types of Alimony in Tennessee
There are four distinct types of alimony that a judge may award:
Rehabilitative Alimony: Intended to help a spouse get education or training to become self-sufficient.
Alimony in Futuro (Periodic): Long-term support, usually reserved for long-duration marriages where one spouse cannot reach the same standard of living as the other.
Transitional Alimony: Paid for a specific period to help a spouse adjust to the economic consequences of divorce.
Alimony in Solido (Lump Sum): A total amount paid either at once or in installments, often used to balance property division.
Example Calculation
If Spouse A earns $8,000 per month and Spouse B earns $2,000 per month, the income differential is $6,000. In a 15-year marriage, a court might look at a range around $1,500 to $2,000 per month for a period of approximately 5 to 8 years, depending on the specific "need" of Spouse B.
function calculateTNAlimony() {
var payorIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('payorIncome').value);
var recipientIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('recipientIncome').value);
var years = parseFloat(document.getElementById('marriageYears').value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('tn-result');
var monthlyText = document.getElementById('monthlyAmount');
var durationText = document.getElementById('durationEstimate');
var typeText = document.getElementById('alimonyType');
if (isNaN(payorIncome) || isNaN(recipientIncome) || isNaN(years)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for all fields.");
return;
}
if (payorIncome <= recipientIncome) {
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
monthlyText.innerHTML = "Estimated Amount: $0.00″;
durationText.innerHTML = "Estimated Duration: N/A";
typeText.innerHTML = "Likely Status: Based on the inputs, the recipient earns more than or equal to the payor, making an alimony award unlikely.";
return;
}
var diff = payorIncome – recipientIncome;
// Median TN estimation logic (25% of diff)
var estimateMin = diff * 0.20;
var estimateMax = diff * 0.35;
var avgEstimate = (estimateMin + estimateMax) / 2;
// Duration logic based on common TN patterns
var durationMin, durationMax, typeStr;
if (years = 7 && years = 15 && years < 25) {
durationMin = years * 0.4;
durationMax = years * 0.6;
typeStr = "Alimony in Futuro or Rehabilitative";
} else {
durationMin = years * 0.5;
durationMax = "Indefinite";
typeStr = "Alimony in Futuro (Long-term Support)";
}
var durationDisplay = "";
if (durationMax === "Indefinite") {
durationDisplay = durationMin.toFixed(1) + " years to Indefinite";
} else {
durationDisplay = durationMin.toFixed(1) + " to " + durationMax.toFixed(1) + " years";
}
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
monthlyText.innerHTML = "Estimated Range: $" + estimateMin.toFixed(2) + " – $" + estimateMax.toFixed(2) + " per month";
durationText.innerHTML = "Estimated Duration: " + durationDisplay;
typeText.innerHTML = "Likely Alimony Type: " + typeStr;
resultDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' });
}