Vermont Alimony Calculator
Estimate spousal support in Vermont using the state's Judicial Discretion. Includes likelihood, amount range, duration, and the statutory factors that drive the result.
Vermont divorces typically cost 40% less than the national average of $12,900.
Alimony in Vermont
- Formula type
- Judicial Discretion
- Fault considered
- No
- Domestic violence factor
- No
- Equal parenting presumption
- No
- Waiting period before final
- 90 days (about 3 months)
Alimony Calculator in Vermont: What You Should Know
Vermont calls alimony spousal maintenance and decides it at the court's discretion. A court first considers whether the spouse seeking support lacks sufficient income or property to meet reasonable needs and cannot be self-supporting at the standard of living established during the marriage. If so, the judge weighs the length of the marriage, that standard of living, earning capacity, and the financial resources of both. Vermont recognizes both rehabilitative maintenance for a defined period and long-term maintenance for cases where self-sufficiency is not attainable.
Key point: Vermont maintenance rests on a needs threshold tied to the marital standard of living, then offers either rehabilitative or long-term support depending on the prospects for self-sufficiency.
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Locked to Vermont on this page.
Use your gross (before-tax) annual income.
Use their gross (before-tax) annual income.
This estimate is for planning purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a licensed family law attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Alimony in Vermont - Frequently Asked Questions
How is alimony calculated in Vermont?
Vermont does not use a fixed formula. Judges determine alimony case by case using statutory factors including marriage length, standard of living, earning capacity, financial resources.
How long does alimony last in Vermont?
Duration in Vermont typically scales with marriage length. Short marriages (under 5 years) often produce limited rehabilitative support. Medium marriages (5 to 15 years) commonly produce alimony lasting roughly one third to one half of the marriage length. Long marriages (20+ years) may produce indefinite or permanent alimony, particularly when the recipient cannot reasonably become self-supporting.
Can alimony be modified in Vermont?
Yes. Either spouse can ask the court to modify alimony based on a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant change in income, retirement, the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation, or a serious health change. Vermont courts typically require the change to be material and not anticipated at the time of the original order.
Does fault affect alimony in Vermont?
No. Vermont does not weigh marital fault in setting alimony. Courts focus on financial need, ability to pay, and the other statutory factors rather than blame for the divorce.
Is alimony tax deductible in Vermont?
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is no longer deductible by the payer or taxable to the recipient under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This federal rule applies in Vermont as it does in every state. Older orders entered before 2019 generally retain the prior tax treatment unless modified.
This estimate is for planning purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a licensed family law attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.