A quick, ballpark estimate for temporary spousal support, plus a typical duration guideline based on how long you were married. Not a prediction of your court order.
While a divorce is pending, many California courts — including Los Angeles County — use a guideline formula to set temporary spousal support quickly: roughly 40% of the higher earner's net monthly income minus 50% of the lower earner's net monthly income. This tool applies that formula, and pairs it with a general duration guideline: marriages under 10 years often see support for around half the length of the marriage, while marriages of 10 years or more are treated as long-term, with no automatic end date.
It is deliberately simplified and does not predict your final court order. Long-term spousal support has no fixed formula — a judge weighs the factors in Family Code §4320 case by case. For more detail, read our guide to how spousal support amount and duration work.
No. This is an independent educational tool using a guideline formula many California courts, including Los Angeles County, apply to temporary spousal support. It is not connected to the Judicial Council and does not predict what a judge will order.
No. There is no fixed formula for long-term spousal support in California. This tool estimates temporary support using the guideline formula many courts apply while a case is pending, plus a general duration guideline based on the length of the marriage.
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 it has no automatic end date.
Yes. We prepare divorce and family law documents, including the Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) that spousal support requests require, for a flat fee. As Legal Document Assistants we prepare documents at your direction; we do not give legal advice.
We prepare divorce and family law paperwork — including spousal support requests and the FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration — for a flat, disclosed fee.
See Divorce Documents →Los Angeles Paralegals is a document preparation service — not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or legal counsel of any kind. All documents are prepared based on information you provide. We strongly recommend consulting a licensed California attorney for advice specific to your circumstances.