D.C. alimony eligibility
A D.C. court may award alimony when the court finds it just and proper.
D.C. Code §16-913 allows the court to require either party to pay alimony when a divorce or legal separation is granted if an award is just and proper. [1]
The statute does not turn that decision into a yes-or-no income test. This calculator therefore does not claim that a person is entitled to receive alimony or required to pay it.
D.C. alimony amount and duration
D.C. law allows alimony to be indefinite or term-limited and requires the court to consider specific factors.
Section 16-913 says the court determines both the amount and the time period. The award may be indefinite or limited to a term and can be structured to fit the facts of the case. [1]
The listed factors include the requesting party's ability to be self-supporting, time needed for education or training, the marital standard of living, marriage length, the circumstances that contributed to the estrangement, age, physical and mental condition, the paying party's ability to meet both parties' needs, and each party's financial needs and resources. Since January 2024, the estrangement factor expressly includes a history of physical, emotional, or financial abuse. [1]
Because §16-913 does not provide a districtwide percentage formula or marriage-length table, the tool compares a payment selected by the visitor instead of presenting a predicted court award.
Temporary alimony in D.C.
D.C. courts use the §16-913 factors when considering temporary alimony during a case.
D.C. Code §16-911 says a court considering pendente lite alimony uses the factors in §16-913(d). This calculator is limited to a planning scenario and does not separately calculate temporary alimony. [2]
Questions about the District of Columbia alimony calculation.
Does Washington, D.C. use an alimony formula?
D.C. Code §16-913 does not provide a districtwide percentage formula for alimony. The court determines the amount and duration after considering the statutory factors.
Can alimony in D.C. last indefinitely?
Yes. Section 16-913 says an alimony award may be indefinite or term-limited. That does not mean an indefinite award is automatic; the court decides what is appropriate for the facts.
Does D.C. consider abuse when deciding alimony?
Yes. The current statute lists the circumstances contributing to the parties' estrangement, including a history of physical, emotional, or financial abuse, among the factors the court considers.
District of Columbia alimony sources and calculator limits
Public-source check: September 6, 2026. Current calculator rules release: 0.18.0. The current D.C. Code text reflects the January 26, 2024 amendment adding physical, emotional, and financial abuse to the estrangement factor. Source checking and automated testing are not attorney review or a guarantee of legal correctness.