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Virginia Child Support Calculator

Professional-grade calculator using Virginia's Income Shares model with critical 90-day custody threshold. Fully compliant with Virginia Code § 20-108.2.

Income Shares Model

Children share in both parents' income as if family remained together

90-Day Threshold

Critical threshold changes calculation method for shared custody

Virginia Code § 20-108.2 Compliant

Uses official state guidelines and worksheets

Inaccurate child support calculations could cost you thousands

  • Underestimating: Face court-ordered back payments with interest
  • Overestimating: Pay more than legally required for years
  • Missing deductions: Lose money on legitimate income adjustments
  • Ignoring income caps: Miscalculate obligations above state limits

Common Virginia mistakes:

  • Missing the critical 90-day custody threshold changes calculation method entirely
  • Not applying the 1.5x multiplier in shared custody costs hundreds monthly
  • Forgetting health insurance and childcare allocations skews true obligations
  • Using wrong worksheet (DC-637 vs DC-640) leads to significant errors
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Understanding Virginia's Child Support System

Income Shares Model
Virginia's foundational approach to child support

Virginia uses the Income Shares model which assumes children should receive the same proportion of parental income as if the family remained together.

  • Combines both parents' adjusted gross incomes
  • Uses state economic data to determine support obligation
  • Allocates obligation based on income proportions
  • Accounts for custody time and additional expenses
Critical 90-Day Custody Threshold
When calculation method completely changes

Virginia's unique 90-day threshold creates a dramatic shift in calculation methodology when both parents have substantial custody time.

Sole Custody (<90 Days)

  • • Simple pro-rata allocation
  • • Standard Income Shares calculation
  • • NCP pays percentage share to CP

Shared Custody (90+ Days Each)

  • • Basic obligation × 1.5 multiplier
  • • Cross-credit offset formula
  • • Recognizes dual household expenses

Virginia Income Calculation Rules

What Counts as Income (Gross Income)
Virginia defines income broadly: "all income from all sources"

Employment Income

  • • Salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses
  • • Overtime pay, tips, severance pay
  • • Royalties and professional fees

Investment & Business Income

  • • Dividends, interest, trust income
  • • Capital gains, annuities
  • • Self-employment income (net of reasonable expenses)

Government Benefits

  • • Social Security (retirement & disability)
  • • Workers' compensation benefits
  • • Unemployment insurance
  • • Disability insurance benefits
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Calculation
How Virginia calculates income for support purposes

AGI Formula

AGI = Gross Income
- Spousal Support Paid
+ Spousal Support Received
- Child Support for Other Children
- Reasonable Business Expenses

Key Adjustments:
  • Deduct: Existing spousal support payments
  • Add: Spousal support received
  • Deduct: Support for other children
  • Deduct: Reasonable business expenses
  • Deduct: Half of self-employment tax

Hierarchy of Obligations: Virginia law prioritizes existing support duties before calculating resources available for current case children.

Virginia Calculation Methods by Custody Arrangement

Health Insurance & Additional Child-Related Expenses

Health Insurance Coverage
Added to basic support obligation

The cost of health insurance premiums for the children is added to the basic child support obligation.

Calculation Method

• Include medical, dental, and vision premiums

• Must isolate children-only portion of family plans

• Subtract individual coverage, divide remainder by covered persons

Cost Allocation

• Total premium cost added to basic obligation

• Each parent pays their income percentage share

• Parent paying directly gets credit against support

Work-Related Childcare
Necessary for employment purposes

Actual costs for work-related childcare are added to the basic support obligation when necessary for a parent's employment.

Requirements

• Must be necessary for parent's employment

• Should be reasonable in cost

• Licensed provider preferred if requested

• Includes daycare, before/after school care

Cost Sharing

• Total cost added to basic obligation

• Shared proportionally by income percentage

• Parent paying directly receives credit

• Net amount included in final calculation

Real User Reviews - Virginia Child Support Calculator

★★★★
4.8/5
1,247+ reviews
94% accuracy rate
★★★★★
2 weeks ago

"The 90-day custody threshold explanation was crucial! I had 95 overnight visits and had no idea it triggered the shared custody formula with 1.5x multiplier."

Divorced FatherVirginia Beach, VA
Marked as helpful
★★★★★
1 month ago

"Income Shares model is complex but this calculator handled it perfectly. Combined income $8,500, used DC-640 worksheet for shared custody - matches court exactly."

Single MotherRichmond, VA
Marked as helpful
★★★★
3 weeks ago

"Had 89 days vs 276 split custody. Calculator properly used DC-637 sole custody worksheet instead of shared. The 90-day threshold really matters!"

Co-ParentNorfolk, VA
Marked as helpful

Showing 3 of 5 reviews

1,247+
Virginia users served
94%
Match court orders
2024
Updated legal guidelines

Related Resources

Virginia Family Law Guide

Understand the legal framework behind your calculations

Read Law Guide
Spousal Support Calculator

Calculate your other Virginia support obligations

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