Quick answer: Vermont uses income shares under 15 V.S.A. §§ 653 to 661 and the guideline tables of the Office of Child Support (updated January 2, 2024). Each parent’s gross income is converted to available income: federal and state income tax and FICA are taken from a standard tax conversion table (custodial parents get head of household status and the children; noncustodial parents are treated as single), and pre-existing child support, spousal support paid and the children’s health insurance premium are subtracted, along with a hypothetical obligation for additional dependents. The combined available income is looked up in the Table of Intact Family Expenditures on Children ($625 to $30,025 of combined monthly income, one to six children); child care and extraordinary medical and educational expenses are added to get the total support obligation, and the noncustodial parent pays his or her proportion of available income. The noncustodial parent keeps a self-support reserve ($1,596 a month since February 2, 2026): support is the lesser of the share and the available income above it. When each parent has the children 30% or more of the nights the guideline amount is increased by 50% and each share is reduced by the time with the other parent, and the two obligations are offset; with split custody each parent’s theoretical obligation is offset against the other’s. The guideline amount is presumed correct and can be adjusted on the factors in § 659.
How Vermont child support works
- Gross to available income. See from gross income to available income.
- The table and the reserve. See the Intact Family table and the self-support reserve.
- Sole, shared and split custody. See sole, shared and split custody in Vermont.
What this calculator checks
The calculator uses the three official OCS tables (601 rows of each tax conversion table and 588 rows of the guideline table, up to $30,024.99), the official worksheets for sole, split and shared custody and the self-employment adjustment, and was checked against an independent re-implementation. It does not compute imputed income, the child support maintenance supplement, deviations or the partial shared-costs adjustment for 25% to 30% of the nights, which is not in the current tables.
Child support across Vermont
The guidelines apply in every Family Division court, from Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, Essex, Barre or Montpelier, and in cases handled by the Office of Child Support. The court may support the child to the age of majority or the end of secondary education, whichever is later.
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Vermont?
Gross incomes are converted to available income with the OCS tax tables, combined and looked up in the Table of Intact Family Expenditures, and the noncustodial parent pays his or her proportion, subject to the self-support reserve.
What is the Vermont self-support reserve?
$1,596 a month since February 2, 2026, 120% of the federal poverty guideline for a single person.
How many nights make shared custody in Vermont?
30% or more of the calendar year for each parent; between 25% and 30% a shared costs table applies.
Does Vermont use gross or net income for child support?
Available income: gross income less taxes from a standard conversion table, pre-existing support and the children's health premium.
How long does Vermont child support last?
The court may order it until the child reaches the age of majority or finishes secondary education, whichever is later.