How Virginia calculates child support
- Each parent’s monthly gross income is adjusted for spousal support paid or received under an order or written agreement, child support paid under an order for other children, and self-employment deductions.
- The parents’ combined income and the number of children give the basic obligation from the schedule in § 20-108.2(B) (effective July 1, 2025), extrapolated between the $50 rows. Above $42,500 a month, a percentage of the excess is added.
- The children’s health, dental and vision coverage cost and the custodial parent’s work-related child care are added, and the total is shared by income. The noncustodial parent pays their share, less the coverage they pay for directly.
- When each parent has the children more than 90 days a year, the basic obligation is multiplied by 1.4 and shared by custody days and income (shared custody); the lesser of the shared and sole custody amounts is paid. With split custody, each parent’s obligation for the children living with the other parent is offset.
- The worksheets round every amount to the nearest dollar.
What the calculator asks
- How many children is the support for?
- Where do the children live?
- How many days a year are the children with the parent who has them fewer days?
- How many of the children live with you?
- Is either parent’s gross income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level?
- Your gross income per month
- Spousal support you pay each month
- Spousal support you receive each month
- Child support you pay each month for other children
- Self-employment deductions for you each month
- The other parent’s gross income per month
- Spousal support the other parent pays each month
- Spousal support the other parent receives each month
- Child support the other parent pays each month for other children
- Self-employment deductions for the other parent each month
- Health, dental and vision coverage you (or your spouse) pay for these children each month
- Health, dental and vision coverage the other parent (or their spouse) pays for these children each month
- Child care you pay each month so you can work
- Child care the other parent pays each month so they can work
- Does either parent have other children of their own living with them who are not part of this case?
- Do the children receive benefits because of a parent’s disability (for example Social Security dependent benefits)?
It never asks for names, Social Security numbers or account numbers, and your answers are not saved.
What the estimate leaves out
- More than six children
- Cases below the presumptive minimum obligation, which the court sets or excuses (§ 20-108.2(B))
- Shared custody when either parent’s gross income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level
- The deduction for other children living in a parent’s household
- Benefits the children receive because of a parent’s disability
- Mixed arrangements (sole or split custody of some children and shared custody of others)
- Unreimbursed medical and dental expenses, which the parents share in proportion to income outside the guideline amount
- Deviations the court may make under § 20-108.1
When a situation is outside what the calculator covers, it says so and points you to the official worksheet instead of guessing.
Official sources
- Va. Code § 20-108.2, guideline and Schedule of Monthly Basic Child Support Obligations (as amended effective July 1, 2025)
- 2025 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 702 (SB 805), updating the schedule, approved May 2, 2025
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, sole custody (Form DC-637)
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, shared custody (Form DC-640)
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, split custody (Form DC-638)
- Va. Code § 20-108.1, deviation factors
Ready to estimate? The calculator shows each worksheet line so you can check it against the official form.
Open the Virginia calculator →An estimate from the published guideline formula, not a prediction of a court order. The official court worksheet and the court’s decision control. General information, not legal advice. LawCat is not a law firm.