Spousal Maintenance Calculator 2026 by Rechnerzentrale

Status

Which maintenance ground applies?

Compensation up to the marital standard of living

Net income, person liable to pay

net per month · tap or drag

Net income, person entitled to maintenance

net per month · tap or drag

The paying spouse is , the receiving spouse is and years old. The marriage lasted years.

More detailsChild maintenance €0 · Housing benefit €0 / €0

Calculate child maintenance from the children's agesPayment amount under the Düsseldorf Table 2026 from the payer's income (children live with the recipient); it is deducted from income first

Child maintenance (priority)

€

Housing benefits

Housing benefit, paying spouse

€

Housing benefit, entitled spouse

€

Sets the retained minimum (€1,600/€1,475), the 5% allowance and the quota (45%/50%) · For the 5% allowance and the quota (45% earned income / 50% other income)

Monthly spousal maintenance

45% share

€1,091

Expected €1,091 a month as Top-up maintenance (§ 1573 Abs. 2 BGB) – 45% rate.

Marriage-duration factor50%

Longer marriages (> 20 years) usually lead to unlimited maintenance.

Time limitGuideline: approx. 3 years (1/3 of the marriage duration)
ReductionReduction to an appropriate level of self-support likely after the transition period

Calculation steps (equal-share principle)

Net income, paying spouse - child maintenance: €4,000
- 5% work-related expenses: €150
Adjusted income, paying spouse: €3,850
Adjusted income, entitled spouse: €1,425
Income difference: €2,425
45% of the earned-income difference (equal-split principle): €1,091
Maintenance after quota: €1,091
Max. maintenance (after self-retention amount €1,600): €2,250
Final post-marital spousal maintenance: €1,091

Top-up maintenance

§ 1573 Abs. 2 BGB

Difference between one's own and the marital standard of living

What you can do

Equal-share principle (since 2022)
The entitled spouse receives 45% of the difference in earned income: both incomes are split in half, and the working spouse additionally keeps 1/10 of their earned income as a work incentive bonus. Other income (housing benefit, pensions) is split 50/50 without the bonus. The former 3/7 method (1/7 bonus) was replaced nationwide by this 1/10 bonus as of 1 Jan 2022 following the 2019 Federal Court of Justice ruling.
Separation maintenance vs. post-marital maintenance
Separation maintenance: During the separation until the divorce. Hardly any time limit. Post-marital maintenance: After the divorce. Principle of self-responsibility (§ 1569 BGB) – maintenance only for special reasons.

How this was calculated

What is post-marital maintenance?

After a divorce, maintenance can be owed under certain conditions. The principle of self-responsibility (§ 1569 BGB) means that each ex-partner must, in principle, provide for themselves. Maintenance is only granted for special reasons.

Spousal Maintenance Calculator 2026 by Rechnerzentrale(opens in a new tab)2026 values