Vermont Child Support Laws: Guidelines and Calculations

Quick Summary: Vermont Child Support

• Guideline Model: Income Shares Model
• Age of Termination: 18 or high school graduation, whichever is later
• Modification Threshold: 10% change and a "real, substantial, and unanticipated" change in circumstances (waived if order is 3+ years old)
• Self-Support Reserve (2026): $1,596 per month
• Presumed Income (2025): $95,449.50 annually
• Governing Statute: Title 15, Chapter 11, Vermont Statutes Annotated
• Agency: Vermont Department for Children and Families, Office of Child Support (OCS)

2026 Guidelines Update

As of January 1, 2026, the following figures apply to Vermont child support calculations:

• The regular FICA rate is 0.0765.
• The maximum self-employment adjustment is $1,176.19.
• The maximum FICA-covered wages or self-employment income is $15,375.
• Effective July 1, 2025, the Presumed Income is $95,449.50.
• Effective February 2, 2026, the Self-Support Reserve is $1,596 per month.

The guidelines calculation tables were last updated on January 2, 2024. The next scheduled review and update is set for completion by January 2, 2028.

How to Apply for Child Support in Vermont

The Vermont Office of Child Support (OCS) provides services to guardians, custodial parents, and non-custodial parents. These services include paternity establishment, medical and child support order establishment, review and modification of support orders, and non-custodial parent location. The OCS can also help you understand your rights in child support cases.

However, the OCS cannot stop or alter any provision of an existing court order. The agency will not act as your advocate in court. If you need legal representation, work with a family court attorney in your area.

Unlike many other states, Vermont offers services on two levels:

• Limited services: Only collecting and distributing support payments. Costs $5 per month.
• Full service: Includes all available services (paternity establishment, order establishment, enforcement, modification, and location services).

To apply for support, download and complete the application form from the OCS website. Mail the completed form to the Vermont Office of Child Support, 280 State Drive NOB 1, Waterbury, VT 05671-1060. You may also drop your application at a regional office or apply online.

Parents receiving government assistance automatically qualify for OCS services at no cost. The application is free for all parents who apply.

The Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence protects applicants living in fear of domestic violence. Call 1-800-228-7395 if you have received threats or fear repercussions for applying.

How is Paternity Established in Vermont?

Vermont law provides several ways to establish paternity under 15 V.S.A. Chapter 5, Subchapter 3A:

• Marriage: When a child is born to a married couple, the law presumes the husband is the father.
• Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage (VAP): Both parents complete a VAP form at the hospital after childbirth or at any child support office in the state.
• Court Action: Either parent files an action at the Superior Court Family Division, which may require the other parent to submit to genetic testing.
• Assisted Reproduction: When a child is conceived through assisted reproduction technology, the parents complete a Consent to Parentage Form for Assisted Reproduction.
• Genetic Testing: DNA testing ordered through the OCS or the court to confirm biological parentage.

Establishing paternity grants the father rights and responsibilities, including visitation and custody rights. The child gains inheritance rights, financial support, medical support, and related benefits. Once paternity is established, the father's name is added to the child's birth certificate.

If you are unsure of the child's paternity, do not sign the VAP until genetic testing confirms the biological relationship.

How is Child Support Determined in Vermont?

Vermont law allows parents to agree on a child support amount. However, the court reviews any agreement to confirm that it is consistent with Vermont child support guidelines under 15 V.S.A. Section 656.

Parents who reach an agreement may complete a Proposed Child Support Order and file it with a completed child support worksheet and Financial Affidavits. The court may schedule a hearing or approve the agreement. Once approved, the agreement becomes a legally enforceable court order.

Regardless of any parental agreement, the judge's priority is always the best interests of the child.

How is Child Support Calculated in Vermont?

Vermont uses the Income Shares Model, which bases support on the combined gross incomes of both parents. Under 15 V.S.A. Section 653, gross income includes income from any source, including but not limited to:

• Salaries, wages, commissions, royalties, and bonuses
• Dividends, severance pay, pensions, and interest
• Trust income, annuities, and capital gains
• Social Security benefits, workers' compensation, and unemployment insurance
• Disability insurance benefits, gifts, and prizes
• Spousal support actually received

Gross income does not include means-tested public assistance such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or General Assistance.

For self-employed individuals, gross income equals gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses.

The court considers these factors when calculating support:

• The gross incomes of both parents
• Who pays for the child's health insurance
• Work-related or education-related childcare costs (calculated on an annualized basis)
• Extraordinary medical or educational expenses
• The custody arrangement (sole, shared, or split)
• The number of children involved

If the paying parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income at the parent's earning capacity. This means your obligation will be calculated as if you were working at full capacity.

The OCS provides an online calculator to help estimate your obligation. You may also calculate support by hand using the appropriate worksheet and instructions.

Shared and Split Physical Custody Adjustments

Vermont adjusts support calculations for shared and split custody situations under 15 V.S.A. Section 657:

Shared Custody (30% or more): When each parent exercises physical custody for 30% or more of the calendar year, the total child support obligation increases by 50% to account for the added costs of maintaining two households. Each parent's share is proportional to income and custody time, and the obligations are offset so only the parent owing more pays the difference.

Intermediate Shared Custody (25% to 30%): When one parent has custody for 25% or more but less than 30% of the year, a shared costs table adopted by the Agency of Human Services determines each parent's share.

Split Custody: When each parent has physical custody of at least one child, the court calculates a theoretical support payment for each parent based on the children in the other parent's custody. The obligations are then offset.

For these calculations, "physical custody" means keeping the children overnight.

Health Insurance and Medical Expenses

Vermont child support orders routinely address health insurance. If a parent has access to employer-sponsored health insurance at a reasonable cost, the court may order that parent to cover the child. The cost of health insurance premiums for the child is deducted from the paying parent's income in the guidelines calculation.

Parents also share unreimbursed medical expenses (including dental, vision, mental health, and health plan deductibles) according to the terms of the medical support order.

Child Support Guideline Table

After calculating adjusted incomes, cross-reference the resulting figure with the Vermont Child Support Guideline Table to find the base support obligation.

Self-Support Reserve Protection

Under 15 V.S.A. Section 656, if the non-custodial parent's available income is below the self-support reserve ($1,596 per month as of February 2, 2026), the court uses its discretion to determine a nominal support amount. If paying the guideline amount would reduce the obligor's income below the self-support reserve, the support obligation is presumed to be the difference between the self-support reserve and the parent's available income.

Grounds for Deviation

Vermont law allows the court to deviate from the guidelines if the resulting amount does not serve the best interests of the child. Under 15 V.S.A. Section 659, a parent may request a deviation hearing. The court will consider factors including:

• The educational needs of either parent
• The child's educational needs
• Inflation and cost-of-living changes
• Any other factors the court deems relevant to a fair outcome

How to Modify Child Support in Vermont

Under 15 V.S.A. Section 660, either parent, the OCS, or any other person granted or charged with support may petition to modify a child support order. The petitioner must show a "real, substantial, and unanticipated change of circumstances" since the last order.

A substantial change includes events such as:

• Job loss or significant income change
• Incarceration (unless for child support non-payment)
• A change that would alter the current order by at least 10%
• Significant changes in the child's needs

Voluntarily quitting your job does not qualify as a substantial change. Jail time served for failure to pay child support also does not qualify.

Three-Year Rule

If the child support order has not been modified for at least three years, the court may waive the requirement to show a real, substantial, and unanticipated change of circumstances. This means either parent can request a recalculation after three years without meeting the usual burden of proof.

How to File for Modification

A motion to modify a support order must be accompanied by an affidavit with calculations demonstrating entitlement to modification. File the motion and serve it on the other party. If the calculations demonstrate cause for modification, the court will enter a modified order unless either party requests a hearing within 15 days of service.

You have three options for starting the modification process:

• Contact the OCS at 1-800-786-3214.
• Use CourtFormPrep to prepare the necessary forms.
• Visit a local court or OCS office in person.

What Happens if You Do Not Pay Child Support in Vermont?

Vermont child support laws require all orders issued after 1990 to include automatic wage withholding. Under 15 V.S.A. Sections 780-798, wage withholding is the primary collection method because it ensures timely payments. If you are self-employed, the OCS requires you to pay support directly through the OCS registry.

If wage withholding fails or is insufficient, the OCS has additional enforcement tools:

• Increased wage withholding: If payments are one month past due, the OCS may notify your employer to increase withholding by up to 25% to cover arrears.
• Liens on property: The OCS may place a lien on the non-custodial parent's property, including real estate.
• Trustee process: The OCS may collect support from the non-custodial parent's assets held by third parties, including bank accounts and retirement funds.
• License suspension: Delinquent payments of one month or more may result in suspension or non-renewal of your driver's license, professional license, or business license.
• Tax refund intercept: The OCS may intercept state, federal, or local tax refunds.
• Federal fund interception: The OCS may intercept federal funds including business loans, student loans, and federal contract payments.
• Passport denial: If arrears reach $2,500 or more, the OCS can request that the federal government deny or refuse to renew your passport.
• Credit reporting: If arrears reach $1,000 or more, the OCS can report the delinquent amount to credit bureaus.

Criminal Non-Support and Contempt of Court

Willful failure to pay child support can result in contempt of court proceedings. If the court holds you in contempt, you will have the opportunity to explain your failure to pay. A parent who demonstrates they did everything possible to comply but could not may avoid sanctions. However, if the court determines you had the ability to pay and chose not to, sanctions may include jail time, fines, or both.

The court may also hold delinquent assets in escrow or order the parent to seek employment and report back.

Under 15 V.S.A. Section 202, a parent who without lawful excuse willfully neglects or refuses to provide for the support of their child may face up to two years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $300, or both.

When Does Child Support End in Vermont?

Under 15 V.S.A. Section 658, your support obligation ends when the child reaches age 18 or finishes high school, whichever is later. This means if your child turns 18 in the middle of the school year, you continue paying until graduation.

Child support does not automatically stop when the child reaches 18 or graduates. The paying parent must continue following the court order until it is officially modified or terminated by the court.

If you made a private support agreement, your obligation terminates after you fulfill all the requirements in that agreement. Private agreements may extend support beyond the statutory minimum, including covering college or university tuition.

Early Termination

Child support may end before the child turns 18 if:

• Both parents agree to end support and the court approves
• The child becomes legally emancipated
• The paying parent's rights are terminated (such as through adoption)
• The child enters the military or gets married

Extended Support for Disabled Children

A child's disability may extend the support obligation beyond the standard termination age. The court may order continued support if the child is unable to support themselves due to a physical or mental condition.

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