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Washington Alimony & Spousal Support (2026)

Fully judge-decided — no formula

Unlike child support, Washington 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 RCW 26.09.090. 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 Washington

Under RCW 26.09.090 (Revised Code of Washington § 26.09.090), a court considers:

  • Financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including separate or community property apportioned to them, and their ability to meet their needs independently
  • Time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find employment appropriate to their skill, interests, style of life, and other attendant circumstances
  • Standard of living established during the marriage or domestic partnership
  • Duration of the marriage or domestic partnership
  • Age, physical and emotional condition, and financial obligations of the spouse or domestic partner seeking maintenance
  • Ability of the spouse or domestic partner from whom maintenance is sought to meet their own needs and financial obligations while meeting those of the spouse or domestic partner seeking maintenance

Good to know

  • Washington has no statutory formula or mathematical guideline for the amount or duration of spousal maintenance — RCW 26.09.090 directs courts to weigh the factors above "without regard to misconduct."
  • Some family law attorneys reference an informal county-level negotiation benchmark (sometimes called a "shadow formula") based on the income gap between spouses, but this is not law, not binding on any judge, and does not appear anywhere in the statute.

Also need a child support estimate?

Alimony and child support are calculated completely separately in Washington. If you also have children, use our free Washington 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 Washington?

No. RCW 26.09.090 does not set a formula or percentage for spousal maintenance. Courts decide the amount and duration case-by-case by weighing statutory factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse's financial resources, and the standard of living established during the marriage. Any "formula" you see quoted online is an informal negotiating benchmark, not a legal rule.

What factors determine alimony in Washington?

Under RCW 26.09.090, courts consider the financial resources and independent earning ability of the spouse seeking maintenance, the time needed to gain education or training for suitable employment, the marital standard of living, the duration of the marriage, the age and physical/emotional condition and financial obligations of the requesting spouse, and the paying spouse's ability to meet their own needs while paying support.

Source: Revised Code of Washington § 26.09.090 · Last verified 2026-07-22

Disclaimer: This page explains the general legal framework for alimony in Washington 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 Washington before making decisions.