Pennsylvania Spousal Support/APL

Pennsylvania Spousal Support & APL Calculator

Apply the 30% and 40% formulas after child support to gauge Pennsylvania spousal support or APL exposure.

Run the Guideline Scenario

Enter monthly income, deductions, parenting schedule, and expenses. We compute child support first, then apply the appropriate 30% or 40% formula to determine guideline spousal support/APL.

Question 1 of 18

Which best describes you?

I expect to pay support

Likely the obligor with fewer overnights or higher income.

I expect to receive support

Typically the custodial parent or obligee.

Attorney / mediator / financial professional

Running scenarios for clients or parties.

Pennsylvania Spousal Support / APL

Guidelines from Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-4 & 1910.16-5

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Provide monthly gross income for both parties to evaluate spousal support/APL.

Guideline Overview

The Pennsylvania guideline is straightforward: calculate the difference in monthly net incomes and multiply by 30% or 40%, depending on whether dependent children are involved. Deviation factors remain available, and the guideline amount is often a floor for negotiations.

Key Safeguards

Child support deducted from the obligor’s income before applying the 30% formula.
Courts can deviate based on Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-5 factors.
Guideline inapplicable when income difference is negative or small — output clarifies when support drops to $0.

Practice Tips

Pair this output with equitable distribution and expense budgets for settlement proposals.
Run multiple scenarios to test how child support deviations or shared custody credits affect spousal support.
Document reasons for deviations when presenting to the court (e.g., unusual needs, standard of living disparities).

Formula Workflow

Calculate guideline child support and subtract the monthly obligation from the obligor’s net income.
Compute the net-income difference between obligor and obligee.
Apply the 30% formula if the obligor is paying child support; otherwise apply 40%.
Check for negative or zero results. The guideline amount will be $0 when the obligee’s income is equal or higher.
Consider deviation factors (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-5) before finalizing the proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between spousal support and APL in Pennsylvania?

Spousal support is available after separation but before a divorce is filed. APL applies during the divorce case. Both use the same guideline formulas (30% or 40%) and the court has broad discretion to deviate.

Why must child support be calculated first?

Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-4 mandates that child support be prioritized. The obligor’s net income for the spousal support/APL formula must subtract the final child support amount.

Which formula applies to my case?

If dependent children are involved and child support is being paid, use 30% of the difference between post-child-support obligor net income and obligee net income. If there are no dependent children, use 40% of the difference.

Can the court deviate from the guideline amount?

Yes. Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-5 provides deviation factors such as unusual needs, assets, or other financial obligations. The guideline amount is a presumptive starting point.

Integrate Support Calculations

Use this spousal support/APL estimate alongside the child support results to present a complete financial proposal that mirrors Pennsylvania courtroom workflow.

Recalculate Support