Spousal support is not calculated by a formula in Pennsylvania. Rather, the court must weigh and consider a range of factors in determining if alimony is appropriate in any given case, and, if so, in what amount and for how long. These factors include but are not limited to:
Relative earning capacity of each spouse
The expectations and inheritances of the parties
The relative assets and liabilities of the parties
The ages and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the parties
Marital misconduct
Marriage duration
Contribution to the other party’s education
Alimony pendente lite, which is the amount of money that one spouse pays to the other during the course of a divorce, follows a strict formula of determination. In most instances, the formula for these payments is 40 percent of the difference in the net income of both parties. If children are involved, the amount is lowered to 30 percent. This is because the spouse who is paying alimony is also paying child support.