Reviewed August 2026
Spousal Support in Missouri
Missouri calls spousal support maintenance, not alimony. The circuit court awards it as part of a dissolution of marriage case, under Missouri Revised Statutes § 452.335. Missouri requires a two-part threshold test before a court can award maintenance at all. A handful of other states use this same approach. Under § 452.335, a spouse who wants maintenance must show a lack of sufficient property, including marital property given to them, to meet their reasonable needs. They must also show one of two things. Either they cannot support themselves through appropriate employment, or they are the custodian of a child whose condition makes outside work inappropriate. Once that threshold is met, Missouri has no statutory formula for the amount or the duration. The court weighs a list of factors to set the specifics. That gives the judge discretion based on the facts of the marriage.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how spousal support works under Missouri law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Missouri paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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The two-part threshold test
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.335.1 sets a two-part test. The requesting spouse must show they lack enough property to cover reasonable needs. They must also show one of two things: an inability to support themselves through appropriate employment, or custody of a child whose circumstances make outside employment inappropriate. A spouse who cannot meet this threshold does not qualify for maintenance, no matter the income gap between the spouses.
Factors once eligibility is shown
Once a spouse clears that threshold, § 452.335.2 directs the court to weigh several factors. These include the financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, and the time needed to gain enough education or training for appropriate employment. The court also looks at the standard of living during the marriage and how long the marriage lasted. It weighs each spouse's age and their physical and emotional condition. The paying spouse's ability to meet their own needs while paying maintenance matters too, along with each spouse's conduct during the marriage.
No fixed formula or duration
Missouri does not tie the maintenance amount to a percentage of income, and it sets no statutory duration schedule. Courts can set awards for a defined period, tied to a spouse regaining employability. Awards can also run with no fixed end date in longer marriages, or when the recipient has limited capacity to become self-supporting, at the court's discretion.
Modification and termination
A court can modify a maintenance order when changed circumstances are so substantial and ongoing that the existing terms become unreasonable. Missouri law generally ends maintenance when either party dies or the recipient remarries, unless the couple's decree specifically says otherwise.
Sources: Missouri Revised Statutes § 452.335 (maintenance), IRS Tax Topic 452, Alimony and Separate Maintenance
Not independently confirmed
- The Missouri Courts self-help website could not be confirmed at HTTP 200; confirm current self-help resources directly at courts.mo.gov.
- Whether Missouri has a codified cohabitation-modification provision separate from the general change-of-circumstances standard was not independently confirmed; check the current text of Chapter 452 or Missouri case law.
Spousal Support in Missouri: frequently asked questions
What is alimony called in Missouri?+
Missouri statute uses the term maintenance, not alimony. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.335 governs it, and the circuit court decides it as part of a dissolution of marriage case.
Am I automatically eligible for maintenance in Missouri?+
No. Section 452.335.1 requires showing a lack of sufficient property for reasonable needs. It also requires either an inability to support yourself through appropriate employment, or custody of a child whose circumstances make outside work inappropriate.
Does Missouri have a formula for calculating maintenance?+
No. Once eligibility is shown, Section 452.335.2 lists factors the court weighs to set the amount and duration. These include the length of the marriage, each spouse's financial resources, and the time needed to gain employable skills. There is no fixed formula.
How long does maintenance last in Missouri?+
There is no fixed statutory duration. Courts can order maintenance for a defined period, often tied to a spouse regaining employability. They can also run without a fixed end date, in longer marriages or where earning capacity is limited.
Does remarriage end maintenance in Missouri?+
Generally, yes, unless the decree states otherwise. Missouri law typically ends maintenance when the recipient remarries or when either party dies.
Is maintenance taxable in Missouri?+
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, federal law no longer lets the paying spouse deduct maintenance. It also no longer requires the recipient to treat it as taxable income, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Agreements executed before 2019 generally keep the older tax treatment, unless later modified.
This page is general information about spousal support in Missouri, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Missouri's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Missouri. Virdix does not prepare or file Missouri divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Missouri.
More Missouri divorce guides
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