Vermont Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support and how long it lasts under 15 V.S.A. § 752. Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate with a step-by-step breakdown and statute citations.
Vermont Alimony Calculator
This state publishes a guideline equation that takes a share of the payor’s income and subtracts a share of the payee’s.
Based on 15 V.S.A. § 752 · Verified June 1, 2026
Vermont has no statutory alimony formula
Vermont has no statutory alimony formula, so this figure uses the AAML national guideline (30% of the payor's gross income minus 20% of the payee's, capped at 40% of combined income) purely as a ballpark. The figure below is an estimate to give you a ballpark — a Vermont judge decides the actual amount and duration using the factors listed beneath the calculator. About this method.
Enter income details to see your estimate
Eligibility: Threshold eligibility under 15 V.S.A. § 752(a): the spouse seeking maintenance must lack sufficient income/property (including property awarded in the division) to meet reasonable needs AND be unable to be self-supporting through appropriate employment at the marital standard of living, or be the custodian of a child of the parties. No minimum marriage length is required.
Factors Vermont Courts Weigh
- •The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, the property apportioned to that party, the party's ability to meet needs independently, and the extent to which child-support provisions include a sum for that party as custodian
- •The time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment
- •The standard of living established during the marriage
- •The duration of the marriage
- •The age and the physical and emotional condition of each spouse
- •The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his or her own reasonable needs while also meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance
- •Inflation in relation to the cost of living
- •The impact of both parties reaching full Social Security retirement age (or actual retirement), including any expected discrepancy in Social Security retirement benefits
- •The statutory guidelines table in 15 V.S.A. § 752(b)(9), which correlates length of marriage with a percentage range of the difference in the parties' gross incomes (amount) and a percentage range of the marriage length (duration)
How Vermont Alimony Works
- •Vermont law includes a statutory maintenance guidelines table (15 V.S.A. § 752(b)(9)) that ties both the amount and duration to the length of the marriage; because that table is complex, this tool shows an illustrative national estimate rather than reproducing it. The court applies the statutory guideline and factors.
- •Vermont's maintenance statute, 15 V.S.A. § 752, includes a guidelines TABLE as factor (b)(9) that the court must consider. The table ties the AMOUNT to a percentage range of the difference in the parties' GROSS incomes and the DURATION to a percentage range of the marriage length, with both ranges widening as the marriage gets longer.
- •The guidelines are advisory bands embedded in a discretionary framework: § 752(b) says the order shall be 'in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just' after weighing all factors (1)-(9). The court is not strictly bound to a single number, but the (b)(9) table is the published statutory starting point.
- •Amount band (% of gross-income difference) by marriage length: 0-<5 yrs = 0-16%; 5-<10 yrs = 12-29%; 10-<15 yrs = 16-33%; 15-<20 yrs = 20-37%; 20+ yrs = 24-41%.
This is an estimate for educational purposes only, not legal advice. Alimony is highly discretionary; a Vermont judge can order a different amount or duration. Consult a licensed Vermont family-law attorney about your situation. See the official Vermont resource.
How Vermont Calculates Alimony
Vermont addresses spousal support under 15 V.S.A. § 752. It uses a guideline equation that takes a percentage of the payor's gross income and subtracts a percentage of the payee's gross income, with statutory caps. The calculator above applies that equation to your figures and shows each step.
Unlike child support, alimony is one of the most discretionary areas of family law. Even in states with a guideline equation, the figure is a starting point a judge can adjust after weighing the statutory factors, the length of the marriage, and each spouse's needs and ability to pay. Treat any number here as an informed estimate, not a guaranteed award.
Key Rules in Vermont
- Vermont law includes a statutory maintenance guidelines table (15 V.S.A. § 752(b)(9)) that ties both the amount and duration to the length of the marriage; because that table is complex, this tool shows an illustrative national estimate rather than reproducing it. The court applies the statutory guideline and factors.
- Vermont's maintenance statute, 15 V.S.A. § 752, includes a guidelines TABLE as factor (b)(9) that the court must consider. The table ties the AMOUNT to a percentage range of the difference in the parties' GROSS incomes and the DURATION to a percentage range of the marriage length, with both ranges widening as the marriage gets longer.
- The guidelines are advisory bands embedded in a discretionary framework: § 752(b) says the order shall be 'in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just' after weighing all factors (1)-(9). The court is not strictly bound to a single number, but the (b)(9) table is the published statutory starting point.
- Amount band (% of gross-income difference) by marriage length: 0-<5 yrs = 0-16%; 5-<10 yrs = 12-29%; 10-<15 yrs = 16-33%; 15-<20 yrs = 20-37%; 20+ yrs = 24-41%.
How Long Alimony Lasts in Vermont
Under the AAML national guideline, duration is a share of the marriage length that rises with the length of the marriage; marriages of 20+ years may receive indefinite support. This is an illustration, not a state durational rule.
What Counts as Income
Vermont's calculation uses each spouse’s gross income — earnings before taxes, including wages, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, and many recurring sources. Courts can also impute income to a spouse who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, meaning support can be based on what a spouse could earn rather than what they currently do. Use your most recent pay stubs and tax return for the most accurate estimate.
Eligibility & Modifying an Order
Threshold eligibility under 15 V.S.A. § 752(a): the spouse seeking maintenance must lack sufficient income/property (including property awarded in the division) to meet reasonable needs AND be unable to be self-supporting through appropriate employment at the marital standard of living, or be the custodian of a child of the parties. No minimum marriage length is required.
Alimony orders can usually be modified when there is a substantial change in circumstances — for example, a significant change in either spouse's income, the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation, retirement, or the payor's loss of employment. The specific rules and any non-modifiable agreements depend on your court order and Vermont law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Vermont alimony calculator accurate?
It applies the Vermont guideline from 15 V.S.A. § 752 to the numbers you enter, so it gives a close estimate of a typical guideline award. It is not an official court calculation — a judge can order a different amount after weighing the statutory factors.
Is alimony taxable in Vermont?
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is not deductible by the payor and is not taxable income to the recipient under federal law. Most states follow the federal treatment, but check Vermont's current rules for state income tax.
Does cheating affect alimony in Vermont?
It depends on the state. Some states let courts consider marital misconduct among the alimony factors, while others bar it entirely. Review 15 V.S.A. § 752 and speak with a Vermont attorney about how fault is treated where you live.
Can alimony be changed later?
Usually yes. Alimony can often be modified when there is a substantial change in circumstances — such as a large change in income, the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation, or the payor's retirement — unless your order or agreement makes it non-modifiable.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Alimony is highly fact-specific and discretionary; the amount and duration a Vermont court actually orders may differ significantly from any estimate here. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed Vermont family-law attorney.