Is the 50% rule for maintenance duration legally binding?

No. The 'marriage length divided by 2' heuristic is a common starting point used by practitioners but has no statutory basis. Courts in England & Wales assess each case individually under MCA 1973 s.25 factors including standard of living, age, needs, and ability to become self-sufficient.

What is a joint lives order?

A joint lives periodical payments order lasts until either party dies, the recipient remarries, or the court varies/discharges it. Used for long marriages where the payee cannot achieve financial independence. Clean break is the preferred outcome; joint lives orders are increasingly scrutinised.

Spousal Maintenance Duration (Marriage × 0.5 Heuristic) Calculator

Estimate spousal maintenance (alimony) duration using the marriage length × 0.5 heuristic and the Miller v Miller needs-based framework. Covers joint lives orders, term orders, and clean break principles under MCA 1973.

Statute of Limitations

Incident / Event Date

Claim Type

⚖ For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.

How It Works

Each component has a specific meaning:

Marriage length × 0 — The marriage length × 0 recorded for the scenario being assessed.

Note: Interpret the spousal maintenance duration result against the thresholds and context described above.

How to Use

Enter the marriage length × 0 for the scenario you are assessing. Estimate spousal maintenance (alimony) duration using the marriage length × 0.5 heuristic and the Miller v Miller needs-based framework. Covers joint lives orders, term orders, and clean break principles under MCA 1973. Use the spousal maintenance duration result to inform your calculation.