Minnesota rewrote its spousal maintenance statute effective August 1, 2024. The change did not create a formula for the dollar amount, but it did create clear starting presumptions for how long maintenance lasts, based on the length of the marriage. Use the estimator, then read what actually drives the outcome.
Estimate the likely duration of maintenance
This reflects the durational presumptions in Minn. Stat. 518.552, subd. 3, as amended effective August 1, 2024. These presumptions are rebuttable, and they apply only after a court first decides that maintenance is warranted. This is not legal advice.
What changed on August 1, 2024
The amendments to Minn. Stat. 518.552, subd. 3 replaced broad judicial discretion over duration with three rebuttable presumptions tied to the length of the marriage:
| Length of marriage | Starting presumption |
|---|---|
| Under 5 years | Presumption against awarding maintenance |
| 5 to 20 years | Transitional maintenance, generally capped at half the length of the marriage |
| 20 years or more | Presumption of indefinite maintenance |
Two points matter enormously and are widely misunderstood. First, these are rebuttable. A judge can depart from them based on the facts. Second, they address duration only. There is still no statutory formula for the amount.
How the amount is still decided
The dollar figure continues to come from the statutory factors: the financial resources of the person seeking maintenance, the time needed to acquire education or training, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, any lost earning capacity from staying out of the workforce, the age and health of the parties, the ability of the payor to meet their own needs while paying, and each party contribution to the marital estate.
Where your case is heard
All Minnesota family cases are heard in District Court. Minnesota has no Superior Court. Hennepin County cases are heard at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis and Ramsey County cases at the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul.
Frequently asked questions
Is maintenance the same as alimony?
Yes. Minnesota uses the term spousal maintenance for what many people call alimony.
Does the 2024 change apply to my existing order?
The presumptions govern new determinations. Whether they affect an existing order depends on the order terms and whether a modification is sought. This is worth a direct conversation about your specific decree.
Can maintenance be waived permanently?
Yes. Minnesota allows a Karon waiver, which divests the court of jurisdiction to modify maintenance later. It is powerful and effectively permanent, so it should never be signed casually.
Does misconduct affect maintenance?
Minnesota is a no fault state and marital misconduct is generally not a factor in setting maintenance.
Call (612) 662-9393 to discuss maintenance in your Minnesota case.
Related: Minnesota divorce and Minnesota child custody.