Simple Child Support Calculator
For a simple and easy calculation of child support in Virginia, we suggest trying the VA Support Calc. Virginia appears to lack an official, government calculator that is easy to use.
The VA Support Calc is quite simple and easy to use. But note that the estimator may not always be accurate and up to date for 2024. For a more reliable assessment, you can try the official version.
In the state of Virginia, the result of an online calculation should be interpreted carefully. You should treat the estimate as just a preliminary indication of the child support amount you could receive or be required to pay.
Parenting Time Calculator for Virginia
According to Virginia child support guidelines, payment amounts depend on how much time a child spends with the non-custodial parent.
Use this calculator to work out how much care the non-custodial parent provides. Remember to add in all fractions of days when the non-custodial parent has parenting time.
Calculate parenting time %
Regular days
Vacation days each year*
183 days per year.
50.0% of parenting time.
* Vacation days are all days when the regular schedule does not apply.
How Child Support is Calculated in Virginia
Child support payments in Virginia are calculated using the income shares category method. Payments depend on the combined incomes of the parents as well as the number of children. A larger combined income or more children usually means greater payments.
The amount paid or received by an individual parent also depends on their income percentage. The higher your percentage of combined parent income, the more you pay or less you receive.
Payments are also affected by which parenting time category applies. Payments may be lower because of a "shared" (fairly equal) care arrangement.
Virginians paying the most child support have high incomes and limited parenting time. Conversely, the biggest receivers are parents who (a) work little (b) have their kids most of the time and (c) have a high earner as the other parent.
Definition of a day. A "day" means a period of 24 hours. However, where the parent who has the fewer number of overnight periods during the year has an overnight with a child of less than 24 hours duration, each parent is allocated one-half of a day of custody for that period.
In Virginia, child support guidelines are based on the total income of the two parents. First, the gross income of each parent is added together for a family income. A parent’s gross income may be adjusted for things like child support for other children, alimony/spousal support, and certain government benefits.
Katherine Smith
Virginian child support guidelines apply to the whole state, including the cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Richmond, Arlington and Newport News. Variations in support payments may be made by the agreement of parents or at the discretion of a judge presiding over your case.
Payment Calculators by State