Vermont child support guidelines
Vermont uses an income-shares guideline under 15 V.S.A. § 656 — support is based on both parents’ available incomes. This page explains it and links the official OCS calculator; it doesn’t compute your amount.
How the Vermont formula works
The guideline works in steps:
- Combine both parents’ available incomes;
- Find the total support from the Vermont Table for Intact Family Expenditures for the number of children;
- Split it proportionally by each parent’s share of the combined income;
- Adjust for custody — sole, split, or shared — and add health insurance and childcare.
The official calculator bundles the shared-custody table, expenditure table, and a self-employment worksheet; the guideline tables were updated January 2, 2024.
The two shared-custody tiers, and the self-support reserve
Vermont splits shared parenting into two tiers. Between 25% and 30% of nights for one parent, a shared-costs table applies; once each parent has 30% or more of the year (about 110+ overnights), 15 V.S.A. § 657 increases the base obligation by 50% to reflect two households, then offsets by income and time share. A self-support reserve of $1,596/month (effective February 2, 2026) protects a low-earning obligor — below it the court may order only a nominal amount. Support ends at 18 or high-school graduation, and modification requires a “real, substantial, and unanticipated change of circumstances.”
Use the official calculator
The Vermont Department for Children and Families, Office of Child Support publishes the official calculator (linked above). Use it for an estimate; this page only explains the model. The court has final authority over the amount.
For a real case
The guideline amount is presumed correct but can be adjusted when it would be inequitable. For advice on your situation, consult a Vermont family-law attorney.
Reviewed by Aqil Abbas Khan, Founder & Editor of ToolsNexus
This page is general information, not legal advice. Child support in Vermont is set by Vermont’s official guidelines, and the amount in any real case is determined by the court or the state child-support agency using the official worksheet — not by this page. Guideline figures, schedules, and adjustments change over time and depend on facts specific to your situation (each parent’s income, parenting time, health-insurance and childcare costs, and other factors a court may consider). Use the official Vermont calculator for an actual estimate, and consult a licensed family-law attorney in Vermont for advice about your circumstances. ToolsNexus is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
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Frequently asked questions
- How is child support calculated in Vermont?
- Vermont uses an income-shares model under 15 V.S.A. § 656. It combines both parents' available incomes, finds the total support from the Vermont Table for Intact Family Expenditures for the number of children, and each parent contributes proportionally to their share of the combined income, with adjustments for the custody arrangement.
- What goes into the Vermont formula?
- Both parents' available incomes, the number of children, health insurance and childcare costs, and the custody arrangement — sole, split, or shared. The official calculator includes tables for shared custody, intact-family expenditures, and a self-employment adjustment worksheet.
- How does shared custody change the amount?
- Vermont uses two shared-parenting tiers. When one parent has 25% or more but less than 30% of nights, a shared-costs table applies. When each parent has 30% or more of the year (about 110+ overnights), 15 V.S.A. § 657 increases the base obligation by 50% to reflect two households, then offsets by income and time share.
- Is there a self-support reserve, and until what age is support paid?
- Yes. Vermont’s self-support reserve is $1,596 per month, effective February 2, 2026; if the paying parent’s available income falls below it, the court uses its discretion and may order only a nominal amount. Support generally ends at age 18 or high-school graduation. Modifying an order requires a "real, substantial, and unanticipated change of circumstances."
- Where do I get an official estimate?
- Use the Vermont Office of Child Support Calculator linked on this page, published by the Department for Children and Families. This page explains the model but does not compute an amount, and it is not legal advice.