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The State of Vermont uses a mathematical calculation to determine how much child support a child should get. The calculation is often called the “child support guideline.”

The calculation takes into account what parents in Vermont ordinarily spend to raise a child. It takes into account many factors, including the income of both parents and the amount of time the child spends with each parent. If you have other children with a different parent, that will also be considered.

The Office of Child Support has an online child support calculator on the Vermont Department for Children and Families website. Use it to figure out what your child support payments are likely to be. 

Visit our Child Support page to learn how child support is calculated, when you may change the amount of child support, what happens if a parent doesn't pay child support and more.

Changing a Child Support Order

The court will modify (change) a child support order only if there has been a real, substantial and unanticipated change of circumstances.

The following examples are “real, substantial and unanticipated changes in circumstances”:

1. A parent starts receiving workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation or disability benefits.
2. The amount that was ordered is more than 10% under or over the current guideline amount. This usually happens if one parent’s income has changed substantially since the child support order was made.
3. A parent starts receiving SSI, Reach Up or other means-tested public benefits.
4. A parent is incarcerated for more than 90 days, unless they are in jail for failing to pay child support.
5. A child has turned 18 and finished high school.

If the child support order has not been modified for at least three years, you can ask the court to modify it without you having shown a real, substantial and unanticipated change in circumstances.

It is not a change in circumstances if a parent quit their job or chooses to reduce their income in order to decrease the amount of child support they have to pay.

If you think the order should be changed, you can ask the court to modify child support. You do this by filing a written request (called a “motion”) with the Family Division of Superior Court. The court clerk can give you the necessary forms, or you can find the Motion to Modify Child Support form here. You can fill it out by hand. You can also complete it online and print it out when you are done.

A child support order must be followed until it is changed. The court will not change the order retroactively although it could decide that any or all arrears do not need to be paid.

Learn more on our Child Support page.