If you are looking for a simple way to estimate alimony in your New Jersey divorce case, then let me introduce you to the “25% Rule of Thumb.”
I’m Steve Kaplan, 
a New Jersey divorce attorney, and I’ve been helping people navigate divorce for over 37 years.
First, I should tell you that N.J. doesn’t have an official “alimony calculator.”
There’s no law that sets a percentage or equation.
If a judge decides alimony in your case, they must review 19 different legal factors, including:
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The length of your marriage
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Income and earning capacity
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Standard of living
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Parenting responsibilities
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Health and age of each party
- And on and on...
It’s complex, and every case is different.
So Where Does the “25% Rule” Come In?
Because trials are expensive and unpredictable, many New Jersey divorce lawyers (myself included) have seen clients and mediators turn to a simple estimate to help settle:
The “Rule of Thumb” Formula goes like this:
Take the difference between your incomes.
Multiply that by 25%
That’s the estimated annual alimony (tax free to the recipient, and non-deductible to the payor)
Example:
If your spouse earns $180,000 and you earn $60,000, the income gap is $120,000.
25% of that = $30,000 per year, or $2,500 per month in alimony.
It’s not the law — but it’s widely used in settlement negotiations as a starting point.
Is the 25% Rule Right for Your Case?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Sometimes, this formula favors the higher earner.
Other times, it benefits the lower earner.
The real question is:
Do you want to spend months in litigation fighting over statutory factors —
or negotiate a number both sides can live with and move forward?
In many New Jersey divorces, people choose to settle using a variation of the 25% rule — especially when they want a faster, cheaper resolution.
Want to Learn the Strategy Behind the Numbers?
That’s why I created Steve Kaplan’s Divorce Course — a free, email-based guide that teaches you how to approach alimony, custody, and asset division the right way in New Jersey.
You’ll start with:
“Steve Kaplan’s Guide to Divorce in New Jersey”,
a plain-English breakdown of how real-world divorce settlements work.
What You’ll Get in the Course
You’ll learn:
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What really matters to judges in New Jersey
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How to avoid common negotiation mistakes
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How to choose between settlement and trial strategies
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And yes — more detail on the 25% alimony formula and when it works
Want the Edge?
Sign up for my free course now
Your first lesson will arrive in minutes.
No name required — just an email.
Unsubscribe anytime with one click.
But most people don’t.
Because the advice works.
And... if you are concerned that your spouse might be a narcissist & all of the challenges that such a situation might bring to your efforts to divorce fairly... then click the blue link below.
Until next time,
Steve
Steven J. Kaplan, Esq.
Specializing in Divorce
Throughout New Jersey
5 Professional Circle
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
(732) 845-9010
www.KaplanDivorce.com