Vermont Child Support Calculator & Guide (2025)

Overview of Vermont Child Support

Vermont uses the Income Shares Model under 15 V.S.A. §650. This model estimates the total amount of support that would have been available to the child if the parents had remained together, then divides that responsibility between the parents proportionally based on their incomes.

Vermont's approach uses gross income and provides a self-support reserve to protect low-income obligors. The state also accommodates shared parental rights and responsibilities arrangements.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Vermont

The Vermont child support formula works as follows:

1. Determine each parent's gross income: Income from all sources including wages, salaries, self-employment, and investment income
2. Combine both parents' incomes to find the total household income
3. Look up the base support obligation from the Vermont child support guidelines table based on combined income and number of children
4. Allocate each parent's share proportionally based on their percentage of the combined income
5. Add health insurance premiums and childcare costs to the base obligation
6. Apply any adjustments such as low-income provisions or shared custody modifications

Key Factors in Vermont Calculations

Gross Income

Vermont uses gross income for child support calculations. This includes income from all sources such as wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, investment income, and Social Security benefits.

Self-Support Reserve

Vermont provides a self-support reserve of $1,180 per month (2024). If the obligor parent's income falls at or near this level, their support obligation may be reduced to ensure they can meet their own basic living needs.

Shared Parental Rights and Responsibilities

Vermont provides adjustments when parents share parental rights and responsibilities. The specific adjustment depends on the custody arrangement and the time the child spends with each parent.

Minimum and Maximum Amounts

Minimum: While Vermont does not have a fixed statutory minimum, the self-support reserve protects low-income parents from excessive obligations.

High-income cases: For combined incomes above the guideline table, the court has discretion to determine an appropriate support amount based on the child's needs and the parents' ability to pay.

Modification and Enforcement

Modification

Vermont allows modification when:

• There has been a real, substantial, and material change in circumstances
• A significant change in either parent's income occurs
• Custody or parental rights and responsibilities change
• The child's needs change materially

Enforcement

The Vermont Office of Child Support enforces child support through:

• Income withholding from paychecks
• Tax refund interception
• Driver's license suspension
• Professional license suspension
• Credit bureau reporting
• Contempt of court proceedings
• Liens on property and financial accounts

Get your Vermont estimate: Use our free Vermont child support calculator to see what you might owe or receive under Vermont guidelines.