Reviewed for current 2026 law
North Dakota Spousal Support Factors 2026
North Dakota uses eligibility findings, statutory factors, and duration limits rather than a statewide dollar formula.
Reviewed by SupportDecode Editorial Team Page content reviewed Sources Methodology Update log
spousal support factors
ND sets alimony by judicial discretion; there is no statutory formula. Courts weigh the enumerated factors below.
Factors the court weighs
- Age of the spouses
- Earning ability of the spouses
- Duration of the marriage
- Conduct of the spouses during the marriage
- Station in life of the spouses
- Circumstances and necessities of each spouse
- Health and physical condition of each spouse
- Financial circumstances shown by property, income, and the income-producing capacity of property before and after the marriage
N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.1(2)
Duration limits
- Marriage under 5 years: Generally no more than 50% of the marriage length, measured in months
- Marriage 5 to under 10 years: Generally no more than 60% of the marriage length, measured in months
- Marriage 10 to under 15 years: Generally no more than 70% of the marriage length, measured in months
- Marriage 15 to under 20 years: Generally no more than 80% of the marriage length, measured in months
- Marriage 20 years or longer: A term agreed by the parties or limited by the court
Assumptions
- This tool does not estimate a dollar amount for discretionary states: any number would be invented.
- North Dakota does not permit permanent spousal support. Amount and any exception to the duration limits require case-specific findings; no statutory dollar formula exists.
Estimate only. The court or state agency calculation controls.
North Dakota alimony under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.1.
North Dakota does not authorize permanent spousal support
A court may award support only when the recipient lacks sufficient property or income for reasonable needs in light of the marital standard and the other spouse can pay without undue hardship.
The statute lists eight factor categories and permits rehabilitative, general-term, or lump-sum/property-adjustment support.
Default duration ceilings depend on marriage length unless the court makes the required written findings.
Prepare evidence for eligibility, amount, and duration
Document property, income, expenses tied to the marital standard, earning capacity, health, marriage length, and ability to pay.
The factor checklist cannot predict the exercise of judicial discretion.
What this estimate includes
- Eligibility standard
- Eight statutory factors
- Default duration bands
What it leaves out
- Dollar amount
- Guaranteed duration
- Case-specific findings
North Dakota spousal support factors FAQs
Does North Dakota have an alimony formula?
No. Section 14-05-24.1 supplies standards, factors, types, and duration limits but no mathematical dollar formula.
Is permanent support available?
No. The current statute says a court may not award permanent spousal support.
What types may be awarded?
The statute recognizes rehabilitative support, general-term support, and a lump-sum or property adjustment.
Does marriage length affect duration?
Yes. Default percentage-of-marriage duration ceilings rise across marriages under 5, 5-10, 10-15, and 15-20 years.
Can a court exceed a default ceiling?
Only with the written findings required by the statute or where another statutory path applies.
Why does the tool show no amount?
A dollar result would falsely imply a North Dakota formula that does not exist.
Official sources
Official sources last verified: .
- N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.1, spousal support
North Dakota Legislative Council Last checked
Changelog: page reviewed . Material changes appear in the update log.