Reviewed by Joshua P. Haid, Managing Partner
Chicago Spousal Support & Maintenance Lawyers for Women
One of the hardest questions in a divorce is also one of the most practical: will I be able to support myself? If you earn less than your spouse, or set aside a career to raise your children or support their work, that question can feel like the ground giving way. Spousal support exists precisely to answer it — to give you the footing to rebuild your independence, not to leave you starting from nothing after years of building a life together.
Estimate your support now. Use the calculator below for a quick estimate of what Illinois maintenance might look like in your situation, then read on to understand how the numbers really work — and how to make sure your award reflects the truth.
ALIMONY / MAINTENANCE CALCULATOR
In Illinois, what people call alimony or spousal support is legally called maintenance, and it is governed by 750 ILCS 5/504. It is not automatic and it is not a punishment — the court first decides whether maintenance is appropriate for your situation, then applies a formula to set the amount and how long it lasts. Whether you receive a fair award, and whether it reflects what your spouse truly earns, depends heavily on how your case is presented.
The Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group by Haid and Teich LLP has protected women’s financial futures in Chicago divorces for more than 15 years — the first firm in the area built around women’s and mothers’ rights, recognized as Super Lawyers from 2016 through 2025 and featured in O, The Oprah Magazine and ELLE. Managing partner Joshua P. Haid built his career on business litigation, which matters here more than most people realize: maintenance is calculated on net income, and a spouse who is self-employed or paid through a business can understate what they earn to shrink your support. We make sure the number reflects the truth.
Find out what you may be entitled to — try our alimony calculator, then talk with a Chicago spousal support lawyer in a free, confidential consultation. Call 312-445-8830.
What is really at stake: your financial security
Spousal support is not about getting even — it is about being able to stand on your own after a divorce reshapes your life. For a woman who earned less, or who paused a career to raise children and support a spouse’s, the end of a marriage can mean facing the future with far less earning power than the person on the other side of the table. Maintenance is meant to bridge that gap — to help you regain your footing, retrain or re-enter the workforce, and maintain something close to the life you built. What is at stake is real and long-term: too little support, or support cut too short, can shape your finances for years. Getting it right protects the independence you are working to rebuild.
How is spousal maintenance calculated in Illinois?
For couples whose combined gross income is under $500,000, Illinois uses a guideline formula: 33⅓% of the payor’s net income minus 25% of the recipient’s net income, capped so that your total income does not exceed 40% of the couple’s combined net income (750 ILCS 5/504). Because maintenance is no longer taxable to the recipient or deductible to the payor, the formula runs on net income — what each spouse actually takes home. Duration depends on the length of the marriage: the number of years married is multiplied by a percentage that rises the longer you were married, and for a marriage of 20 years or more, the court can order maintenance for a period equal to the marriage or on an indefinite basis. Our alimony calculator gives you a rough estimate; the real figure depends on how income is established.
Do I qualify for spousal support in Illinois?
Maintenance is not automatic — the court first decides whether it is appropriate before any formula applies. Under 750 ILCS 5/504(a), the judge weighs factors including each spouse’s income and property, the needs of each, present and future earning capacity, any impairment to your earning capacity from time spent on the home or children, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, and each spouse’s age and health. Illinois is no-fault, so who caused the divorce does not affect maintenance. If you earn significantly less than your spouse, or gave up income or advancement for your family, you may well qualify — and the way your circumstances are presented makes a real difference to the outcome.
How we protect your right to support
From the first meeting, our focus is your financial security — a maintenance award that is fair, reflects the truth, and actually holds. We build the full financial picture, and where a spouse is self-employed or paid through a business, we use discovery and forensic analysis to establish their real net income, so your support is not shortchanged by an understated figure. We make the case for the right amount and the right duration for your marriage, and we structure it to protect you against later attempts to reduce it. And if your circumstances or your spouse’s change down the road, we handle the modification. Your ability to rebuild your life should not be left to chance or to the other side’s version of the numbers.
Related: Chicago Divorce · Divorce After a Long Marriage · Child Support · High Net Worth Divorce
Your financial future is worth protecting. Estimate your support with our calculator, then reach out for a free, confidential consultation.
