Wyoming Alimony / Spousal Support Estimator

Wyoming has no formula for calculating alimony. Under Wyoming Statute § 20-2-114, judges have broad discretion to award "reasonable alimony" based primarily on two factors: the paying spouse's ability to pay and the receiving spouse's demonstrated financial need. Courts also weigh marriage length, each spouse's earning capacity, age, health, and marital standard of living when setting the amount.

Wyoming courts award five types of spousal support: temporary (during divorce proceedings only), short-term (post-divorce adjustment period), rehabilitative (for education or job training — the most common type), permanent (reserved for long marriages or disability), and lump-sum (a single one-time payment). Rehabilitative alimony helps financially dependent spouses gain the skills needed for self-sufficiency.

Wyoming has no statutory limits on alimony duration — judges set the timeframe case by case under § 20-2-114. Short marriages under 5 years typically receive little or no support. Marriages of 5–15 years commonly receive rehabilitative support lasting a few years. Long marriages over 15 years are more likely to result in extended or permanent support, particularly when one spouse has limited earning capacity.

Under § 20-2-114, Wyoming courts consider: the paying spouse's ability to pay, the receiving spouse's financial need, each spouse's earning capacity, the length of the marriage, the marital standard of living, each spouse's age and health, and contributions to the marriage including homemaking. The court's goal is ensuring the award is "just and equitable" to both parties.

Yes. Under Wyoming Statute § 20-2-116, either spouse can petition the court to modify alimony by proving a material and substantial change in circumstances, such as job loss, disability, or significant income change. However, alimony terms set by a settlement agreement generally cannot be modified by the court — only court-ordered alimony is subject to revision under § 20-2-116.

Wyoming is a no-fault divorce state, and courts generally do not use alimony to punish marital misconduct. However, § 20-2-114 directs courts to consider the "respective merits of the parties," which some Wyoming courts have interpreted as allowing limited consideration of fault. In practice, financial need and ability to pay carry far more weight than misconduct in alimony decisions.

No. Under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act effective January 1, 2019, alimony payments under divorce agreements executed after that date are not tax-deductible for the payer and not taxable income for the recipient. Wyoming has no state income tax, so spousal support payments carry no state tax consequences for either party regardless of the divorce date.

Yes, Wyoming recognizes prenuptial and postnuptial agreements that address spousal support. However, Wyoming courts retain authority to review the agreement at the time of divorce and may modify or invalidate alimony waivers deemed unconscionable or fundamentally unfair. Courts are more likely to enforce a waiver when both spouses had independent legal counsel and made full financial disclosure before signing.