If your marriage lasted less than 10 years, a common guideline is spousal support for about half the length of the marriage. If your marriage lasted 10 years or longer, it's considered a "long-term" marriage, and the court generally keeps the ability to order support indefinitely — meaning it doesn't automatically end, though it can still be changed or stopped later.
Key Takeaways
- Under 10 years: support usually lasts around half the length of the marriage.
- 10 years or longer: no automatic end date — the court retains jurisdiction indefinitely.
- Remarriage or death of either spouse ends support automatically.
- Support can also be changed or ended by a new court order, a written agreement, or if the supported spouse moves in with a new partner.
- Temporary support (while the divorce is pending) uses a formula; final, long-term support does not.
How Long Will I Get (or Owe) Spousal Support?
This is the question almost everyone asks first, and the length of your marriage is the biggest factor in the answer.
| Marriage length | Typical duration guideline |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years | Roughly half the length of the marriage — a 6-year marriage might see support for around 3 years |
| 10 years or more | "Long-term" marriage — no automatic end date; court retains ongoing jurisdiction |
Example: A marriage that lasted 5 years might result in support paid for roughly 2.5 years. A marriage that lasted 18 years is long-term — support could continue for many years, potentially indefinitely, unless something changes it.
Ten years is a common reference point, not a strict legal cutoff — a marriage close to that mark can be treated as long-term depending on the facts of the case.
What Actually Ends Spousal Support?
- The end date set in the court order or agreement is reached
- The supported spouse remarries (support ends automatically)
- Either spouse passes away
- A judge issues a new order changing or terminating support, based on a change in circumstances
- The supported spouse moves in with a new romantic partner — this creates a presumption of reduced need, which can lead a judge to lower or end support
How Is the Amount Calculated?
While the divorce is pending (temporary support)
Many California courts, including Los Angeles County, use a guideline formula to set support quickly while a case is ongoing:
Temporary support ≈ 40% of the higher earner's net monthly income − 50% of the lower earner's net monthly income
If child support is also being paid, it's generally calculated first, and that amount is factored in before the spousal support formula is applied. This formula is a starting point — a judge can adjust it based on the specific case.
After the divorce is final (long-term support)
There is no fixed formula here. The judge weighs a list of factors under Family Code §4320, including the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity and how it may have been affected by the marriage (such as time out of the workforce), the length of the marriage, each spouse's age and health, and each spouse's assets and debts. The goal is generally for the supported spouse to become self-supporting within a reasonable time — except in long-term marriages, where that expectation is less rigid.
A note on taxes
Starting January 1, 2026, spousal support is no longer taxable to the person receiving it or deductible for the person paying it, at both the federal and California level, under Senate Bill 711. This is a change from the old rule for agreements made before 2019, and it matters if you're negotiating an amount, since neither side gets a tax adjustment on it anymore.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does spousal support last in California?
For marriages under 10 years, a common guideline is support for about half the length of the marriage. For marriages of 10 years or longer, courts generally keep jurisdiction over support indefinitely, meaning there's no automatic end date unless the parties agree to one or the court sets one later.
Is 10 years a hard cutoff for long-term marriage?
No. Ten years is a guideline, not a strict legal line. Courts look at the full circumstances, and a marriage close to 10 years can be treated as long-term depending on the facts.
What ends spousal support?
Spousal support typically ends when the date set in the order arrives, when the supported spouse remarries, when either spouse dies, or when a court issues a new order changing or ending it. A supported spouse living with a new partner can also lead the court to presume reduced need, which can reduce or end support.
How is the amount of spousal support calculated?
While a divorce is pending, many California courts, including Los Angeles County, use a guideline formula for temporary support: roughly 40% of the higher earner's net monthly income minus 50% of the lower earner's net monthly income. Once the divorce is final, there is no formula — the judge sets the amount using the factors in Family Code §4320.
Is spousal support taxable in California?
For agreements and orders dated January 1, 2026 or later, spousal support is not deductible by the paying spouse and not taxable income to the receiving spouse, at both the federal and California state level, under Senate Bill 711. Orders from before 2026 may follow different rules unless modified to adopt the new treatment.