Maryland Child Support

In Maryland, both parents have a legal obligation to provide financial support to their minor children. Since 1989, Maryland courts have utilized set guidelines, passed by the legislature, to calculate the amount of support owed for the benefit of the child/ren. Using guidelines enhances efficiency for the courts, provides greater consistency, and helps prevent inadequate child support awards from going into effect.

With child support, the general idea is that children should enjoy the benefit of the same amount of their parents’ income as they would have had if the parents remained married or lived together as a family unit. The guidelines also help to ensure children have the benefit of maintaining the standard of living established prior to their parents’ divorce/separation. It’s important to remember that child support is not just for kids born of marriage; all minor children are entitled to the financial support of their parents, and the guidelines help make sure they get an adequate amount.

The calculation of child support is primarily based on each parent’s gross income from all sources and the amount of overnights the child spends with each parent. Certain expenses paid directly by either or both parents are also considered in calculations. 

This all may lead people to wonder if the guidelines are applied to everybody. While there is a rebuttable presumption that the guidelines would result in the correct award of child support, there are certain circumstances where this doesn’t remain true. For example, families where the parents earn over a set amount per month or where a parent is permanently disabled or incarcerated (among other different circumstances) may not be immediately subject to the child support amount calculated by the guidelines.

 When parents don’t live together, a dispute regarding child support can arise.  A parent can seek child support on behalf of the child/ren in a divorce proceeding, a custody proceeding, or an independent child support case (those cases where the parties were never married or the child was born after a divorce).It’s important to note that child support can also be modified if the circumstances surrounding a prior child support award change in a material way.  

Child support is a critical factor for any parent in Maryland facing divorce or living separate from the other parent. It is a process that can also, unfortunately, be complicated by the other parent attempting to conceal or misrepresent their income. Retaining experienced legal counsel can help ensure the best outcome for you and your children.

Contact Our Family Law Team

Senior Partner Monica Scherer and her team are dedicated to providing aggressive representation and sound legal advice to our family law clients. Our family law team at Silverman Thompson has vast experience with child support cases, including interstate child support issues, and can provide advice about your options in a related case.   

Our divorce and family law attorneys have helped hundreds of clients in Maryland and regularly practice in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Frederick County, Harford County, and other areas throughout the State of Maryland, as needed.  

We invite you to contact us or call our office at 410.385.2225 or 800.385.2243 to see how we can make a difference for you.