California judges apply a “ten-year rule” when deciding alimony matters during a divorce. Marriages that last less than ten years are considered short-term marriages. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, alimony payments for short-term marriages do not exceed one-half of the duration of the marriage.
Generally, the courts in California award spousal support based on the length of the marriage. In California, spousal support typically lasts half the length of the marriage. If the couple was married for six years, for example, a judge would make a spousal support obligation last for three years.
California doesn't use a "calculator" for determining the amount of long-term spousal support. Instead, judges must decide how much to award after they've considered all of the following circumstances: each spouse's needs, based on the standard of living they had during the marriage.