How is child support calculated in Maryland?

Maryland child support is governed by Md. Code, Fam. Law §§ 12-201 to 12-204 (the Maryland Child Support Guidelines), most recently revised by 2020 Md. Laws Ch. 384 (effective Oct. 1, 2022) which extended the schedule to higher incomes.

1. Two Worksheets

Worksheet A — Sole Custody: Used when one parent has the child for more than 65% of overnights (i.e., the other parent has fewer than 92 overnights/year).

Worksheet B — Shared Physical Custody: Used when each parent has at least 92 overnights (~25%) per year.

2. Income Shares Calculation

Determine each parent's monthly actual income (Md. Code Fam. Law § 12-201(b)) — salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, dividends, severance, pensions, gifts, prizes, capital gains, etc.

Subtract pre-existing reasonable child support actually paid and alimony paid.

Combine to get Combined Adjusted Actual Income.

Find the Basic Child Support Obligation on the Schedule in § 12-204(e) (now extended to combined income of $30,000/month).

Add work-related childcare, extraordinary medical, and health insurance premium for the child.

Pro rate by income.

For Worksheet B, apply the shared-physical-custody multiplier of 1.5 and offset.

3. Above the Schedule

For combined incomes above $30,000/month, the court determines support on a case-by-case basis, with the schedule's high-income amount serving as a floor.

4. Self-Support Reserve / Low Income

Effective Oct. 1, 2022, a self-support reserve of approximately $1,160/month (110% of federal poverty level for one person) protects the obligor's subsistence income, with reduced presumptive amounts for low-income obligors.

5. Duration (Md. Code Fam. Law § 5-203(b))

Support continues until the child:

Reaches age 18, OR

Is still enrolled in secondary school at age 18, in which case support continues to the earlier of completion of secondary school or age 19.

Maryland does not generally require post-secondary educational support.

6. Modification (Md. Code Fam. Law § 12-104)

Modification requires a material change in circumstances. There is no precise percentage threshold; commonly, a 25% income change or significant custody change qualifies.

7. Imputed Income (§ 12-201(g))

Voluntarily impoverished parent — defined as voluntarily unemployed/underemployed — has income imputed based on probable earning capacity considering age, education, training, work experience, and local employment opportunities.

8. Deviation (§ 12-202(a)(2))

Guideline amount is presumed correct; deviation requires written findings that strict application would be unjust or inappropriate.

This is legal information, not legal advice.