Wisconsin Spousal Maintenance Calculator

Under §767.56, courts weigh 10 factors: length of marriage; financial resources of each party; earning capacity of each party; contributions to the marriage including homemaking; age and physical/emotional health; length of absence from employment; child custody impacts; tax consequences; contributions to the other's education or earning power; and any mutual agreement about future earnings during the marriage (e.g., one spouse gave up career opportunities).

Wisconsin divides all marital property equally (50/50). If one spouse receives sufficient assets in the division to meet their needs, maintenance may be reduced or denied. Courts look at the totality of the financial picture — property division and maintenance together — to achieve an equitable result.

There is no statutory duration cap. Courts may award time-limited maintenance (common for shorter marriages or where rehabilitation is the goal) or indefinite maintenance (for long marriages or where self-sufficiency is not realistic). A common rule of thumb is one year of maintenance for every two to three years of marriage, but this is not law.

Unless otherwise ordered, maintenance terminates upon the death of either party or the remarriage of the recipient. The court can also include a cohabitation provision — many agreements provide for termination or review if the recipient lives with a new partner in a relationship akin to marriage.