GermanyHow is spousal maintenance calculated after divorce?
Spousal maintenance in Germany is based on the standard of living during marriage and the dependent spouse’s actual needs — not income sharing — and is limited by the principle of self-sufficiency under BGB § 1569.
What the Law Says
German law does not guarantee lifelong spousal maintenance after divorce. Instead, it balances fairness with personal responsibility — requiring each ex-spouse to become financially independent, unless specific exceptions apply.
Under BGB § 1569, the starting point is the 'principle of self-responsibility': after divorce, each spouse must support themselves. Maintenance is only awarded if one spouse cannot meet their basic needs despite reasonable efforts — for example, due to childcare duties, illness, age, or lack of vocational qualifications.
If a claim exists, BGB § 1578 sets how much maintenance is owed. The amount is determined by the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage ('eheliche Lebensverhältnisse'), covering the full scope of necessary living expenses — including health and long-term care insurance, and costs for education, retraining, or vocational advancement (e.g., if returning to work after years as a homemaker).
Importantly, this is not about equalizing incomes or splitting marital earnings. It’s about ensuring the dependent spouse can maintain a reasonable standard of living — adjusted for reality — while working toward independence.
Statutory TextNach der Scheidung obliegt es jedem Ehegatten, selbst für seinen Unterhalt zu sorgen. Ist er dazu außerstande, hat er gegen den anderen Ehegatten einen Anspruch auf Unterhalt nur nach den folgenden Vorschriften.
— BGB § 1569 — German Civil Code
Statutory Text(1) Das Maß des Unterhalts bestimmt sich nach den ehelichen Lebensverhältnissen. Der Unterhalt umfasst den gesamten Lebensbedarf.(2) Zum Lebensbedarf gehören auch die Kosten einer angemessenen Versicherung für den Fall der Krankheit und der Pflegebedürftigkeit sowie die Kosten einer Schul- oder Berufsausbildung, einer Fortbildung oder einer Umschulung nach den §§ 1574, 1575.(3) Hat der geschiedene Ehegatte einen Unterhaltsanspruch nach den §§ 1570 bis 1573 oder § 1576, so gehören zum Lebensbedarf auch die Kosten einer angemessenen Versicherung für den Fall des Alters sowie der verminderten Erwerbsfähigkeit.
— BGB § 1578 — German Civil Code
What Courts Have Said
German courts interpret the statutory framework strictly — emphasizing proportionality, reasonableness, and the goal of economic independence.
The court clarified that separation maintenance (pre-divorce) must consider the dependent spouse’s realistic earning capacity — not just theoretical potential — factoring in age, health, and time needed for re-entry into the workforce.
The court ruled that post-divorce maintenance may be time-limited when the receiving spouse has had a fair opportunity to become self-supporting — e.g., after completing retraining or reaching retirement age — even if full independence hasn’t yet been achieved.
What to Do
Assess your current income, assets, and realistic future earning capacity — especially if you’ve paused your career for family reasons.
Gather evidence of marital lifestyle (e.g., housing costs, savings patterns, education investments, insurance coverage).
Consult a family law attorney early — maintenance claims are highly fact-specific and often contested.
If seeking maintenance, prepare documentation showing why independence isn’t immediately possible (e.g., childcare responsibilities, medical reports, retraining plans).
Sources
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US-New YorkNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.