The Virginia child support guidelines worksheet, explained
General information about how the Virginia child support guidelines worksheet is commonly described. This is not legal advice or a calculator, and figures here are illustrative only. See our Virginia child support overview for broader context.
When people search for the “Virginia child support worksheet” or the “child support table,” they are generally looking for the same thing: the guideline calculation Virginia courts use under Va. Code §§ 20-108.1 and 20-108.2. Virginia follows an income-shares model — the idea that a child should receive the same share of parental income as if the parents lived together. The worksheet is simply the form that walks through that math step by step.
Income-shares model
Virginia combines both parents' gross monthly incomes and divides the obligation in proportion to each parent's share (Va. Code §§ 20-108.1, 20-108.2).
The § 20-108.2(B) schedule
A statutory table converts combined gross income and the number of children into a presumptive basic support amount.
Three worksheet types
Sole custody, shared custody (generally 90+ days per year with each parent), and split custody each use a different worksheet.
Presumptive, not absolute
The guideline figure is presumed correct, but courts may deviate based on factors listed in § 20-108.1.
How the worksheet generally works
The worksheet starts with both parents’ gross monthly incomes — pre-tax income from essentially all sources. The combined figure is looked up in the schedule of monthly basic child support obligations in Va. Code § 20-108.2(B), which converts combined income and the number of children into a presumptive basic obligation. The worksheet then adds specific items on top — most commonly work-related childcare costs and the cost of the children’s health-insurance premiums — and allocates the total between the parents in proportion to their shares of combined income.
| Worksheet step | What happens | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Combine gross incomes | Add both parents' gross monthly incomes from all sources | Gross means pre-tax; spousal support paid or received is generally adjusted here. |
| 2. Read the schedule | Find the combined income row and number-of-children column in the § 20-108.2(B) table | This gives the presumptive basic child support obligation. |
| 3. Add allowable extras | Add work-related childcare costs and the children's health-insurance premiums | Extraordinary medical expenses may also be addressed. |
| 4. Allocate by income share | Divide the total obligation between the parents in proportion to their incomes | A parent earning 60% of combined income generally bears 60% of the obligation. |
| 5. Apply the right worksheet | Sole, shared, or split custody math adjusts the final figure | Shared custody worksheets factor in each parent's days with the child. |
Sole, shared, and split custody worksheets
Virginia uses three worksheet variants, and choosing the right one matters because the math differs significantly.
The sole custody worksheet is the default: one parent has the child most of the time, and the other pays their income share of the guideline amount. The shared custody worksheet generally applies when a parent has the child for more than 90 days per year; it adjusts the obligation to reflect the time and expenses each household carries, so the payment commonly decreases as the paying parent’s custodial days increase. The split custody worksheet applies when each parent has primary custody of at least one of the children, and it effectively offsets the two obligations against each other. Custody schedules themselves are covered in our Virginia child custody overview.
What the § 20-108.2(B) table looks like
The statutory schedule is a long table: combined gross monthly income runs down the left side, and the number of children runs across the top. The following excerpt is illustrative only — it shows the table’s shape, not current statutory figures, which the General Assembly revises periodically. Always read the current schedule in Va. Code § 20-108.2 itself.
| Combined gross monthly income | One child | Two children | Three children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $743 | $1,111 | $1,343 |
| $7,500 | $972 | $1,470 | $1,779 |
| $10,000 | $1,174 | $1,779 | $2,148 |
Presumptive amounts and deviations
The guideline result is presumptively correct — courts generally start there and order that amount unless a party shows a reason to deviate. Va. Code § 20-108.1 lists the factors that may justify a deviation, commonly including arrangements agreed between the parents, a child’s independent financial resources, special needs, imputed income for a voluntarily unemployed or underemployed parent, tax consequences, and the standard of living established during the marriage. When a court deviates, it generally must state the guideline amount and explain in writing why a different figure serves the child’s best interests.
Where to find the official worksheet
The official worksheet forms are published by the Virginia court system — the child support guidelines worksheet is a standard district court form available through the Virginia Judicial System’s forms pages and its court self-help site. The Virginia Department of Social Services, whose Division of Child Support Enforcement administers many support cases, also provides guideline calculation resources. Clerk’s offices generally have the current forms as well; our court locator lists Virginia courts by locality, and our legal aid page links free and low-cost help with support cases.
Common mistakes reading the table
Using take-home pay
The schedule is built on gross (pre-tax) monthly income; using net pay understates the obligation.
Mixing weekly and monthly figures
All amounts on the worksheet are monthly. Convert weekly or biweekly pay before reading the table.
Reading the wrong column
The table is organized by number of children; the amounts are totals, not per-child figures.
Wrong worksheet type
Shared custody (generally more than 90 days per year) uses a different calculation than sole custody.
Frequently asked questions
Answers are general information only — not legal advice for a specific situation.
What counts as income on the Virginia child support worksheet?
Gross income is defined broadly under Va. Code § 20-108.2 and generally includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, pensions, Social Security benefits, spousal support received, and most other income sources. Certain public-assistance benefits are generally excluded. The worksheet uses gross (pre-tax) monthly figures, not take-home pay.
When can Virginia child support be modified?
A court may generally revisit a child support order when there has been a material change in circumstances since the last order — commonly a significant change in either parent's income, the custody schedule, childcare costs, or health-insurance premiums. Until a court or the Division of Child Support Enforcement changes the order, the existing amount generally remains due.
How long does child support last in Virginia?
Support generally continues until a child turns 18, and continues while the child is 18 if the child is still a full-time high school student, not self-supporting, and living in the home of the parent receiving support — generally until the child turns 19 or graduates, whichever comes first. Support can last longer in some cases, such as for a child with a severe and permanent disability.
What is imputed income on a child support worksheet?
If a court finds that a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, it may generally calculate support using the income that parent could reasonably earn — called imputed income — rather than actual earnings. Courts commonly look at work history, education, and local job opportunities when deciding whether to impute income.