Vermont Child Support Calculator
Estimate Vermont child support for 2026 using the Income Shares guideline model under 15 V.S.A. §§ 653-663. Enter both parents' incomes and the parenting-time split to see what you may owe or receive.
Vermont follows the Income Shares model under 15 V.S.A. §§ 653-663. The court combines both parents' monthly net incomes, looks up the basic support obligation on the state's guideline schedule for that income level and number of children, then prorates the obligation between the parents according to each parent's percentage share of the combined income.
Vermont uses a shared-care formula, so parenting time can change the support number once a parent's overnights reach a level the guideline treats as shared physical custody. When parenting is roughly balanced, the court runs a shared-physical-custody calculation that accounts for the costs each home carries instead of using the standard single-home formula. The on-page calculator is only an estimate, and the official CS-167 worksheet and the family court decide the actual amount based on your real overnight schedule.
The cost of the child's health insurance premium is one of the adjustments built into Vermont's Income Shares calculation. The premium paid for the children is generally added to the basic support obligation and then prorated between the parents in proportion to their share of combined net income, so the parent who pays the premium gets credit for it. The estimate here is a starting point, and the official worksheet controls how the premium is actually divided.
Work-related child care and daycare are listed among the adjustments in Vermont's guideline. Reasonable child care that a parent pays so they can work is typically added to the basic support obligation and split between the parents according to their percentage shares of combined net income. Because these costs change over time, the official CS-167 worksheet and the court set the controlling figure, and the number shown on this page is only an estimate.
Vermont's guideline amount is presumed correct, but a judge may deviate when applying the formula would be unfair or not in the child's best interest, considering factors the statute lists. The parent who wants a number different from the guideline carries the burden of showing why, and the court must put its reasons in writing. Because deviation turns on your specific facts, treat the calculator as an estimate and confirm any departure with the worksheet and a licensed attorney.
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Vermont?
Vermont uses the Income Shares model under 15 V.S.A. sections 653 to 663. The court combines both parents' monthly net incomes, looks up the basic support obligation on the state guideline schedule for that combined income and the number of children, then divides that obligation between the parents in proportion to each parent's share of the combined income. Adjustments for health insurance, child care, and shared physical custody are then applied. The Vermont Office of Child Support administers the program. The calculator on this page gives an estimate only, and the official CS-167 worksheet and the family court set the actual amount.
Is there an official Vermont child support worksheet I should use?
Yes. Vermont's controlling form is the CS-167 child support guideline worksheet, published by the Vermont Office of Child Support, part of the Department for Children and Families. It walks through combining both parents' net incomes, finding the basic obligation on the guideline schedule, prorating it, and applying adjustments for health insurance, child care, and shared custody. The number a judge orders comes from that worksheet, not from any quick online tool. Use the estimate here to get oriented, then complete the official CS-167 worksheet and have a licensed Vermont attorney review it before you rely on the figure.
Does Vermont use gross income or net income to figure support?
Vermont's guideline calculation is built on each parent's monthly net income. The court starts from gross income from any source, including wages, self-employment, severance, pensions, retirement, Social Security, workers' compensation, unemployment, and recurring gifts, and then arrives at net income for the formula. Because the schedule is keyed to combined net income, accurately reporting all income sources and allowable deductions changes your result. The estimator on this page is not legal advice, and the official CS-167 worksheet and the family court control how your income is counted and what the final obligation is.
How does a 50/50 or shared parenting schedule change support in Vermont?
Vermont uses a shared-care formula, so when parenting time is roughly balanced the court runs a shared-physical-custody calculation instead of the standard single-home formula. This calculation recognizes that both parents carry direct costs for the children during their time, which can lower the amount one parent pays. The exact effect depends on the overnight split and each parent's share of combined net income under 15 V.S.A. sections 653 to 663. The calculator here only estimates this, so confirm a shared-custody result on the official CS-167 worksheet and with a licensed attorney.
What happens if a parent is unemployed or underemployed in Vermont?
When a parent has no income or earns less than they reasonably could, a Vermont court can base support on imputed income, meaning earning capacity rather than actual paychecks. Judges look at work history, education, skills, and local job availability to decide what the parent could be earning, and they plug that figure into the Income Shares calculation under 15 V.S.A. sections 653 to 663. This prevents a parent from dodging support by staying out of work. The estimate here cannot decide imputation for you, so the official CS-167 worksheet and the family court make that call.
When does child support end in Vermont?
In Vermont, child support generally continues until the child turns 18, but it extends through graduation from secondary school up to age 21 if the child is still finishing high school. Support does not automatically stop the day a child turns 18 if they are still in school within that window. Continuing support may also be ordered for a disabled adult child. Because timing depends on your order and the child's situation, confirm the end date against your order and 15 V.S.A. sections 653 to 663, and treat the calculator as an estimate rather than legal advice.
How do I change a Vermont child support order, and how does the state enforce it?
To change an order, you can file a motion in the family division of the superior court or request a review through the Vermont Office of Child Support. Vermont requires a real, substantial, and unanticipated change in circumstances, with a roughly 10 percent change in income commonly cited as the trigger. For collection, OCS enforces through immediate income withholding, tax refund intercept, license suspension, lien filings, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. The amount itself still comes from the Income Shares guideline, so use this page only to estimate and rely on the official CS-167 worksheet and an attorney for the controlling figure.