Quick answer: The District of Columbia has no alimony formula and no maximum duration. When a divorce or legal separation is granted, or a domestic partnership is terminated, the court may require either party to pay alimony if it seems just and proper. The award may be indefinite or term-limited, structured as appropriate to the facts, and the court decides the amount and the time period after weighing nine statutory factors. An award may be made retroactive to the date the pleading requesting alimony was filed.
What this calculator shows
Because the statute sets no amount and no limit, this calculator does not predict an award. It shows what the statute does fix: the length of the marriage at the order, which is one of the factors, and how much a retroactive award could add up to if the court makes alimony retroactive to the filing date at the monthly amount you enter. The factors are in the factors the court weighs, and what the statute says about duration and retroactivity is in how long alimony lasts in the District.
Alimony while the case is pending
The court may award pendente lite alimony, and suit money including counsel fees, while a divorce, legal separation or partnership termination is pending, using the same factors, and may make it retroactive to the filing date. See pendente lite alimony.
Property and child support
Whether a property distribution is in lieu of or in addition to alimony is one of the property factors, and any previous award of child support in the case is one of the alimony factors. See the District of Columbia property division calculator. Alimony is also counted in child support: alimony received is added to the recipient’s income and alimony paid is deducted from the payer’s, as the District of Columbia child support calculator applies.
Alimony across the District
The statute applies in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court, and covers divorce, legal separation and the termination of a domestic partnership. Ask an attorney how and when an existing alimony order can be changed or ended, because this calculator does not address that.
Frequently asked questions
How is alimony calculated in the District of Columbia?
There is no formula. The court decides the amount and the time period after considering the factors in D.C. Code 16-913(d).
How long does alimony last in the District of Columbia?
The statute says the award may be indefinite or term-limited and structured as appropriate to the facts. It sets no maximum duration.
Can D.C. alimony be retroactive?
Yes. An award of alimony may be retroactive to the date of the filing of the pleading that requests alimony.
Does fault matter for D.C. alimony?
The circumstances that contributed to the estrangement of the parties, including a history of physical, emotional or financial abuse by one party against the other, are a factor the court considers.
Does D.C. alimony apply to domestic partners?
Yes. The statute covers divorce, legal separation and the termination of a domestic partnership where a partner has filed a petition for relief.