Vermont Alimony & Spousal Support (2026)
Unlike child support, Vermont has no fixed formula for how much alimony (spousal support) costs or how long it lasts. A judge decides both based on a list of factors set out in 15 V.S.A. § 752. There is no calculator that can honestly give you an exact number here — but the factors below are what actually drives the decision.
What determines alimony in Vermont
Under 15 V.S.A. § 752 (Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 15, § 752 (Maintenance)), a court considers:
- Financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including property apportioned to that party and their ability to meet needs independently
- Time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training for the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment
- Standard of living established during the marriage
- Duration of the marriage
- Age and the physical and emotional condition of each spouse
- Ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet their own reasonable needs while also paying maintenance
- Inflation in relation to the cost of living
- The impact of both parties reaching the age of eligibility for full Social Security retirement benefits, or their actual retirement
Good to know
- 15 V.S.A. § 752(b) sets out these factors for the court to weigh but does not set a formula, percentage, or dollar schedule for the amount of maintenance. A 2021 amendment removed an older factor that referenced the percentage difference between the spouses' gross incomes; the retirement-eligibility factor above reflects the current statute.
- There is no fixed cap on the duration of maintenance in Vermont — courts set both the amount and the length of payments case-by-case, and orders can be rehabilitative (time-limited) or long-term.
Also need a child support estimate?
Alimony and child support are calculated completely separately in Vermont. If you also have children, use our free Vermont child support calculator — that one does compute a real number, based on the official guideline formula.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an alimony formula in Vermont?
No. Vermont law (15 V.S.A. § 752) lists factors for a court to weigh when awarding "maintenance," but sets no formula, percentage, or fixed duration cap. The amount and length of payments are decided case-by-case by the court.
What factors determine alimony in Vermont?
Vermont courts weigh the financial resources of the spouse seeking support, the time and cost needed to gain education or training for employment, the standard of living during the marriage, the marriage's duration, each spouse's age and physical/emotional condition, the paying spouse's ability to meet their own needs while paying support, inflation, and the impact of retirement or Social Security eligibility, under 15 V.S.A. § 752(b).
Source: Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 15, § 752 (Maintenance) · Last verified 2026-07-22
Disclaimer: This page explains the general legal framework for alimony in Vermont and is for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and does not predict the outcome of any specific case. Laws change; always verify with the official source above or a family law attorney licensed in Vermont before making decisions.