Boston, MA family law attorney Terri Partridge talks how spousal support is calculated in MA. In Massachusetts, she calculates alimony in accordance with the Alimony Reform Act. She states that in Massachusetts, alimony is calculated under the Alimony Reform Act. The Act specifies that all sources of income from both parties are considered in determining each party’s total income. Alimony is then based on the difference between the parties’ incomes, with the statutory percentage applied to that differential. The statute originally set this percentage at 30 to 35%, but it was enacted prior to changes in alimony tax deductibility under the IRS. As a result, the effective percentage is now generally considered to be between 22 and 26% of the income differential.

Additionally, the amount of alimony is limited by the demonstrated need of the recipient spouse. This need is assessed in relation to the lifestyle that the parties maintained during the marriage, ensuring that the support reflects a reasonable continuation of that standard of living.