Alimony in Texas
State-specific overview · Family Law
Texas restricts alimony to specific circumstances and limits duration; most divorces involve no spousal support.
How Texas treats Alimony
Texas permits spousal maintenance only when the paying spouse was convicted of or received deferred adjudication for a family violence crime, or when the marriage lasted at least ten years and the recipient cannot earn sufficient income for basic needs. The maximum duration is generally five years for marriages under twenty years, and indefinite support only for marriages of twenty years or longer. Payments are capped at the lesser of $5,000 monthly or 20 percent of the payer's gross income. This restrictive approach means most Texas divorces do not include alimony.
The general definition of Alimony
Court-ordered payments from one spouse to another after divorce or separation.
Alimony is money that a court requires one spouse to pay to the other after they divorce or legally separate. It's designed to help the lower-earning spouse maintain a similar standard of living they had during the marriage. The amount and duration depend on factors like how long the marriage lasted, each person's income and earning ability, and their age and health. Alimony is different from child support, which is specifically for children's needs.
Read the full Alimony entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Texas.