The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 15 : Domestic Relations
Chapter 005 : Desertion and Support
Subchapter 001 : UNIFORM DESERTION AND NONSUPPORT ACT
(Cite as: 15 V.S.A. § 202)-
§ 202. Penalty for desertion or nonsupport
A married person who, without just cause, shall desert or willfully neglect or refuse to provide for the support and maintenance of the person’s spouse and children, leaving them in destitute or necessitous circumstances or a parent who, without lawful excuse, shall desert or willfully neglect or refuse to provide for the support and maintenance of the child shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $300.00, or both. Should a fine be imposed, the court may order the same to be paid in whole or in part to the needy spouse or to the guardian, custodian, or trustee of the child. The Office of Child Support attorneys, in addition to any other duly authorized person, may prosecute cases under this section in Vermont Superior Court. (Amended 1973, No. 201 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2009, No. 146 (Adj. Sess.), § C21; 2025, No. 64, § 26, eff. June 12, 2025.)
