Maryland Child Support — Calculator, Laws & Guide (2026)

Understanding Maryland child support laws helps both custodial and non-custodial parents know their rights and obligations. This comprehensive Maryland child support guide covers how payments are calculated, what income counts, when support can be modified, and how orders are enforced. Whether you are going through a divorce, seeking a modification, or dealing with non-payment, this guide explains Maryland’s child support system in plain language.

Verified against Maryland statutes and federal OCSE guidelines as of May 2026.

Maryland Child Support Overview

Maryland uses the income shares model for calculating child support. This model is based on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family were intact. Both parents’ incomes are combined, and the support obligation is divided proportionally.

Maryland calculates child support based on the combined adjusted actual incomes of both parents using a statutory schedule table (FL 12-204). The basic support obligation is determined from the table based on combined income and number of children, then allocated proportionally based on each parent’s share of combined income. Health insurance premiums, work-related childcare costs, and extraordinary medical expenses are added to the basic obligation and split proportionally. A separate shared-custody formula (Worksheet B) applies when each parent has the child for more than 25% of overnights (more than 92 overnights per year).

How Maryland Calculates Child Support

The Maryland child support calculation considers multiple factors:

1. Determine each parent’s gross income — wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, investment income, and other sources.
2. Calculate combined parental income — add both parents’ adjusted gross incomes together.
3. Apply the guideline schedule — Maryland’s guidelines provide a base support amount based on combined income and number of children.
4. Prorate between parents — each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined income.
5. Add healthcare and childcare costs — these are added to the base amount and divided proportionally.
6. Apply adjustments — parenting time credits, other child obligations, and special circumstances may adjust the final amount.

Online calculator: Use our child support estimator below to calculate your estimated obligation.

What Counts as Income in Maryland

Actual income from any source including salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, dividends, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, Social Security benefits, workers compensation, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and third-party payments for a minor child from obligor’s disability or retirement. Self-employment income is gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses. Excluded: means-tested public assistance (Temporary Cash Assistance, SSI, SNAP, transitional emergency/medical/housing assistance). Adjusted actual income equals actual income minus preexisting child support obligations actually paid, alimony actually paid, and an allowance for support of other children living in the parent’s home (more than 92 overnights per year).

Imputed income: YES. Maryland imputes income to parents found to be voluntarily impoverished — defined as making a free and conscious choice to render themselves without adequate resources. Courts consider age, physical/mental condition, education, special training, literacy, residence, occupational qualifications, employment history, job search efforts, criminal record, and local job market conditions. Exceptions: income may NOT be imputed if the parent is physically or mentally disabled, caring for a child under age 2 for whom both parents are responsible, or incarcerated (incarcerated parents explicitly cannot be found voluntarily impoverished).

Deviation factors: Courts may deviate from guidelines if application would be unjust or inappropriate. Factors include: terms of existing separation or property settlement agreements, payment of mortgages or marital debts, college education expenses, use and possession of the family home, direct payments made for the benefit of children, any financial consideration relevant to the child’s best interests, and whether the guidelines would leave the obligor below 110% of the 2019 federal poverty level. Written findings are required stating the guideline amount and reasons for deviation.

Healthcare & Childcare in Maryland Child Support

Health insurance: The actual cost of providing health insurance coverage for the child is added to the basic child support obligation and divided between parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes. Uninsured extraordinary medical expenses (orthodontia, dental treatment, asthma treatment, physical therapy, psychological counseling) are also added to the basic obligation and divided proportionally.

Childcare costs: Actual work-related childcare expenses incurred due to employment or job search of either parent are added to the basic obligation and divided proportionally between parents based on their share of combined income. Amounts are based on actual family experience unless the court determines otherwise; if no actual experience exists, the cost of quality care from a licensed source is used.

When Does Maryland Child Support End?

In Maryland, child support generally ends when the child reaches 18. If the child turns 18 while still enrolled in high school, support continues until high school completion. A parent has a continuing duty to support a destitute adult child who cannot be self-supporting due to physical or mental disability.. However, support may continue or end earlier based on:

• The child graduates from high school (if still a minor)
• The child becomes emancipated (marriage, military service, self-supporting)
• The child has special needs requiring ongoing support
• College support: NO mandatory college support. Courts can only order college expenses if parents made a voluntary written agreement incorporated into a court order. College expenses may also be considered as a deviation factor under FL 12-202.

Modifying Maryland Child Support

When to modify: Material change of circumstances. A 25% or greater change in either parent’s income is the commonly applied benchmark. Other qualifying changes include a parent’s illness or disability, significant income or asset changes, a child’s serious illness or accident, change in custody arrangements, or change in child’s needs. No fixed dollar-amount threshold exists.

How to modify: Two pathways: (1) File a Petition/Motion to Modify Child Support (form CC-DRIN-006) directly with the Circuit Court along with a Request for Hearing, bringing pay stubs, tax returns, and expense documentation; (2) If the case is managed by CSA, request that the Child Support Administration file for modification using the DHS Modification Packet. Modifications are retroactive only to the date the motion was filed.

Either parent can request a modification. Changes are typically not retroactive to before the date of filing the modification request.

Maryland Child Support Enforcement

Maryland has multiple tools to enforce child support orders when a parent fails to pay:

• Income withholding (wage garnishment)
• federal tax refund intercept
• state tax refund intercept
• lottery winnings intercept
• bank account garnishment
• credit bureau reporting
• driver’s license suspension
• professional/occupational license suspension (referral at 120+ days delinquent; reinstatement upon full payment or 4 consecutive months of court-ordered payments)
• U.S. passport denial/revocation
• liens on real and personal property
• contempt of court (incarceration until purge amount paid
• only if obligor has ability to pay)
• criminal prosecution by State’s Attorney for intentional failure to pay

Contact Maryland Child Support Administration (CSA), a division of the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) at https://dhs.maryland.gov/child-support-services/ for enforcement assistance.

Additional Maryland rules: Shared Physical Custody uses a specific threshold — if each parent has the child for more than 25% of overnights (more than 92 overnights per year), the shared custody formula applies using Worksheet B (form CC-DR-035). Self-support reserve ensures obligor retains minimum income; asterisked schedule entries indicate adjusted obligations so the obligor is not left below 110% of the 2019 federal poverty level. 2025 Multifamily Adjustment Law (HB0275/SB1038, effective October 1 2025) allows a deduction for children living in the parent’s home even without a court order for those children’s support, as long as the child resides with the parent more than 92 overnights per year; this deduction does not apply when income is imputed. Maryland law requires quadrennial review of child support guidelines; most recent completed review was 2022.

Official Sources & Resources

• Maryland Child Support Administration (CSA), a division of the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS): https://dhs.maryland.gov/child-support-services/
• Federal OCSE: acf.hhs.gov/css
• Cornell LII — Child Support: law.cornell.edu
• Maryland Guidelines Statute: Maryland Family Law Code Title 12 Subtitle 2 (sections 12-201 through 12-204). Primary sections: FL 12-201 (definitions), FL 12-202 (use of guidelines and deviation), FL 12-204 (schedule of obligations and formula)

Last verified May 2026. Contact us if you notice outdated information.

Estimate Your Child Support

Use our free child support estimator to calculate estimated monthly payments. Enter both parents’ incomes, number of children, and custody arrangement to see a personalized breakdown based on your state’s formula.

Related Guides

• Maryland Divorce Process Guide
• Maryland Child Custody Guide
• Maryland Alimony Guide
• All Child Support Guides