Indiana Alimony Calculator
Spousal Maintenance Analysis
What Is Spousal Maintenance in Indiana?
Indiana law takes a strict approach to alimony. Unlike states that award ongoing support after almost any divorce, Indiana courts only grant maintenance if very specific conditions apply.
The goal is not to guarantee lifestyle support, but to provide short-term help in cases where someone cannot support themselves because of:
- Rehabilitation needs (education or job training).
- Physical or mental incapacity.
- Caring for an incapacitated child.
If none of these apply, the court is unlikely to award maintenance—even if one spouse earns much more than the other.
How the Indiana Maintenance Calculator Works
The Indiana Alimony Calculator is designed to simplify a complex question: Do you meet the legal standards for spousal maintenance?
Here’s how it functions:
- Choose your reason for seeking maintenance. Options include rehabilitation, incapacity, or caregiver status.
- Enter both spouses’ gross monthly income. This ensures the payor earns more than the recipient.
- Analyze results. The calculator provides a plain-language explanation of eligibility, potential limitations, and what a judge might consider.
Important: The calculator does not produce an exact dollar figure or guaranteed outcome. Indiana law leaves the decision entirely up to the judge. This tool is only for educational purposes.
Types of Maintenance Covered by the Calculator
1. Rehabilitative Maintenance
- Purpose: Helps a spouse get education or training for employment.
- Duration: Up to 3 years maximum.
- Factors considered: Costs of the program, payor’s ability to pay, and the recipient’s employment plan.
2. Incapacity Maintenance
- Purpose: Supports a spouse who is physically or mentally unable to support themselves.
- Duration: Can last as long as the incapacity continues.
- Factors considered: Medical evidence, recipient’s needs, and payor’s income.
3. Caregiver Maintenance
- Purpose: Applies if a parent must stay home to care for a child with a physical or mental incapacity.
- Duration: Based on the child’s needs and the payor’s ability to pay.
- Factors considered: Level of care required, recipient’s ability to work, financial resources.
Why This Calculator Matters
Legal language can be intimidating. Many people don’t know if their situation even qualifies for maintenance in Indiana. This calculator:
- Demystifies the law by breaking it into plain-English explanations.
- Saves time by offering quick eligibility insights.
- Prepares you for legal advice so you know what questions to ask your attorney.
For example:
- If you’re seeking maintenance because you want more financial stability, the calculator will explain why that alone doesn’t qualify.
- If you’re disabled or caring for a disabled child, the tool highlights possible grounds for support.
Limitations You Need to Know
- Indiana maintenance laws are strictly limited compared to other states.
- Judges have full discretion on awarding or denying maintenance.
- The calculator gives an overview, not a guarantee.
- You should always consult a family law attorney before making legal or financial decisions.
