Quick answer: Vermont lets the court order maintenance, rehabilitative or long term, under 15 V.S.A. § 752 if the spouse seeking it lacks sufficient income or property, including the property apportioned in the divorce, to provide for reasonable needs, and is unable to support himself or herself through appropriate employment at the standard of living established during the marriage or is the custodian of a child. The court sets the amount and period it deems just after considering all relevant factors: the payee’s resources and ability to meet needs independently; the time and expense of education or training; the standard of living; the duration of the marriage; the age and condition of each spouse; the payor’s ability to meet his or her needs while meeting the payee’s; inflation; the impact of both parties reaching retirement age; and a guidelines table that gives, for each length of marriage, a range of percentages of the difference between the parties’ gross incomes and a range of duration as a percentage of the length of the marriage: 0 to 16% for marriages under 5 years, 12% to 29% for 5 to under 10, 16% to 33% for 10 to under 15, 20% to 37% for 15 to under 20 and 24% to 41% for 20 years or more. An order can be changed on a real, substantial and unanticipated change of circumstances (§ 758), and the court may require security (§ 757).
What this calculator shows
The calculator applies the statutory guidelines table to the difference between the gross incomes and shows the range for the amount and the duration. The guidelines are one factor, so the range is advisory. The threshold and factors are in when Vermont awards maintenance, the table in the maintenance guidelines table and modification, security and the child support supplement in modification and the child support supplement.
Property, child support and maintenance
The property division is decided first and is a factor in maintenance; the court also considers whether a property settlement is in lieu of or in addition to maintenance. A child support maintenance supplement is considered in setting maintenance. See the Vermont property division calculator and the Vermont child support calculator.
Maintenance across Vermont
The statute applies in every Family Division court, from Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, Essex, Barre or Montpelier.
Frequently asked questions
How is alimony calculated in Vermont?
The court sets maintenance after considering factors including a guidelines table that gives a range of percentages of the difference in gross incomes and a duration range as a percentage of the length of the marriage.
Who can get maintenance in Vermont?
A spouse who lacks income or property for reasonable needs and cannot support himself or herself at the marital standard or is the custodian of a child.
What are the Vermont maintenance guidelines?
For example, 16% to 33% of the difference in gross incomes for 10 to under 15 years of marriage, for 40% to 60% of the length of the marriage.
Can Vermont maintenance be modified?
Yes, on a real, substantial and unanticipated change of circumstances.
Is Vermont maintenance rehabilitative or long term?
Either: the court may order rehabilitative or long-term maintenance.