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Maryland Child Support Statute

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FAMILY LAW - ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND
§12-201. Definitions.
§12-202 - Use of guidelines; modification of orders; review.
§ 12-203. Forms; verification of income.
§12-204. Determination of child support obligation.

§12-201. Definitions.

 

(a) In general

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) Income. - "Income" means: (1) actual income of a parent, if the parent is employed to full capacity; or
(2) potential income of a parent, if the parent is voluntarily impoverished.
(c) Actual income (1) "Actual income" means income from any source.
(2) For income from self-employment, rent, royalties, proprietorship of a business, or joint ownership of a partnership or closely held corporation, "actual income" means gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses required to produce income.
(3) "Actual income" includes:
  (i) salaries;
  (ii) wages;
  (iii) commissions;
  (iv) bonuses;
  (v) dividend income;
  (vi) pension income;
  (vii) interest income;
  (viii) trust income;
  (ix) annuity income;
  (x) Social Security benefits;
  (xi) workers' compensation benefits;
  (xii) unemployment insurance benefits;
  (xiii) disability insurance benefits;
 (xiv) for the obligor, any third party payment paid to or for a minor child as a result of the obligor's disability, retirement, or other compensable claim;
  (xv) alimony or maintenance received; and
  (xvi) expense reimbursements or in-kind payments received by a parent in the course of employment, self-employment, or operation of a business to the extent the reimbursements or payments reduce the parent's personal living expenses.
(4) Based on the circumstances of the case, the court may consider the following items as actual income:
  (i) severance pay;
  (ii) capital gains;
  (iii) gifts; or
  (iv) prizes.
(5) "Actual income" does not include benefits received from means-tested public assistance programs, including temporary cash assistance, Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, and transitional emergency, medical, and housing assistance.
(d) Adjusted actual income "Adjusted actual income" means actual income minus:
(1) preexisting reasonable child support obligations actually paid;
(2) except as provided in §12-204 (a) (2) of this subtitle, alimony or maintenance obligations actually paid; and
(3) the actual cost of providing health insurance coverage for a child for whom the parents are jointly and severally responsible.
(e) Combined adjusted actual income "Combined adjusted actual income" means the combined monthly adjusted actual incomes of both parents.
(f) Potential income "Potential income" means income attributed to a parent determined by the parent's employment potential and probable earnings level based on, but not limited to, recent work history, occupational qualifications, prevailing job opportunities, and earnings levels in the community.
(g) Ordinary and necessary expenses "Ordinary and necessary expenses" does not include amounts allowable by the Internal Revenue Service for the accelerated component of depreciation expenses or investment tax credits or any other business expenses determined by the court to be inappropriate for determining actual income for purposes of calculating child support.
(h) Extraordinary medical expenses (1) "Extraordinary medical expenses" means uninsured expenses over $100 for a single illness or condition.
(2) "Extraordinary medical expenses" includes uninsured, reasonable, and necessary costs for orthodontia, dental treatment, asthma treatment, physical therapy, treatment for any chronic health problem, and professional counseling or psychiatric therapy for diagnosed mental disorders.
(i) Shared physical custody (1) "Shared physical custody" means that each parent keeps the child or children overnight for more than 35% of the year and that both parents contribute to the expenses of the child or children in addition to the payment of child support.
(2) Subject to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the court may base a child support award on shared physical custody:
  (i) solely on the amount of visitation awarded; and
  (ii) regardless of whether joint custody has been granted.
(j) Adjusted basic child support obligation "Adjusted basic child support obligation" means an adjustment of the basic child support obligation for shared physical custody.
(k) Basic child support obligation "Basic child support obligation" means the base amount due for child support based on the combined adjusted actual incomes of both parents. (1989, ch. 2; 1996, ch. 351, §4.)

FAMILY LAW §12-202 - Use of guidelines; modification of orders; review.

 
(a) Use required; presumptions; departure from guidelines. - (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, in any proceeding to establish or modify child support, whether pendente lite or permanent, the court shall use the child support guidelines set forth in this subtitle.

(2) (i) There is a rebuttable presumption that the amount of child support which would result from the application of the child support guidelines set forth in this subtitle is the correct amount of child support to be awarded.

(ii) The presumption may be rebutted by evidence that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case.

(iii) In determining whether the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case, the court may consider:

1. the terms of any existing separation or property settlement agreement or court order, including any provisions for payment of mortgages or marital debts, payment of college education expenses, the terms of any use and possession order or right to occupy to the family home under an agreement, any direct payments made for the benefit of the children required by agreement or order, or any other financial considerations set out in an existing separation or property settlement agreement or court order; and

2. the presence in the household of either parent of other children to whom that parent owes a duty of support and the expenses for whom that parent is directly contributing.

(iv) The presumption may not be rebutted solely on the basis of evidence of the presence in the household of either parent of other children to whom that parent owes a duty of support and the expenses for whom that parent is directly contributing.

(v) 1. If the court determines that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case, the court shall make a written finding or specific finding on the record stating the reasons for departing from the guidelines.

2. The court's finding shall state:
    A. the amount of child support that would have been required under the guidelines;     B. how the order varies from the guidelines;     C. how the finding serves the best interests of the child; and     D. in cases in which items of value are conveyed instead of a portion of the support presumed under the guidelines, the estimated value of the items conveyed.

(b) Modification of orders. - (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the adoption of the guidelines set forth in this subtitle may be grounds for requesting a modification of a child support award based on a material change in circumstances.

(2) The adoption of the guidelines set forth in this subtitle may not be grounds for requesting a modification of a child support award based on a material change in circumstances unless the use of the guidelines would result in a change in the award of 25% or more.

(c) Review of guidelines. - On or before January 1, 1993, and at least every 4 years after that date, the Child Support Enforcement Administration of the Department of Human Resources shall:

(1) review the guidelines set forth in this subtitle to ensure that the application of the guidelines results in the dtermination of appropriate child support award amounts; and

(2) report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, subject to §2-1246 of the State Government Article. (1989, ch. 2; 1990, ch. 58; 1997, ch. 635, §9; ch. 636, §9.)


§12-203. Forms; verification of income.

 
(a) Forms. - The Court of Appeals may issue standardized worksheet forms to be used in applying the child support guidelines set forth in this subtitle.

(b) Verification of income. - (1) Income statements of the parents shall be verified with documentation of both current and past actual income.

(2) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, suitable documentation of actual income includes pay stubs, employer statements otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence, or receipts and expenses if self-employed, and copies of each parent's 3 most recent federal tax returns.

(ii) If a parent is self-employed or has received an increase or decrease in income of 20% or more in a 1-year period within the past 3 years, the court may require that parent to provide copies of federal tax returns for the 5 most recent years. (1989, ch. 2.)


§12-204. Determination of child support obligation.

 
(a) Schedule to be used; division among parents; maintenance and alimony awards. - (1) The basic child support obligation shall be determined in accordance with the schedule of basic child support obligations in subsection (e) of this section. The basic child support obligation shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes.

(2) (i) If one or both parents have made a request for alimony or maintenance in the proceeding in which a child support award is sought, the court shall decide the issue and amount of alimony or maintenance before determining the child support obligation under these guidelines.

(ii) If the court awards alimony or maintenance, the amount of alimony or maintenance awarded shall be considered actual income for the recipient of the alimony or maintenance and shall be subtracted from the income of the payor of the alimony or maintenance under §12-201 (d) (2) of this subtitle before the court determines the amount of a child support award.

(b) Voluntarily impoverished parent.-(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection if a parent is voluntarily impoverished, child support may be calculated based on a determination of potential income.

(2) A determination of potential income may not be made for a parent who:

(i) is unable to work because of a physical or mental disability; or

(ii) is caring for a child un der the age of 2 years for whom the parents are jointly and severally responsible.

(c) Income between amounts in schedule.-If a combined adjusted actual income amount falls between amounts shown in the schedule, the basic child support amount shall be extrapolated to the next higher amount.

(d)Income above schedule levels.-If the combined adjusted actual income exceeds the highest level specified in the schedule in subsection (e) of this section, the court may use its discretion in setting the amount of child support.

(e) Basic child support obligation.-Schedule of basic child support obligations:


 

Combined Adjusted Actual Income

1 Child

2 Children

3 Children

4 Children

5 Children


 

6 or More Children

100            
200

$20 - $150 per month based on resources and living

300

expenses of obligor and number of children due

400

support

500            
600

 

 

 

 

 

 

650

 

 

 

 

 

 

700

 

 

 

 

 

 

750

 

 

 

 

 

 

800

 

 

 

 

 

 

850

 

 

 

 

 

 

900

184

273

276

279

282

285

950

191

296

304

307

311

314

1000

198

307

332

336

340

343

1050

205

318

360

364

368

372

1100

212

329

389

393

397

401

1150

219

339

416

421

425

430

1200

226

350

438

449

454

458

1250

233

360

451

477

482

487

1300

239

371

465

504

510

515

1350

246

382

478

532

538

544

1400

253

392

491

554

566

572

1450

260

403

504

569

594

601

1500

267

413

517

584

623

629

1550

274

424

531

599

651

658

 
 
1600

282

436

546

616

672

691

1650

288

447

559

631

688

725

1700

295

457

572

645

704

753

1750

302

467

585

660

720

770

1800

308

477

598

674

735

787

1850

315

488

611

689

751

804

1900

321

498

624

703

767

821

1950

327

506

634

715

780

835

2000

332

515

645

727

793

848

2050

338

523

655

739

806

862

2100

343

531

666

751

819

876

2150

349

540

677

763

832

890

2200

354

548

687

774

845

904

2250

359

557

698

786

858

918

2300

365

565

708

798

871

931

2350

370

573

719

810

884

945

2400

376

582

729

822

897

959

2450

381

590

740

833

909

973

2500

386

598

750

845

922

987

2550

392

607

761

857

935

1000

2600

397

615

771

869

948

1014

2650

403

624

782

881

961

1028

2700

408

632

793

893

974

1042

2750

413

640

803

904

987

1056

2800

419

649

814

916

1000

1070

2850

424

657

824

928

1013

1083

2900

429

666

835

940

1026

1097

2950

435

675

846

953

1039

1112

3000

441

684

857

965

1053

1126

3050

446

693

868

978

1067

1141

3100

452

702

879

990

1080

1156

3150

458

710

890

1003

1094

1170

3200

463

719

901

1015

1108

1185

3250

469

728

912

1028

1121

1199

3300

475

737

923

1040

1135

1214

3350

480

746

934

1053

1148

1228

3400

486

755

945

1065

1162

1243

3450

491

764

957

1078

1176

1258

3500

497

773

968

1090

1189

1272

3550

503

782

979

1103

1203

1287

3600

508

790

990

1115

1216

1301

3650

514

799

1001

1128

1230

1316

3700

520

808

1012

1140

1244

1330

3750

525

817

1023

1152

1257

1345

3800

532

827

1035

1166

1273

1361

3850

538

837

1048

1181

1288

1378

3900

544

847

1060

1195

1303

1394

3950

551

857

1073

1209

1319

1411

4000

557

867

1085

1223

1334

1427

4050

563

877

1097

1236

1349

1442

4100

569

886

1109

1249

1363

1458

4150

575

895

1120

1262

1377

1473

4200

581

905

1132

1275

1391

1488

4250

587

914

1143

1288

1405

1503

4300

593

923

1155

1301

1420

1518

4350

598

932

1166

1314

1434

1534

4400

604

942

1178

1327

1448

1549

4450

610

951

1189

1340

1462

1564

4500

616

960

1201

1353

1477

1579

4550

622

970

1212

1366

1491

1594

4600

628

979

1224

1379

1505

1610

4650

634

987

1234

1391

1518

1624

4700

639

995

1244

1403

1530

1637

4750

644

1003

1254

1414

1543

1650

4800

649

1011

1264

1425

1555

1663

4850

655

1019

1274

1437

1567

1676

4900

660

1027

1284

1448

1580

1689

4950

665

1035

1294

1459

1592

1703

5000

670

1043

1304

1470

1604

1716

5050

676

1051

1314

1482

1617

1729

5100

681

1059

1324

1493

1629

1742

5150

686

1067

1334

1504

1641

1755

5200

691

1075

1344

1515

1654

1768

5250

696

1083

1354

1527

1666

1781

5300

702

1091

1364

1538

1678

1794

5350

707

1099

1374

1549

1691

1807

5400

712

1107

1384

1561

1703

1821

5450

717

1115

1394

1572

1715

1834

5500

722

1123

1404

1583

1728

1847

5550

728

1131

1414

1594

1740

1860

5600

733

1139

1424

1606

1752

1873

5650

738

1147

1434

1617

1765

1886

5700

743

1155

1444

1628

1777

1899

5750

748

1163

1454

1639

1789

1912

5800

754

1171

1464

1651

1801

1926

5850

759

1179

1474

1662

1814

1939

5900

764

1187

1484

1673

1826

1952

5950

769

1195

1494

1685

1838

1965

6000

774

1203

1504

1696

1851

1978

6050

780

1211

1513

1707

1863

1991

6100

785

1219

1523

1718

1875

2004

6150

790

1227

1533

1730

1888

2017

6200

795

1235

1543

1741

1900

2030

6250

800

1243

1553

1752

1912

2044

6300

806

1251

1563

1763

1925

2057

6350

811

1259

1573

1775

1937

2070

6400

815

1266

1582

1785

1947

2081

6450

819

1271

1589

1793

1956

2091

6500

823

1277

1597

1801

1965

2100

6550

827

1283

1604

1809

1974

2110

6600

831

1289

1611

1817

1983

2119

6650

834

1294

1618

1826

1992

2129

6700

838

1300

1626

1834

2001

2138

6750

842

1306

1633

1842

2010

2148

6800

846

1311

1640

1850

2019

2157

6850

850

1317

1647

1858

2028

2167

6900

854

1323

1654

1866

2037

2176

6950

857

1329

1662

1874

2045

2186

7000

861

1334

1669

1882

2054

2195

7050

865

1340

1676

1891

2063

2205

7100

869

1346

1683

1899

2072

2214

7150

873

1351

1691

1907

2081

2224

7200

876

1357

1698

1915

2090

2233

7250

880

1363

1705

1923

2099

2243

7300

884

1369

1712

1931

2108

2253

7350

888

1374

1720

1939

2117

2262

7400

892

1380

1727

1947

2126

2272

7450

895

1386

1734

1956

2135

2281

7500

899

1391

1741

1964

2144

2291

7550

903

1397

1748

1972

2153

2300

7600

906

1402

1755

1979

2161

2309

7650

909

1407

1761

1986

2168

2317

7700

912

1412

1768

1993

2175

2325

7750

915

1417

1774

1999

2182

2333

7800

918

1422

1780

2006

2190

2340

7850

921

1427

1786

2012

2197

2348

7900

923

1431

1792

2019

2204

2356

7950

926

1436

1798

2026

2211

2364

8000

929

1441

1804

2032

2219

2372

8050

932

1446

1810

2039

2226

2380

8100

935

1451

1817

2045

2233

2388

8150

938

1456

1823

2052

2240

2396

8200

941

1461

1829

2059

2248

2404

8250

944

1465

1835

2065

2255

2412

8300

947

1470

1841

2072

2262

2420

8350

949

1475

1847

2078

2270

2428

8400

952

1480

1853

2085

2277

2436

8450

955

1485

1860

2092

2284

2444

8500

958

1490

1866

2098

2291

2452

8550

961

1494

1872

2105

2299

2460

8600

964

1499

1878

2111

2306

2468

8650

967

1504

1884

2118

2313

2476

8700

970

1509

1890

2125

2320

2484

8750

973

1514

1896

2131

2328

2492

8800

975

1518

1901

2137

2334

2498

8850

978

1521

1906

2142

2340

2504

8900

980

1525

1910

2147

2345

2510

8950

982

1528

1915

2152

2351

2516

9000

989

1539

1928

2168

2367

2534

9050

992

1543

1933

2173

2373

2540

9100

994

1547

1938

2179

2379

2546

9150

997

1551

1943

2184

2385

2552

9200

999

1554

1948

2190

2391

2559

9250

1002

1558

1953

2195

2397

2565

9300

1004

1562

1958

2201

2403

2571

9350

1007

1566

1963

2206

2409

2578

9400

1009

1570

1967

2212

2415

2584

9450

1012

1574

1972

2217

2421

2590

9500

1014

1577

1977

2223

2427

2596

9550

1017

1581

1982

2228

2433

2603

9600

1020

1585

1987

2234

2439

2609

9650

1022

1589

1992

2239

2445

2615

9700

1025

1593

1997

2245

2451

2622

9750

1027

1597

2001

2250

2457

2628

9800

1030

1601

2006

2256

2463

2634

9850

1032

1604

2011

2261

2469

2640

9900

1035

1608

2016

2267

2475

2647

9950

1037

1612

2021

2272

2481

2653

10000

1040

1616

2026

2278

2487

2659

(f) Adjusted basic child support obligation.-The adjusted basic child support obligation shall be determined by multiplying the basic child support obligation by one and one-half.

(g) Child care expenses.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, actual child care expenses incurred on behalf of a child due to employment or job search of either parent shall be added to the basic obligation and shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes

(2) Child care expenses shall be:

(i) determined by actual family experience, unless the court determines that the actual family experience is not in the best interest of the child; or

(ii) If there is no actual family experience or if the court determines that actual family experience is not in the bet interest of the child:

1. the level required to provide quality care from a licensed source; or

2. if the custodial parent chooses quality child care with an actual cost of an amount less than the level required to provide quality care from a licensed source, the actual cost of the child care expense.

(3) Additional child care expenses may be considered if a child has special needs.

(h) Extraordinary medical expenses.-Any extraordinary medical expenses incurred on behalf of a child shall be added to the basic child support obligation and shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes.

(i) School and transportation expenses.-By agreement of the parties or by order of court, the following expenses incurred on behalf of a child may be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes:

(1) any expenses or attending a special or private elementary or secondary school to meet the particular educational needs of the child; or

(2) any expenses for transportation of the child between the homes of he parents.

(J) Setoff for third party payments

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, when a disability dependency benefit, a retirement dependency benefit, or other third party dependency benefit is paid to or for a child of an obligor who is disabled, retired, or is receiving benefits from any source as a result of a compensable claim, the amount of the compensation shall be setoff against the child support obligation calculated using the guidelines.

(2) (i) If the amount paid to or for a child exceeds the current child support obligation calculated using the guidelines, the excess payment shall be credited to any existing child support arrearage that accrued after the effective date the benefits were awarded.

(ii) The excess payment may not be credited to any future child support obligation.

(k) Use, possession or occupancy of family home.-(1) Upon the expiration of a use and possession order or the expiration of the right to occupy the family home under a separation or property settlement agreement and upon motion of either party, the court shall review the child support award.

(2) If the allocation of financial responsibility for the family home was a factor in departing from the guidelines under subsection (a) of this section, the court may modify the child support, if appropriate in all the circumstances, upon the expiration of the use and possession order or the expiration of the right to occupy the family home under a separation or property settlement agreement.

(l) Cases other than shared physical custody cases.- (1) Except in cases of shared physical custody, each parent’s child support obligation shall be determined by adding each parent’s respective share of the basic child support obligation, work-related child care expenses, extraordinary medical expenses, and additional expenses under subsection (i) of this section.

(2) The custodial parent shall be presumed to spend the parent’s total child support obligation directly on the child or children.

(3) The noncustodial parent shall owe that parent’s total child support obligation as child support to the custodial parent minus any ordered payments included in the calculations made directly by the noncustodial parent on behalf of the child or children for work-related child care expenses, extraordinary medical expenses, and additional expenses under subsection (i) of this section.

(1) Shared physical custody cases.-(1) In cases of shared physical custody, the adjusted basic child support obligation shall first be divided between the parents in proportion to their respective adjusted actual incomes.

(2) Each parent’s share of the adjusted basic child support obligation shall then be multiplied by the percentage of time the child or children spend with he other parent to determine the theoretical basic child support obligation owed to the other parent.

(3) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) of this subsection, the parent owing the greater amount under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall owe the difference in the 2 amounts as child support.

(4) In addition to the amount of the child support owed under paragraph (3) of this subsection, if either parent incurs child care expenses under subsection (g) of this section, extraordinary medical expenses under subsection (h) of this section, or additional expenses under subsection (i) of this subsection, the expense shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their respective adjusted actual income. The parent not incurring the expense shall pay that parent’s proportionate share to:

(i) the parent making direct payment to the provider of the service; or

(ii) the provider directly, if a court order requires direct payment to the provider.

(5) The amount owed under paragraph (3) of this subsection may not exceed the amount that would be owed under subsection (l) of this section if the obligor parent were a noncustodial parent. (1989, ch. 2; 1990, ch. 58; 1992, ch.22, §1.)

This page last revised 11/04/04

 


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