Virginia Child Support — How It Works

Virginia uses an income-shares guideline written into Va. Code § 20-108.2 — support is based on both parents’ combined income. This page explains the rules and links Virginia’s official DCSE calculator; it doesn’t compute your amount.

How the Virginia formula works

The statutory guideline works in steps:

Combine both parents’ gross monthly incomes;
Find the basic obligation for that combined income and the number of children on the schedule in § 20-108.2;
Split it proportionally — each parent covers the share of the total they earn;
Adjust for health insurance, childcare, and — in shared custody — parenting days.

The guideline figure is a rebuttable presumption (the schedule is reviewed every four years by a statutory panel), and a statutory minimum order of $68 per month applies.

The 90-day shared-custody line, and changing an order

Virginia’s key parenting-time threshold is 90 days a year: once the paying parent passes it, the Shared Custody Support Guideline applies and support generally decreases as parenting time rises, because the guideline now credits that parent for costs they cover directly. To modify an order, a parent must show a material change in circumstances — commonly a 25% or greater change in income — and a court can impute income to a parent found voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.

How long support lasts

Support generally ends at 18, but continues for a full-time high-school student who isn’t self-supporting and lives with the recipient parent, until 19 or graduation, whichever is first (longer for a child with a severe disability).

Use the official calculator

The Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement provides the official obligation calculator (linked above). Use it for an estimate; this page only explains the model. The court that issues your order has final authority.

For a real case

The guideline amount is presumed correct but can be adjusted under the statutory factors. For advice on your situation, consult a Virginia family-law attorney.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in Virginia?

Virginia uses an income-shares guideline set out in Va. Code § 20-108.2. It combines both parents' monthly gross incomes, finds the basic obligation on the statutory schedule for that combined income and the number of children, and each parent pays a proportional share. The guideline amount is a rebuttable presumption, and the schedule is reviewed every four years.

What goes into the Virginia formula?

Both parents' gross monthly incomes, the number of children, health insurance premiums, work-related childcare, and — under the shared-custody guideline — the number of days the child spends with each parent. There is a statutory minimum order of $68 per month.

When does the shared-custody guideline apply?

The Virginia Shared Custody Support Guideline is used once the paying parent has the child for more than 90 days a year. Above that line, support generally decreases as parenting time rises, because the guideline credits the parent for the costs they cover directly during their time.

Until what age is support paid, and when can it change?

Support generally ends when the child turns 18, but continues for a full-time high-school student who is not self-supporting and lives with the parent receiving support — until 19 or graduation, whichever comes first. An order can be modified on a material change in circumstances, commonly shown by a 25% or greater change in a parent’s income. Income can be imputed to a voluntarily unemployed or underemployed parent.

Where do I get an official estimate?

Use the Virginia DCSE child-support obligation calculator linked on this page, or the guideline worksheets. This page explains the model but does not compute an amount, and it is not legal advice.

Virginia child support guidelines