When parents separate or divorce, child support is often the first money question that comes up. How much will be paid? Who pays it? Will the amount be fair? These concerns are real, and the answers affect your child’s daily life and your own budget. A Stafford, VA, child support attorney can help you understand how Virginia sets these amounts and what you can do to protect your family in 2026.
How Does Virginia Determine the Base Amount of Child Support?
Virginia uses rules called the child support guidelines to set how much a parent pays. These guidelines appear in Virginia Code § 20-108.2 and apply in nearly every child support case in the state. The law starts with a schedule built around two numbers: the combined gross income of both parents and the number of children. Gross income covers wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, self-employment earnings, rental income, and pensions, among other sources. It does not matter whether income is reported on a W-2 or earned in another way; the court looks at the full picture.