What changed in alimony calculation after Bondaz?

The NH Supreme Court ruled that the 23% statutory formula under RSA 458:19-a is only a ceiling. The final award is capped by the recipient's reasonable need — housing plus health plus essentials, minus their own income. If need is lower than the formula cap, need controls.

Does the 2025 child support change affect alimony?

Yes. For equal parenting, similar incomes, and shared expenses, there is a rebuttable presumption of $0 child support, which increases the payor's available income for alimony purposes.

What are HB 1036 and HB 1757 (pending 2027)?

HB 1036 would impose an 8-year absolute cap on alimony duration. HB 1757 would bar alimony entirely for marriages of 6 years or less. Both are pending and not yet law.

Is alimony taxable in New Hampshire?

Under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (post-2018), alimony is not deductible for the payor nor taxable to the recipient. New Hampshire has no state income tax, so there is no additional state tax impact.

How does retirement affect alimony after Bondaz?

A payor's retirement at age 65 or older is grounds for modification. The court re-evaluates the payor's ability to pay and the recipient's need.

How does marriage length affect maintenance in New Hampshire?

Under 5 years typically receives no maintenance absent exceptional circumstances. 5-10 years may see 20-40% of marriage duration. 10-20 years may see 40-60% of marriage duration. 20+ years may receive longer or indefinite maintenance.

New Hampshire Spousal Support Calculator | Alimony Estimates Under RSA 458 & 2025 Bondaz Ruling

Use this free New Hampshire spousal support calculator to estimate monthly alimony reflecting the 2025 Bondaz "reasonable need" ruling and the 23% statutory formula ceiling under RSA 458:19-a. Whether your divorce is filed in Manchester (Hillsborough County), Nashua (Hillsborough County), Concord (Merrimack County), Portsmouth (Rockingham County), or anywhere else in New Hampshire, this tool weighs income, the recipient's reasonable need, marriage duration, and county cost-of-living factors. Under Bondaz, the 23% formula is only a ceiling — the final award is capped by the recipient's actual need. You can also preview the impact of pending 2027 legislation (HB 1036 and HB 1757) using the toggle below. Always consult a licensed New Hampshire family law attorney for advice tailored to your case.

Income Information

Payor's Gross Monthly Income:

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Recipient's Gross Monthly Income:

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Income Disparity Ratio:

Monthly Child Support Obligation:

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Parenting Time Schedule :

Are Parents' Incomes Substantially Similar?:

Do parents share childcare/medical/extracurricular costs 50/50?

Marriage Details

Marriage Duration (years):

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Separation Date:

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Marriage less than 5 years?

Marriage 10+ years?

Is recipient custodial parent?

New Hampshire-Specific Factors

New Hampshire County:

Support Type:

Domestic violence involved?

Fault-based divorce?

Professional License Held By:

Likelihood of Recipient Cohabitation:

Apply Pending 2027 Rules (HB 1036 & HB 1757) — 8-year max duration & 6-year marriage bar

Needs and Resources

Recipient's Housing Costs ($/mo):

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Health Insurance Costs ($/mo):

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Other Essential Expenses ($/mo):

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Payor's Essential Expenses ($/mo):

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Payor's Current Age:

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Earning Capacity

Recipient's Education Level:

Years Recipient Was Out of Workforce:

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Recipient Sacrificed Career for Marriage?

Recipient has disability?

Duration Factors

Maintain marital standard of living?

Significant separate property?

Age Difference (years):

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Recipient's Current Age:

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Disclaimer: Updated per NH Supreme Court Bondaz (2025): alimony cannot exceed the recipient's reasonable need. The 23% formula (RSA 458:19-a) is a ceiling, not a target. Pending 2027 legislation shown as toggle. Consult an attorney.

New Hampshire Spousal Maintenance Calculation Results

Maintenance Type Determination

Recommended Maintenance Type:

Primary Factors:

Monthly Maintenance Amount

Guideline Amount:

Statutory Considerations:

Duration of Maintenance

Recommended Duration:

New Hampshire Guidelines:

Judicial Considerations

Likely Range:

Key Factors:

Modifying Maintenance in New Hampshire

Under RSA 458:19-a, maintenance can be modified upon a showing of a substantial and continuing change in circumstances.

1. Legal Standards for Modification

Substantial and Continuing Change Required: The change must be material and ongoing — temporary fluctuations are insufficient.

Automatic Termination on Remarriage: Maintenance automatically terminates upon the recipient's remarriage.

Bondaz Reasonable-Need Ceiling Applies at Modification Too: Any modified award still cannot exceed the recipient's reasonable need (housing + health + essentials minus their own income) — the 23% formula remains a ceiling, not a target (In the Matter of Bondaz & Bondaz, 2025).

Retirement Must Be Reasonable: A payor's voluntary retirement may constitute a change in circumstances, but the court examines whether the retirement was reasonable under the circumstances (In the Matter of Letourneau & Letourneau, 2008).

Child Support Interaction: Courts cannot order parents to share expenses outside of a support order without agreement — this affects the ability-to-pay analysis for alimony when child support is presumed $0 under 2025 rules (In the Matter of Hoyt & Hoyt, 2018).

2. Common Grounds for Modification

Recipient's Remarriage: Automatic termination; payor should still file to formally close out the order.

Payor's Reasonable Retirement: Typically at age 65+, examined for genuineness (Letourneau).

Recipient's Improved Earning Capacity: May justify reduction, especially where it reduces the recipient's reasonable need.

Significant Income Change: For either party.

Disability or Health Issues: Affecting either party's earning capacity.

Recipient's Cohabitation: May affect the reasonable-need calculation if it reduces the recipient's actual expenses.

3. Step-by-Step Modification Process

Step 1 – Gather Evidence: Tax returns, pay stubs, medical records, documentation of the recipient's updated reasonable-need calculation.

Step 2 – File a Petition: Submit a Petition for Modification to the court that issued the original order.

Step 3 – Serve Notice: Legally notify the other party using certified mail or a process server.

Step 4 – Mediation: Many New Hampshire courts require mediation before a hearing.

Step 5 – Court Hearing: If unresolved, present evidence to the court for a decision.

Step 6 – Order on Modification: Modifications are not retroactive — they only apply from the filing date forward.

4. Critical Practical Considerations

Never stop paying without court approval: Doing so risks contempt charges and arrears accumulation.

No retroactive modification: Act promptly when circumstances change, since relief runs only from the filing date.

Recalculate reasonable need at modification: Since Bondaz caps every award by actual need, update the recipient's housing, health, and essential-expense figures before petitioning.

Typical timeline: The modification process typically takes 3–6 months for uncontested cases and 9–18 months for contested cases, depending on court backlogs.

RSA 458:19-a | In the Matter of Bondaz & Bondaz, NH Supreme Court No. 2024-0327 (2025) | In the Matter of Letourneau & Letourneau, 154 N.H. 1 (2008) | In the Matter of Hoyt & Hoyt, 171 N.H. 373 (2018) | In the Matter of Watterworth & Watterworth, 161 N.H. 175 (2011)