Pennsylvania Alimony Calculator 2026
Work out guideline spousal support or alimony pendente lite under Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4 from both net incomes. The formula covers support before the divorce is final; alimony after the decree has no formula and is decided by a judge. Everything runs privately in your browser, with no sign-up.
Not legal advice — a court decides. Pennsylvania's support guidelines give a formula for support while the divorce is pending; alimony after the decree has no formula and is decided by a judge.
Pennsylvania Alimony Formula & Factors
Pennsylvania has a court-rule formula for support paid before the divorce is final. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-4, part of the statewide support guidelines, calculates spousal support and alimony pendente lite (APL) from monthly net incomes. With no dependent children it is 33% of the payor's net income minus 40% of the recipient's net income. With dependent children it is 25% of the payor's net income minus 30% of the recipient's, and child support is then calculated on the incomes after that transfer. A result below zero is entered as zero.
Those percentages apply to orders entered on or after January 1, 2019. Net income is gross income less the deductions the guidelines allow, and the payor's support obligations to other children or former spouses are subtracted first. In high-income cases the formula is only a preliminary step.
Alimony after the divorce decree has no formula. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701 the court decides whether alimony is necessary and, if so, its amount and length from a list of statutory factors. This page calculates the guideline for support while the case is pending and does not predict post-divorce alimony.
Pennsylvania Alimony Rules at a Glance
| Point | Pennsylvania rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Spousal support / APL, no dependent children | 33% of payor net income − 40% of recipient net income | Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4(a)(1), Part B |
| Spousal support / APL, with dependent children | 25% of payor net income − 30% of recipient net income | Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4(a)(1), Part B |
| Orders covered | Entered on or after January 1, 2019 | Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4(a)(1) |
| Post-divorce alimony | No formula; statutory factors | 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701 |
| Who decides | A judge, on the evidence in the case | Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4 |
| 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: Pennsylvania Alimony Calculator
Take net incomes of $6,000 and $2,400 a month with no dependent children. 33% of $6,000 is $1,980; 40% of $2,400 is $960. Guideline spousal support or APL is the difference, $1,020 a month ($12,240 a year). With dependent children the same incomes give 25% of $6,000 ($1,500) minus 30% of $2,400 ($720) = $780 a month, before child support is calculated.
These are the figures the calculator shows when the page first loads. A real order depends on evidence a calculator cannot see.
Pennsylvania Alimony Duration Rules
Spousal support and APL last while the spouses are separated and the divorce is pending. The guideline rule sets no end date beyond that.
For alimony after the decree, Pennsylvania law gives no schedule or percentage of the marriage. The court sets the length it finds reasonable in the circumstances.
Is Alimony Taxable in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4 before relying on a general rule, and get advice from a family lawyer licensed in Pennsylvania about your own case. Nothing on this page is legal advice.
Last updated: October 2026. Sources: 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-4 (Pennsylvania Code); 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701 (Pennsylvania General Assembly); IRS Topic No. 452.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is alimony calculated in Pennsylvania?
Before the divorce is final, Pennsylvania uses the support guideline in Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4: spousal support or alimony pendente lite is 33% of the payor's monthly net income minus 40% of the recipient's when there are no dependent children, and 25% minus 30% when there are. Alimony after the decree has no formula; the court applies the factors in 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701.
Does Pennsylvania use a formula for alimony?
Yes, for support while the case is pending. The statewide support guidelines (Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4) give a net-income formula for spousal support and alimony pendente lite. There is no formula for alimony awarded after the divorce.
How long does Pennsylvania alimony last?
Spousal support and alimony pendente lite run while the divorce is pending. For alimony after the decree, 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701 sets no schedule; the court decides the length from the statutory factors, so it varies case by case.
Can Pennsylvania 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 Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4 before relying on a general rule.
Is alimony taxable in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania state income tax, which is set separately.