California Spousal Support Calculator

For temporary (pendente lite) support, many counties apply a local computer model — the Santa Clara guideline is the most cited: 40% of the payor's net income minus 50% of the payee's net. For post-divorce (long-term) support, there is no formula. Judges weigh 14 statutory factors under Family Code §4320, including earning capacity, standard of living, and length of marriage.

There is no statutory duration rule. The common rule of thumb — 50% of the marriage length for marriages under 10 years — is a judicial trend, not law. For marriages of 10 years or more, courts typically retain indefinite jurisdiction over support under Family Code §4336.

A marriage of 10 or more years is considered a "long-term marriage" under California case law. It does not guarantee permanent support, but courts are more likely to retain jurisdiction and may award support for longer periods or indefinitely.

DissoMaster and XSpouse are the court-approved software programs used by California family law attorneys and judges. They apply the local county guideline formula to detailed income data — the result on this page is an approximation, not a DissoMaster calculation.

Generally no. California is a no-fault divorce state. However, documented domestic violence is a factor the court must consider under Family Code §4320(i), and it can reduce or eliminate support for an abusive spouse.