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Kentucky Alimony & Spousal Support (2026)

Fully judge-decided — no formula

Unlike child support, Kentucky has no fixed formula for how much alimony (spousal support) costs or how long it lasts. A judge decides both based on a list of factors set out in KRS § 403.200. There is no calculator that can honestly give you an exact number here — but the factors below are what actually drives the decision.

What determines alimony in Kentucky

Under KRS § 403.200 (Kentucky Revised Statutes § 403.200 (Maintenance)), a court considers:

  • The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to that party, and that party's ability to meet their needs independently
  • The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment
  • The standard of living established during the marriage
  • The duration of the marriage
  • The age, and the physical and emotional condition, of the spouse seeking maintenance
  • The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet their own needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance

Good to know

  • Kentucky first requires the spouse seeking maintenance to show they lack sufficient property to provide for their reasonable needs and cannot support themselves through appropriate employment (or are caring for a child that makes outside employment inappropriate) before a court considers the factors above.
  • KRS § 403.200 sets no formula, percentage, or table for the amount or length of maintenance — the statute says only that awards run "in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just."

Also need a child support estimate?

Alimony and child support are calculated completely separately in Kentucky. If you also have children, use our free Kentucky child support calculator — that one does compute a real number, based on the official guideline formula.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an alimony formula in Kentucky?

No. KRS § 403.200 does not provide a formula, percentage, or calculation method for maintenance. The statute directs courts to award maintenance "in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just" after weighing a list of factors — the amount and duration are entirely up to the judge.

What factors determine alimony in Kentucky?

After a spouse qualifies for maintenance, Kentucky courts weigh that spouse's financial resources and independent earning ability, the time needed to get education or training for employment, the marital standard of living, the duration of the marriage, the requesting spouse's age and health, and the paying spouse's ability to meet their own needs while paying maintenance.

Source: Kentucky Revised Statutes § 403.200 (Maintenance) · Last verified 2026-07-22

Disclaimer: This page explains the general legal framework for alimony in Kentucky and is for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and does not predict the outcome of any specific case. Laws change; always verify with the official source above or a family law attorney licensed in Kentucky before making decisions.