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 | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Support term | alimony | alimony |
| Formula profile | statutory-net | statutory |
| 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 alimony may be ordered while the case is pending and ordinarily ends when the divorce, legal separation, or annulment becomes effective. Final term or reimbursement alimony is governed by RSA 458:19-a and related provisions, which include formula, duration, deviation, and termination rules. |
| Statute citation | Florida Statutes § 61.08 (2026) | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 458:19, 458:19-a, 458:19-aa, and 458:19-b |
Best for
Relocation planning, negotiation prep, and state-by-state estimate checks.
Use with
Florida and New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire. 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 term alimony estimate: 23% of the difference between payer gross income and recipient gross income, limited by the recipient's reasonable need and the payer's ability to meet both parties' reasonable needs.
$1,533/mo
Planning range: $1,226-$1,840/mo
Duration: About 8 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. New Hampshire: New Hampshire has a statutory formula for term alimony, but the formula is limited by the recipient's reasonable need and the payer's ability to pay. Term alimony is generally calculated as the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 23% of the difference between the parties' gross incomes under current federal tax treatment. Courts may adjust the formula or duration if justice requires.
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. New Hampshire: The maximum duration of New Hampshire term alimony is generally 50% of the length of the marriage, unless the parties agree otherwise or the court finds that justice requires an adjustment. Term alimony ends on the recipient's remarriage unless the parties' agreement provides otherwise. Reimbursement alimony is separate, compensates contributions to the payer's financial resources, and is generally capped at 5 years from the final decree unless the parties agree otherwise.
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. New Hampshire: New Hampshire alimony may be modified when statutory standards for modification are met, including changes affecting need, income, or ability to pay. Modification depends on the type of alimony and the terms of the order or agreement.
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.
New Hampshire uses the term alimony and provides a structured statutory framework for temporary, term, and reimbursement awards. The state uses a formula-based approach for many term alimony calculations, but courts may deviate when justice requires. Duration is also limited by statute, with term alimony generally capped at 50% of the length of the marriage.
Eligibility: A spouse may qualify if they have need, the other spouse has the ability to pay, and the requested award is reasonable under the statutory framework. New Hampshire courts consider the parties' respective incomes, expenses, assets, marriage length, and fairness. Reimbursement alimony may apply when one spouse made economic or noneconomic contributions that enhanced the other's earning capacity or property position.
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.
