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Vermont Spousal Support Calculator
Vermont Spousal Support Calculator
Calculate Maintenance Under Vermont Statutes Title 15 § 752 — Updated 2026
Use this free Vermont spousal support calculator to estimate how much maintenance you may pay or receive under Vermont Statutes Title 15 § 752. Whether your divorce is filed in Burlington (Chittenden County), Montpelier (Washington County), Rutland (Rutland County), Bennington (Bennington County), Middlebury (Addison County), or anywhere else in Vermont, this tool applies all seven statutory factors under 15 V.S.A. § 752(b) — updated to reflect the 2021 repeal of the income-disparity factor. Vermont recognizes five maintenance types: Temporary, Rehabilitative, Transitional, Compensatory, and Permanent. Enter your details below for a step-by-step estimate. Always consult a licensed Vermont family law attorney or Vermont divorce lawyer for advice tailored to your case.
Income Information
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Marriage Details
Enter 0–100 years
Enter a past date
Marriage less than 5 years? ℹ️Vermont uses under-5 years as the short-term threshold. Marriages under 5 years typically receive minimal maintenance.
Marriage 20+ years? ℹ️Marriages of 20+ years may qualify for longer or permanent maintenance under 15 V.S.A. § 752. See Kanaan v. Kanaan (1995).
Is recipient custodial parent?
Vermont-Specific Factors
Domestic violence involved? ℹ️Vermont courts may consider economic impact of domestic violence when awarding maintenance under 15 V.S.A. § 752(b).
Vermont Domestic Violence Impact:
10% increase in maintenance amounts typically considered
May support longer duration regardless of marriage length
Courts may account for economic harm caused by the abuser
Recipient sacrificed career for marriage? ℹ️Career sacrifices support Compensatory Maintenance. Professional degrees acquired during the marriage may also be treated as marital assets under Milligan v. Milligan (1992).
Recipient has a disability?
Needs & Resources
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Enter age 18–100
Earning Capacity
Enter 0–50 years
Duration Factors
Maintain marital standard of living? ℹ️Vermont courts consider the standard of living established during the marriage under 15 V.S.A. § 752(b)(3).
Enter age 18–100
Important Legal Note: This calculator provides estimates based on Vermont’s seven statutory factors (15 V.S.A. § 752(b)). Note that the income-disparity factor was repealed effective July 1, 2021. Vermont courts have broad discretion; judges weigh all factors individually. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed Vermont family law attorney.
Vermont Spousal Maintenance Calculation Results
Maintenance Type Determination
Recommended Maintenance Type:
Primary Factors:
Monthly Maintenance Amount
Guideline Amount:
Statutory Considerations:
Duration of Maintenance
Recommended Duration:
Vermont Guidelines:
Judicial Considerations
Likely Range:
Key Factors:
Disclaimer: Estimates only. Vermont has no statutory formula; judges use discretion under 15 V.S.A. § 752. Income-disparity factor repealed 2021. Consult an attorney.
Vermont Maintenance Case Law
Prenuptial Agreement Enforcement Standard
Lacroix v. Rysz, 2025 VT Supreme Court
Clarified enforcement standard for prenuptial agreements: an agreement is not unconscionable simply because it leaves a spouse in the same financial position as before the marriage. Agreements entered voluntarily with full disclosure are presumptively enforceable.
Amendment of Final Orders — Clerical Error Rule
Warner v. Warner, 2025 VT Supreme Court
Reinforced rules for amending final orders: corrections to reflect the court’s original intent are proper as clerical errors and do not require a new evidentiary hearing or showing of changed circumstances.
Duration Generally Capped at Marriage Length
Kanaan v. Kanaan, 163 Vt. 402, 659 A.2d 128 (1995)
Established that maintenance duration generally should not exceed the length of the marriage, except in long-term marriages where permanent maintenance may be appropriate when self-sufficiency is unlikely.
Professional Degrees as Marital Assets
Milligan v. Milligan, 158 Vt. 436, 613 A.2d 1281 (1992)
Professional degrees acquired during the marriage are marital assets that may affect maintenance calculations, particularly when one spouse supported the other through professional school at the expense of their own career.
Economic Misconduct Exception
Cleverly v. Cleverly, 156 Vt. 566, 595 A.2d 281 (1991)
Vermont is primarily a no-fault divorce state; however, egregious economic misconduct that directly harmed the marital estate may be considered as a relevant factor in setting maintenance amounts.
Modifying Maintenance in Vermont
Vermont law allows modification or termination of spousal maintenance upon a showing of changed circumstances under 15 V.S.A. § 758.
1. Legal Standards for Modification
General Standard: Vermont requires a “substantial and continuing change in circumstances” that was not anticipated at the time of the original order (e.g., significant income loss, disability, remarriage, retirement).
Automatic Termination: Support terminates upon the remarriage of the recipient or death of either party unless the parties agreed otherwise in writing.
Cohabitation: Cohabitation alone does not automatically terminate maintenance under Vermont law, unlike some other states. However, it may reduce the recipient’s documented financial need, supporting a reduction motion.
2. Common Grounds for Modification
Substantial Income Change: Job loss, significant pay reduction, or unexpected income increase for either party.
Remarriage of Recipient: Support automatically terminates by operation of law; payor should file a motion to terminate and stop arrearages from accumulating.
Disability or Health Issues: New or worsening medical condition affecting earning capacity of either party.
Payor’s Retirement: If retirement is reasonable (typically age 65+), support may be reduced or terminated. Courts consider whether retirement is in good faith and the recipient’s ongoing needs.
Recipient’s Improved Earning Capacity: Completion of a rehabilitation plan or significant new employment may support a reduction in rehabilitative or transitional maintenance.
3. Step-by-Step Modification Process
Step 1 – Document the Change: Gather evidence: pay stubs, tax returns, medical records, termination letters, retirement notices.
Step 2 – File a Petition for Modification: Submit to the court that issued the original order, along with a supporting affidavit detailing the change in circumstances.
Step 3 – Serve Notice: Legally notify the other party using certified mail or a process server.
Step 4 – Mediation (often required): Many Vermont courts encourage or require mediation before a contested hearing.
Step 5 – Court Hearing: If mediation fails, present evidence to the judge. The burden of proof is on the party seeking modification.
Step 6 – Order on Modification: Effective date is typically the filing date of the petition; modifications are not retroactive.
4. Critical Practical Considerations
Never stop paying without a court order: Stopping payments can result in contempt, arrearages, and legal penalties.
No retroactive modification: Act promptly when circumstances change — courts will not reduce arrearages already accrued.
Filing fees: Vary by county. Fee waivers available for low-income parties.
Vermont Statutes Title 15 § 758 | Kanaan v. Kanaan, 163 Vt. 402 (1995) | Lacroix v. Rysz (2025)
Vermont Spousal Maintenance FAQs (Updated 2026)
Has Vermont’s alimony law changed recently?
Yes, effective July 1, 2021. The Vermont legislature repealed the factor that considered the “percentage difference between the gross incomes of the parties” (old 15 V.S.A. § 752(b)(8)). Courts now focus on the remaining seven statutory factors under 15 V.S.A. § 752(b), giving them even broader discretion. The informal “40% minus 50%” guideline is no longer anchored in statute.
Vermont Statutes 15 V.S.A. § 752 (amended 2021)
What types of maintenance exist in Vermont?
Vermont recognizes five distinct maintenance types:
Temporary Maintenance: Ordered during divorce proceedings to maintain the status quo.
Rehabilitative Maintenance: Funds education or job training needed for self-support, typically 2–5 years.
Transitional Maintenance: Short-term support to help a spouse adjust to post-divorce financial circumstances.
Compensatory Maintenance: Reimburses a spouse who sacrificed career or educational opportunities for the marriage.
Permanent Maintenance: Rare; reserved for long-term marriages where self-sufficiency is unlikely due to age, health, or other factors.
Vermont Statutes 15 V.S.A. § 752
How is maintenance calculated in Vermont?
Vermont does not use a strict mathematical formula. Judges weigh all factors under 15 V.S.A. § 752(b): financial resources of both parties, time to acquire education, marital standard of living, marriage length, age and health of both parties, payor’s ability to pay, and any other relevant factors. The repealed income-disparity factor is no longer considered.
Vermont Statutes 15 V.S.A. § 752(b)
How does marriage length affect maintenance?
Marriage length is a key statutory factor under 15 V.S.A. § 752(b)(4):
Under 5 years: Minimal maintenance; typically only transitional or temporary support.
5–20 years: Rehabilitative or transitional maintenance for 20–50% of marriage duration is common.
20+ years: Longer or permanent maintenance possible. Under Kanaan v. Kanaan, duration generally should not exceed marriage length, except in long-term cases.
Can maintenance be modified or terminated in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont requires a “substantial and continuing change in circumstances” to modify maintenance. Common grounds include: payor’s retirement at a reasonable age (typically 65+), recipient’s remarriage (automatic termination), significant income changes, or disability. Cohabitation alone does not automatically terminate maintenance under Vermont law.
Vermont Statutes 15 V.S.A. § 758
How does retirement affect maintenance in Vermont?
Payor may petition to modify or terminate maintenance at retirement age (typically 65+). The court considers whether retirement is in good faith and reasonable given the payor’s health and age. Early retirement may not qualify as a substantial change. The recipient’s ongoing needs are also weighed.
Vermont Statutes 15 V.S.A. § 758
Can a prenuptial agreement affect maintenance in Vermont?
Yes. Under Lacroix v. Rysz (2025), prenuptial agreements are enforceable if entered voluntarily with full financial disclosure and not unconscionable at the time of execution. An agreement is not unconscionable simply because it leaves a spouse in the same financial position as before the marriage.
Lacroix v. Rysz, 2025 VT Supreme Court
Are maintenance payments taxable in Vermont?
Federal tax treatment depends on your divorce date: For divorces after December 31, 2018 (post-TCJA), maintenance is NOT deductible for the payor and NOT taxable income for the recipient under federal law. Vermont state tax follows federal treatment for post-2018 agreements.