Virginia uses the income shares model under Va. Code § 20-108.2. Both parents' monthly gross incomes are combined and used to find a base obligation on a statutory schedule. Health insurance premiums and work-related childcare costs are added, then the total is divided between the parents based on their proportional income shares. The non-custodial parent pays their share to the custodial parent.

Senate Bill 805, effective July 1, 2025, made the first update to Virginia's child support guidelines since 2014. The changes include raising the combined monthly gross income cap from $35,000 to $42,500 and increasing guideline support amounts across all income levels. The 11-year gap between updates meant that the previous schedule had not kept pace with inflation or the rising cost of raising children in Virginia. Any order established or modified on or after July 1, 2025 must use the new SB 805 table.

The income shares model is based on the principle that a child should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received had the parents stayed together. It combines both parents' gross incomes to determine a household-level support obligation, then divides that obligation proportionally. Virginia adopted the income shares model when it overhauled its child support statutes, and it remains the foundation of Va. Code § 20-108.2 today.

DC-637 is the sole custody worksheet, used when one parent has the children fewer than 90 days per year. DC-640 is the shared custody worksheet, used when each parent has at least 90 days. The DC-640 calculation applies a 1.4 multiplier to the base obligation to account for the duplicated costs of maintaining two households for the children, then calculates each parent's net obligation based on their custody days and income share. The parent owing more pays the net difference to the other.

When spousal support is ordered between the same parties, it adjusts each parent's income before child support is calculated - reducing the payor's gross income and increasing the payee's. For temporary (pendente lite) spousal support, Virginia applies a formula under Va. Code § 16.1-278.17:1 : 26% of the higher earner's gross minus 58% of the lower earner's gross (with minor children), or 27% minus 50% (without minor children). This formula only applies when the parties' combined gross income does not exceed $10,000 per month.

Yes. There is a rebuttable presumption that the guideline amount is correct, but a court may deviate for good cause under Va. Code § 20-108.1. The 15 statutory deviation factors include the earning capacity of each parent, the standard of living during the marriage, the needs and special circumstances of the child, and the tax implications for each party. Any deviation must be supported by written findings. An experienced family law attorney can help evaluate whether deviation factors apply in your case.

Either parent may petition for a modification at any time upon showing a material change in circumstances, such as a significant change in income, a change in the child's needs, or a change in custody. Additionally, under Va. Code § 20-108.2, either party may request a review through the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) every 36 months without needing to prove a material change. The 2025 SB 805 update may itself constitute a material change in circumstances for parties seeking modification of pre-July 2025 orders.

While Virginia law does not require an attorney, child support cases involve verified financial documentation, potential deviation arguments, and coordination with spousal support and custody arrangements that significantly affect the outcome. The guidelines provide a starting point, but 15 statutory factors can shift the final number substantially. Smith | Ashcraft handles child support matters throughout Midlothian, Richmond, and Chesterfield County. Contact us to schedule a consultation.