Court rule · Vermont · Family procedure · Child support · Family finance
Vermont separates wage-withholding procedures in family rule amendment
An August order replaces one blended procedure with separate provisions for expedited child-support withholding and other specified support claims.
Published November 3, 2026 · Reviewed by David Martino
The Vermont Supreme Court promulgated an amendment separating two procedures for wage withholding in family matters. The order is dated August 18, 2026 and states an effective date of January 1, 2027. It replaces the former combined paragraph of Vermont Rule for Family Proceedings 4.3(b) with separate provisions keyed to two statutes.
New paragraph (b)(2) addresses expedited petitions under 15 V.S.A. section 782 to secure child support and child-support arrearages under orders issued after July 1, 1990. It sets out petition and service requirements, provides for a hearing to be scheduled within 14 days of filing, and says objections are presented at the hearing. It also addresses notice and the opportunity to object when the Office of Child Support initiates withholding before modification of a support order.
New paragraph (b)(3), under section 783, addresses spousal support, spousal-support arrearages, and arrearages of child-support orders issued before July 1, 1990. It specifies petition information, service, objections and hearing procedures. Under its terms, a timely objection calls for a hearing; if no objection is filed within the specified time or the obligor requests withholding, the rule provides for judgment without requiring a hearing or additional motions or affidavits. The rule should be consulted for the precise requirements and timing.
The court’s reporter’s notes explain that the former paragraph blended procedures that differ in their treatment of scheduling, objections and hearings. The order identifies those notes as advisory. The notes describe the section 782 procedure by reference to orders made or modified after July 1, 1990, while the operative rule text says orders issued after that date. That difference should be checked against the governing statute rather than silently resolved.
The amendment was promulgated in 2026 but its stated effective date is in 2027. It concerns the process for withholding, not a change to the child-support guideline dollar schedule.