Are there states with no alimony?

A state may make court-ordered support harder to qualify for, limit how long a particular type can last, or use a name such as “maintenance” instead of “alimony.” Another state may allow support but leave the amount and duration to a judge weighing statutory factors. None of those descriptions, by itself, means that support is impossible in every case.

It also matters whether someone is asking about temporary support while a divorce is pending, support in a final divorce judgment, a later change to an existing order, or payments agreed to in a contract. Each can involve different rules.

Texas is often described as restrictive, but “Texas has no alimony” is not an accurate summary. Texas Family Code chapter 8 calls court-ordered post-divorce support “maintenance.” Section 8.051 generally requires the spouse seeking maintenance to lack sufficient property to meet minimum reasonable needs and to meet one of the statute’s eligibility conditions. Those conditions include specified family-violence circumstances, an incapacitating disability, a marriage of at least ten years with insufficient ability to earn enough to meet minimum reasonable needs, or caring for a child of the marriage who requires substantial care because of a disability.

Eligibility is only one question. The statute separately addresses factors used to set an award, duration limits, and an amount cap. Chapter 8 also distinguishes statutory maintenance from contractual alimony or spousal-maintenance agreements. So the outcome may depend on whether the issue is a court award, an agreement, or an existing order.

Permanent alimony is not a uniform category across the country. Some laws describe support by purpose or by a set term; other laws allow an indefinite duration in appropriate circumstances. Even an award with no preset end date can be subject to termination or modification rules. “Indefinite” does not automatically mean unchangeable or guaranteed for life.

Florida is one clear example of why the wording matters. Its current statute lists temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational alimony. Florida can still award support under those categories even though the statute does not list “permanent alimony” as a type. The court must make findings about need and the other spouse’s ability to pay and consider statutory factors.

New York’s statute describes maintenance as payable for a definite or indefinite period and provides for guideline calculations and factors. That is different from saying that every long marriage results in lifetime payments.

For a broader comparison, use the ABA’s state-by-state chart as a research starting point and then open the current law for the state involved. The chart is based mainly on statutory text, covers selected changes through January 1, 2026, and is not legal advice.

Do not assume that moving to a state changes which court can decide a divorce or support issue. Residency requirements, jurisdiction, where a case is pending, and existing orders can affect which law applies. Before relocating or filing based on a hoped-for support outcome, get advice from a family-law attorney who can review the relevant states and facts.

• What term does the statute use: alimony, maintenance, or spousal support?
• Is the question about temporary support, a final order, modification, enforcement, or a private agreement?
• What must a spouse show to qualify, and what factors affect the amount?
• Is there a formula, a duration limit, or a type of support with a different purpose?
• Can an order be modified or terminated, and what events matter?
• Which state’s court has authority over the case or existing order?

Visit the AlimonyPath state resource directory for official-source starting points, including our current Texas guide and Florida guide. You can also use the private planning checklist to organize general questions. It does not calculate support or predict a court’s decision.

• American Bar Association, Charts 2026: Family Law in the Fifty States, D.C., and Puerto Rico (survey current through January 1, 2026; includes the alimony/maintenance statute chart).
• Texas Family Code, Chapter 8: Maintenance (including sections 8.051–8.055).
• Florida Statutes section 61.08: Alimony.
• New York Domestic Relations Law section 236.