How Long Will I Have To Pay Alimony in Illinois?

 Posted on April 24, 2026 in Divorce

How long you will have to pay alimony, known as spousal support or maintenance in Illinois, depends largely on how long you were married. Illinois law uses a formula that ties the duration of alimony directly to the length of the marriage. Several factors can also change how a judge handles it in your specific case. If you are going through a divorce in 2026 and trying to understand what you might owe, Will County, IL divorce lawyers can help you get a clear picture of what to expect.

How Does Illinois Calculate How Long Spousal Maintenance Lasts?

Illinois uses a formula under 750 ILCS 5/504 to figure out how long maintenance should last. The formula multiplies the length of the marriage by a percentage that goes up the longer the marriage lasts. Some examples of how it works in practice include:

• A five-year marriage results in about one year of maintenance.

• A 10-year marriage results in about four years of maintenance.

• A 15-year marriage results in about nine to 10 years of maintenance.

• A 20-year marriage gives a judge the option to order maintenance for as long as the marriage lasted, or indefinitely.

The longer the marriage, the more open-ended the outcome can be.

What Factors Does a Judge Consider When Ordering Maintenance in Illinois?

The length of the marriage is important, but it is not the only thing a judge looks at when determining alimony. Under 750 ILCS 5/504, Illinois courts also consider factors like each spouse's income and earning potential, the standard of living during the marriage, whether one spouse gave up career opportunities to raise children or support the other spouse's career, and the age and health of both spouses.

These factors can push the length or amount of maintenance up or down from what the formula alone would suggest, especially when the financial picture is complicated, or one spouse has not worked in many years.

How Can I End Spousal Support Payments Early in Illinois?

Maintenance does not always last for the full period the court ordered. Under Illinois law, it ends automatically if the receiving spouse remarries. It can also be ended or reduced if the receiving spouse starts living with a new partner in a marriage-like relationship, which is called cohabitation. The paying spouse has to go back to court and show that cohabitation is happening before any modifications can be made to the order.

Maintenance also ends if either spouse dies or if the receiving spouse's financial situation improves enough that continued support is no longer needed.

Can Maintenance Be Modified After the Divorce Is Final in IL?

If there has been a real and significant change in circumstances since the original maintenance order, either spouse can ask the court to adjust the amount or length of maintenance. Common reasons why people go back to court include a job loss, a big change in income, a serious health issue, or the receiving spouse landing a much better-paying job. The change has to be meaningful, not just a small shift in finances.

Can Spouses Agree on Maintenance Without an Illinois Judge Deciding?

Spouses can negotiate the length and amount of maintenance as part of a divorce settlement. If both sides agree, the court will generally approve it as long as it is not unfair to either party. Reaching an agreement outside of court gives both spouses more control over the outcome and often leads to a result that works better for both of them than what a judge might order after a contested hearing.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Plainfield, IL Spousal Support Attorneys

Spousal maintenance questions are rarely simple. The answers depend heavily on the details of your marriage and financial situation. The Will County, IL divorce lawyers at Reeder & Brown, P.C. bring over 30 years of combined experience to cases like yours and are focused on honesty, integrity, and providing great service to every client. You deserve straight answers and a clear plan, and that is exactly what we will deliver. Call 815-885-5980 to talk through your situation with an experienced attorney and find out what maintenance may look like in your case.