Reviewed for current 2026 law

Vermont Alimony Calculator and Guidelines

Read Vermont’s advisory ranges as guidelines, not automatic awards.

Reviewed by SupportDecode Editorial Team Page content reviewed Sources Methodology Update log

maintenance framework

VT sets alimony by judicial discretion; there is no statutory formula. Courts weigh the enumerated factors below.

Factors the court weighs

  • Financial resources and ability to meet needs independently
  • Education or training time and expense
  • Marital standard of living
  • Duration of marriage
  • Age and physical and emotional condition
  • Payor ability to meet both parties’ reasonable needs
  • Inflation and cost of living
  • Social Security retirement timing and benefit disparities
  • Advisory income-difference and duration ranges

15 V.S.A. § 752(b)

Duration limits

  • Under 5 years: 0–16% of gross-income difference; no alimony or up to one year.
  • 5 to under 10 years: 12–29%; duration 20–50% of marriage.
  • 10 to under 15 years: 16–33%; duration 40–60% of marriage.
  • 15 to under 20 years: 20–37%; duration 40–70% of marriage.
  • 20 years or more: 24–41%; duration guideline 45% of marriage (shown as 9–20+ years).

Assumptions

  • This tool does not estimate a dollar amount for discretionary states: any number would be invented.
  • The statutory percentages and durations are advisory ranges within a discretionary decision, not an automatic amount formula.

Estimate only. The court or state agency calculation controls.

Vermont alimony under 15 V.S.A. § 752.

Vermont publishes ranges inside a discretionary statute

Section 752 lists gross-income-difference percentages and duration ranges for five marriage-length bands.

Need, ability to pay, standard of living, retirement effects, and other factors still control.

Marriage bands
Fivesource
Longest percentage range
24% to 41%source
Award type
Discretionarysource

Use ranges to frame, not predict, the award

The court first determines eligibility and then weighs all statutory factors.

What this estimate includes

  • All statutory ranges
  • Factor checklist
  • Rehabilitative and long-term distinction

What it leaves out

  • Predicted dollar award
  • Tax consequences
  • Case-law outcome

Vermont maintenance framework FAQs

Are the percentages mandatory?

No.

What is the range under five years?

0–16%, with no alimony or up to one year.

What is the range after 20 years?

24–41% of gross-income difference.

Does duration equal marriage length?

No; the statute gives banded percentages of marriage length.

Does retirement matter?

Yes.

Can this predict the order?

No.

Official sources

Official sources last verified: .

Changelog: page reviewed . Material changes appear in the update log.