Quick answer: Connecticut has no alimony formula and no maximum duration. At the time of the decree the Superior Court may order either party to pay alimony, in addition to or in lieu of a property award, after weighing the length of the marriage, the causes of the dissolution, each party’s age, health, station, occupation, income, earning capacity, vocational skills, education, employability, estate and needs, the property award and, for a custodial parent, the desirability and feasibility of securing employment. After judgment, alimony can be modified on a substantial change in circumstances unless the decree precludes it, and a modification cannot reach back before notice of the motion was served.
What this calculator shows
Because the statute sets no amount and no limit, the calculator does not predict an award. It shows what the statute does fix about timing: how far back a modification could reach, from the date the other party was served with notice of your motion to the date of the decision, at the amounts you enter. The factors are in the factors the court weighs, the rules on duration in how long alimony lasts in Connecticut and the rules on changing or ending alimony in modifying or ending alimony.
Property comes first
Alimony is considered together with the property award: the court may order alimony in addition to or in lieu of an award under section 46b-81, and the property award is one of the factors for alimony. See the Connecticut property division calculator. Alimony paid to a person who is not a party to a child support case is a deduction there, and alimony received is income; see the Connecticut child support calculator.
Alimony across Connecticut
The statute applies in the Connecticut Superior Court, family matters, from Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Bridgeport, Waterbury or Norwalk. If the court, after a trial or hearing on the merits, enters an order that by its terms will terminate only on the death of either party or the remarriage of the recipient, it must articulate the basis with specificity. Postjudgment procedures are available to secure the present and future financial interests of a party in a final order for periodic alimony.
Frequently asked questions
How is alimony calculated in Connecticut?
There is no formula. The court decides whether alimony is awarded, and its duration and amount, after considering the factors in Conn. Gen. Stat. 46b-82(a).
How long does alimony last in Connecticut?
The statute sets no maximum or minimum duration. The court decides, and an order that will terminate only on the death of either party or the recipient's remarriage must be explained with specificity.
Can Connecticut alimony be modified?
Yes, after judgment, on a showing of a substantial change in circumstances, unless the decree precludes modification. A modification cannot be retroactive except for the period a motion is pending, from the date notice of the motion was served.
Does cohabitation affect alimony in Connecticut?
Yes. The court may modify, suspend, reduce or terminate periodic alimony on a showing that the recipient is living with another person under circumstances that alter his or her financial needs.
Is a property award considered for Connecticut alimony?
Yes. The court considers the award, if any, it may make under section 46b-81 when deciding alimony.