New Hampshire Alimony Calculator 2026
Work out alimony under the New Hampshire rule in RSA 458:19-a from both incomes and the length of the marriage. The result is the statutory starting point; a judge decides the actual order. Everything runs privately in your browser, with no sign-up.
Not legal advice — a court decides. New Hampshire judges apply the statutory formula and time limit below unless justice requires an adjustment.
New Hampshire Alimony Formula & Factors
New Hampshire has a statutory alimony formula. Under RSA 458:19-a, the amount of a term alimony order is the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or a formula based on 23 percent of the difference between the spouses' gross incomes when the order is made, unless the court finds that justice requires an adjustment.
For this calculation each gross income is reduced by child support or alimony that is ordered and actually paid, and by ordered costs such as health insurance for the other spouse; child support ordered for the couple's children is added to the recipient's income. The 23 percent figure assumes alimony is not deductible by the payer for federal tax; the statute says it would become 30 percent if federal law made alimony deductible again.
Alimony is available only if the spouse in need lacks enough income or property for reasonable needs, or cannot be self-supporting, and the other spouse can meet their own reasonable needs while paying.
New Hampshire Alimony Rules at a Glance
| Point | New Hampshire rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 23% of the difference between gross incomes | RSA 458:19-a, II(a) |
| Why 23% | Assumes alimony is not deductible by the payer; 30% if it becomes deductible | RSA 458:19-a, II(c) |
| Maximum length | 50% of the length of the marriage | RSA 458:19-a, III |
| Who decides | A judge, on the evidence in the case | RSA 458:19-a |
| Federal income tax | Not deductible by the payer and not income to the recipient for agreements executed after 2018 | IRS Topic No. 452 |
Worked Example: New Hampshire Alimony Calculator
Take gross incomes of $8,000 and $3,000 a month. The difference is $5,000, and 23% of that is $1,150 a month ($13,800 a year). The order is that figure or the recipient's reasonable need, whichever is less.
For a 12-year marriage, term alimony can last for up to 6 years (50% of the marriage).
These are the figures the calculator shows when the page first loads. A real order depends on evidence a calculator cannot see.
New Hampshire Alimony Duration Rules
The maximum length of term alimony is 50 percent of the length of the marriage, unless the spouses agree otherwise or the court finds that justice requires an adjustment. Term alimony ends when the recipient remarries, unless an agreement says otherwise.
Is Alimony Taxable in New Hampshire?
For federal income tax, alimony or separate maintenance paid under a divorce or separation agreement executed after 2018 is not deductible by the payer and is not included in the recipient's income. Payments under an agreement executed before 2019 are generally still deductible by the payer and taxable to the recipient, unless the agreement was later modified and the modification expressly adopts the new rule (IRS Topic No. 452). Child support is never deductible and is not income.
This page does not cover New Hampshire state income tax. State rules are set separately and can differ from the federal rule, so check with the state tax agency or a tax adviser.
Modifying New Hampshire Alimony
Whether an order can be changed depends on its wording and on the type of support. In most cases either spouse can ask the court to modify periodic payments after a substantial change in circumstances, unless the decree or the spouses' agreement makes the support non-modifiable.
Read the order itself and RSA 458:19-a before relying on a general rule, and get advice from a family lawyer licensed in New Hampshire about your own case. Nothing on this page is legal advice.
Last updated: October 2026. Sources: RSA 458:19-a (New Hampshire General Court); IRS Topic No. 452.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is alimony calculated in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire uses a statutory formula for term alimony. Under RSA 458:19-a, II the amount is the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 23 percent of the difference between the spouses' gross incomes, after subtracting support and health insurance costs actually paid. The court can adjust the result when justice requires.
Does New Hampshire use a formula for alimony?
Yes. RSA 458:19-a sets term alimony at the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 23 percent of the difference between gross incomes, and caps its length at 50 percent of the length of the marriage. A judge may adjust either when justice requires.
How long does New Hampshire alimony last?
The maximum length of term alimony is 50 percent of the length of the marriage (RSA 458:19-a, III), so a 12-year marriage gives a limit of 6 years. The court may adjust the limit when justice requires, and alimony ends if the recipient remarries unless the spouses agreed otherwise.
Can New Hampshire alimony be modified?
It depends on the order. In most cases either spouse can ask the court to modify periodic payments after a substantial change in circumstances, unless the decree or the spouses' agreement makes the support non-modifiable. Check the wording of your order and RSA 458:19-a before relying on a general rule.
Is alimony taxable in New Hampshire?
For federal income tax, alimony paid under a divorce or separation agreement executed after 2018 is not deductible by the payer and is not income to the recipient (IRS Topic No. 452). Agreements executed before 2019 generally keep the old treatment, deductible by the payer and taxable to the recipient, unless a later modification expressly adopts the new rule. This page does not cover New Hampshire state income tax, which is set separately.