Child Support Calculation Worksheet - Vermont

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT WORKSHEET

When proposing an agreed order, file the completed Child Support Order (Form 400-00802) and the worksheet used to calculate support. Complete and exchange the required financial affidavits.
This template provides the substantive content and calculation methodology to help you
prepare. You may use the state's calculator or calculate by hand using current OCS instructions and tables.
The calculator and instructions are available at https://dcf.vermont.gov/ocs/parents/calculator.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATION WORKSHEET

State of Vermont

Court: [________________________________] Superior Court, Family Division
County: [________________________________]
Docket No.: [________________________________]
Judge/Magistrate: [________________________________]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Party and Children Identification
2. Calculation Model
3. Gross Income Determination
4. Adjustments to Income
5. Child Support Obligation Formula
6. Healthcare Expenses
7. Childcare Expenses
8. Extraordinary Expenses
9. Deviation Factors
10. Duration and Termination
11. State-Specific Notes

1. PARTY AND CHILDREN IDENTIFICATION

Parent A:

• Full Name: [________________________________]
• Date of Birth: [__/__/____]
• Employer: [________________________________]

Parent B:

• Full Name: [________________________________]
• Date of Birth: [__/__/____]
• Employer: [________________________________]

Children Subject to This Order:

Custody Arrangement:
☐ One parent has primary physical custody
☐ Shared Physical Custody (each parent has child at least 25% of overnights; identify whether the lesser share is 25%–under 30% or at least 30%)
☐ Split Custody

2. CALCULATION MODEL

Model: Combined available income under 15 V.S.A. §§ 653-657
Number of Children: [____]

3. GROSS INCOME DETERMINATION

Exclude means-tested public assistance from gross income under § 653(5)(B). Distinguish Social Security benefits from excluded Supplemental Security Income, and use net business receipts after ordinary and necessary expenses for self-employment and rent under § 653(5)(A)(iv).

4. ADJUSTMENTS TO INCOME

Use the tax calculation methods in § 653(1)(C)-(D) and the current OCS instructions. Mandatory retirement contributions and union dues are not listed as available-income deductions in § 653(1). If a child is in DCF custody, check the distinct deductions in § 653(1)(E).

Additional dependents, if any (§ 656a): Determine the guideline-based amount for other children or stepchildren owed support using only that parent's available income, then subtract it before calculating the obligation for the children in this order. Apply § 656a(c)'s limit in a modification case. Parent A adjustment: $[________]; Parent B adjustment: $[________].

5. CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION FORMULA

Step 1: Combined Available Income after any § 656a adjustment: $[________]

Step 2: Basic Child Support Obligation from VT Guidelines (for [__] children): $[________]

Step 3: Each Parent's Percentage:

• Parent A: $[________] / $[________] = [____]%
• Parent B: $[________] / $[________] = [____]%

Step 4: Each Parent's Share:

• Parent A: $[________] x [____]% = $[________]
• Parent B: $[________] x [____]% = $[________]

Step 5: Parenting-time or split-custody adjustment under 15 V.S.A. § 657:
☐ Not applicable
☐ One parent has 25% to under 30% of overnights: use the OCS shared costs table under § 657(b)
☐ Each parent has at least 30% of overnights: apply the 50% increase and offset method under § 657(a), subject to § 657(c)
☐ Each parent has physical custody of at least one child: calculate and offset theoretical obligations under § 657(e)

Under § 657(c), the shared-custody amount cannot exceed the amount that would have been ordered under the support guidelines.

Base Child Support Amount: $[________] per month

6. HEALTHCARE EXPENSES

☐ Uninsured medical expenses over the first $200 annually divided as directed by the order: Parent A [____]% / Parent B [____]%

7. CHILDCARE EXPENSES

Annualize reasonably incurred work or employment-related education costs, excluding available child care subsidies and tax credits, under § 653(2).

8. EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES

9. DEVIATION FACTORS

☐ No deviation requested
☐ Deviation requested based on:

☐ Financial resources of the child
☐ Financial resources of parents
☐ Standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the parents lived together
☐ Physical and emotional health of the child
☐ Educational needs of the child
☐ Extraordinary travel expenses for visitation
☐ Inflation or a parent's education costs incurred to increase earning capacity
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Deviation Amount: $[________] per month
Written Justification: [________________________________]

10. DURATION AND TERMINATION

Under 15 V.S.A. § 658(c), the court may continue support until the child attains the age of majority or terminates secondary education, whichever is later. Record the controlling order and the child's expected completion date rather than assuming support ends automatically on the eighteenth birthday.

11. STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES

• Office of Child Support (OCS): Can help establish, modify, and enforce support orders.
• Maintenance Supplement: The court may order a maintenance supplement in addition to child support (separate from spousal maintenance).
• Military Families: Check the Vermont Judiciary's separate guidance when a parent is in the military.
• Income Imputation: Under § 653(5)(A)(iii), potential income may be used for voluntary unemployment or underemployment, subject to the statute's incapacity, qualifying education or training, and child-best-interest exceptions.
• Self-Support Reserve: Apply the conditional rules in § 656(b)-(c); use the current OCS reserve amount rather than a fixed figure in this worksheet.

SUMMARY OF CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION

Use the current OCS calculator or tables to confirm the final amount. Do not add a child's health coverage cost again as an adjustment if it has already been deducted in available income.

Paid by [________________] to [________________]: $[________] per month

Prepared By: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
VT Bar No.: [________]

Sources and References:

• Vermont Judiciary — Child Support
• Vermont Office of Child Support — calculator and instructions
• 15 V.S.A. §§ 650, 653–659 (including § 656a)