State alimony comparison
Recommended workflow
Start with the legal differences below, run one shared estimate scenario, then open each state guide for the detailed framework courts may apply.
Use this side-by-side data view as a starting point, then review the linked state law guides and calculators for deeper planning context.
| Factor | Florida | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Support term | alimony | maintenance |
| Formula profile | statutory-net | statutory-net |
| Property system | equitable | equitable |
| Legal framework | Temporary alimony may be awarded while the divorce is pending to maintain financial stability during litigation. Final alimony awards are governed by Florida Statutes § 61.08 and require findings regarding both need and ability to pay before any award can be entered. | Temporary maintenance may be awarded during the divorce proceeding to address immediate financial needs. Post-divorce maintenance is governed by 750 ILCS 5/504, which establishes presumptive net-income formulas, duration schedules, and deviation factors for final awards. |
| Statute citation | Florida Statutes § 61.08 (2026) | 750 ILCS 5/504 (Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act) |
Best for
Relocation planning, negotiation prep, and state-by-state estimate checks.
Use with
Florida and Illinois calculators for same-fact estimates.
Remember
Support outcomes still depend on judge discretion, facts, and local procedure.
Same-facts estimate
Use the same income and marriage facts to see how the planning estimate changes between Florida and Illinois. This is educational, not a court prediction.
Statutory durational-alimony estimate: the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 35% of the difference between the parties' net incomes, adjusted conservatively for marriage length and ability to pay.
$1,750/mo
Planning range: $1,400-$2,100/mo
Duration: About 9 years
Statutory guideline estimate: 33.33% of payer net annual income minus 25% of recipient net annual income, capped so the recipient's net income plus maintenance does not exceed 40% of the parties' combined net income.
$1,500/mo
Planning range: $1,200-$1,800/mo
Duration: About 9 years
Florida: Florida no longer awards permanent alimony for initial petitions governed by the current statute. Courts may award temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony only after making specific factual findings that the requesting spouse has actual need and the other spouse has ability to pay. Durational alimony is capped at reasonable need or 35% of the parties' net-income difference, whichever is less. Illinois: Illinois uses statutory maintenance guidelines after the court first decides that maintenance is appropriate. Maintenance is not automatic. If guideline maintenance applies, the amount is calculated from the parties' net annual incomes, and the recipient's income after maintenance may not exceed 40% of the parties' combined net income.
Florida: Florida classifies marriages as short-term if less than 10 years, moderate-term if 10 to less than 20 years, and long-term if 20 years or more. Bridge-the-gap alimony may not exceed 2 years. Rehabilitative alimony may not exceed 5 years and requires a specific rehabilitative plan. Durational alimony may not be awarded after a marriage lasting less than 3 years. Durational alimony may not exceed 50% of a short-term marriage, 60% of a moderate-term marriage, or 75% of a long-term marriage, except under exceptional circumstances proven by clear and convincing evidence. Illinois: Illinois uses statutory duration multipliers based on the length of the marriage at the time the action is commenced. For marriages under 20 years, the duration is calculated by multiplying the marriage length by a factor that increases with marriage length. For marriages of 20 years or more, the court may order maintenance for a period equal to the length of the marriage or for an indefinite term.
Florida: Most alimony awards may be modified upon a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances. The party requesting modification must demonstrate that the statutory standard has been satisfied. Illinois: Maintenance may be modified upon a substantial change in circumstances unless the award is expressly non-modifiable. Courts review financial developments, employment changes, retirement, and other relevant factors when evaluating modification requests.
Florida awards alimony based on the receiving spouse's need and the paying spouse's ability to pay. Following major statutory reforms, Florida eliminated permanent alimony and now relies primarily on bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational forms of support. Courts must evaluate statutory factors before determining amount and duration.
Eligibility: A spouse seeking alimony must demonstrate a genuine financial need, while the other spouse must have the ability to contribute support. Courts examine income, assets, liabilities, earning capacity, and the marital standard of living. Qualification depends on the total circumstances rather than marriage length alone.
Illinois uses statutory maintenance guidelines that rely primarily on the parties' net incomes. For many cases, courts calculate maintenance using a formula established in 750 ILCS 5/504, while retaining authority to deviate when application of the guideline would be inappropriate. The statute also provides duration multipliers tied to the length of the marriage.
Eligibility: A spouse may qualify for maintenance when the statutory analysis demonstrates a need for support and the circumstances justify an award. Courts examine income, property distribution, earning capacity, future opportunities, and the standard of living established during the marriage. Qualification is determined under the statutory factors rather than income disparity alone.
Alimony rules vary by state. Comparing two states helps readers understand differences in formulas, duration ranges, eligibility rules, modification standards, and judicial discretion before deeper research.
No. SettleCompass comparison pages are educational planning resources only and do not replace advice from a licensed family law attorney.
Yes. State formulas, income caps, duration rules, statutory factors, and judge discretion can produce different outcomes from the same basic facts.
Use state-specific calculator pages to model the same income and marriage-length assumptions across both states.
