Why use the Unified Form even if you're doing a traditional (i.e. Sole, Split, or Shared) calculation?

Here are some unique features of this form.

▬Email results of calculation to yourself (or anyone else)!

▬Learn only one input form to produce ALL forms!

▬Print traditional DC-637, 638, & 640 forms if situation applies.

▬Change parent names to personalize form. "Help" becomes personalized! (You can do this on the other forms but it seems the feature wasn't highlighted enough.)

▬Simplify input screen:

  • ▻Only lines needed for your situation appear. Others are hidden until needed.
  • ▻Remove instructions on each line if you want.
  • ▻Details for guideline calculation are available but are on a separate schedule. Much less clutter!

▬Flag exceptions that have always been part of the law, but may have been ignored:

  • ▻Health insurance expenses in excess of 5% of gross income.
  • ▻Gross incomes at or below 150% of the poverty level.
  • ▻Situations where sole calculation might produce a lower obligation than the shared calculation.
  • ▻Exceptions are flagged on main form but detail shows on later page to reduce clutter.

▬Print schedule and/or exceptions ... or not!

Be Careful About Using Pendente Lite Support!

“Pendente Lite” spousal support is calculated pursuant to Section 16.1-278.17:1. “Pendente Lite” means “pending the litigation.” It is intended to provide an amount of support until a court has the opportunity to have a full trial on whether spousal support will be awarded at all (Section 20-107.1.B) and, if so, the amount of spousal support (applying the factors spelled out in Section 20-107.1.E). It is NOT intended to calculate the amount of spousal support that might be paid on an ongoing basis after a final divorce.

Resources to Help Understand Spousal Support in Virginia:

▬Advice from your counsel!
▬Virginia Code Section 16.1-278.17:1. This is the pendente lite statute that talks about this calculation.
▬Virginia Code Section 20-107.1. This is the primary spousal support statute that talks about when “ongoing” spousal support might be appropriate in the first place. If a court is going to award spousal support, this statute includes the factors the court will use to determine what the amount of support will be. You’ll note that absent from the list of factors in determining the amount of support is any reference to the pendente lite calculation!

Unified Form Change History

  • Version 4.3 (03/07/23):
    • Changed switch for showing instructions on printouts to default to Checked.
  • Version 4.2 (07/01/22):
    • Changed help text for "Gross Income" to match change in statute.
  • Version 4.1 (09/04/21):
    • Corrected formula where other children (not for this order) are in the home of parent who has no income but does receive spousal support.
    • Changed help information for "gross income" to clarify that spousal support should be added in later lines and not on the first "Gross Income" line.
  • Version 4.0 (07/01/20):
    • Updated Pendente Lite formula to reflect Va. General Assembly changed.
  • Version 3.3 (11/13/19):
    • Added button at bottom to send data from Unified form to Pendente Lite calculation.
    • Added button next to spousal support entry to use Pendente Lite calculation for amount of support.
  • Version 3.2 (06/08/19):
    • Slight correction to calculation described for Version 3.1. Please rerun all Version 3.1 sheets (last 2 days only).
  • Version 3.1 (06/06/19):
    • For automatic calculation of support for "other" children residing with a parent if no court order exists, calculation changed to take spousal support, other court-ordered child support, and deductions allowed by law into account to determine the child support for the "other" children.
  • Version 3.0 (05/26/19):
    • Extensive form redesign for ease of use.
    • Correct calc. if min. CS amount involved with non-custodial parent paying for health insurance and/or childcare.
    • Print and email each of DC forms.
    • Separately request CS schedule and detail of exceptions.
    • Apply SSDI credit consistently for Unified, DC-Sole, DC-Split, DC-Share, and Summary
  • Version 1.8 (01/24/19):
    • Added Print Summary button to simplify information.
    • Modified labels and help information regarding children not subject to this order.
  • Version 1.7 (12/05/18):
    • Minor label change for calculation.
  • Version 1.6 (10/11/18):
    • Correct total # of days per parent if parents have exact 50/50 split for any one child.
  • Version 1.5 (09/25/18):
    • Correct box at bottom now checked showing which parent is receiving support (instead of both).
    • Allows part days in each line and changes 182 and 183 days to 182.5 days automatically.
  • Version 1.4 (09/20/18):
    • Increased compatibility with Internet Explorer BUT still not 100% IE compatible!
    • Increased how many iterations of calculations to increase accuracy.
  • Version 1.3 (08/25/18):
    • Corrected how childcare, health insurance allocated where sole custody. PLEASE check all sole custody calculations done using Unified Form.
  • Version 1.2 (06/27/18):
    • Multi-shared schedules have more precision in average # of days.
    • Corrected rounding error in the final subtraction of two parents' amounts.
  • Version 1.1 (06/09/18):
    • Corrected how adjustments and SSDI credits work with sole calculations to match DC-637 form.
    • Updated Help and inline instructions to match changes.