Missouri Alimony & Spousal Support (2026)
Unlike child support, Missouri 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 Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.335. 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 Missouri
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.335 (Missouri Revised Statutes § 452.335 (Maintenance)), a court considers:
- Financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to them, and their ability to meet their needs independently
- Time needed to obtain education or training for suitable employment
- Comparative earning capacity of each spouse
- Standard of living established during the marriage
- Obligations and assets, including marital property apportioned and separate property of each party
- Duration of the marriage
- Age and physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance
- Ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet their own needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance
- Conduct of the parties during the marriage
- Any other relevant factors
Good to know
- Missouri calls this "maintenance," not alimony, but it works the same way: § 452.335 sets no formula for the amount or the length of the award — the statute says maintenance is set "in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just" after weighing the factors above.
- A Missouri court can only order maintenance at all if it first finds the requesting spouse lacks sufficient property to provide for their needs and is unable to support themselves through appropriate employment — that threshold test is separate from, and comes before, the factor-weighing described here.
Also need a child support estimate?
Alimony and child support are calculated completely separately in Missouri. If you also have children, use our free Missouri 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 Missouri?
No. Missouri (which calls this "maintenance") has no statutory formula for the amount or duration. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.335 directs the court to set maintenance "in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just" based on a list of factors — there is no calculator that produces a guaranteed figure.
What factors determine alimony in Missouri?
Missouri courts weigh the requesting spouse's financial resources and independent earning ability, the time needed for job training or education, each spouse's earning capacity, the marital standard of living, each party's obligations and assets, the marriage's duration, the requesting spouse's age and health, the paying spouse's ability to pay while meeting their own needs, marital conduct, and any other relevant circumstances.
Source: Missouri Revised Statutes § 452.335 (Maintenance) · Last verified 2026-07-22
Disclaimer: This page explains the general legal framework for alimony in Missouri 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 Missouri before making decisions.