{"id":373816,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-child-support-guidelines.html"},"modified":"2025-04-04T16:56:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T21:56:06","slug":"maryland-child-support-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-child-support-guidelines.html","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Child Support Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Maryland Child Support Guidelines<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

When you separate or divorce, child custody and support are the hardest issues to resolve. Some couples can negotiate the amount of child support<\/a> on their own. Others must rely on the courts to determine child support terms. When this happens, the family law judge will sign a court order indicating how much support the non-custodial parent (NCP) must pay.<\/p>\r\n

When doing so, the judges use the state child support guidelines. These guidelines dictate how much the NCP<\/a> will pay the other parent monthly child support.<\/p>\r\n

Here, we’ll explain how the Maryland child support guidelines<\/a> work and discuss the factors that can impact the NCP’s payment amount. If you have child support issues, contact a Maryland family law attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Why Do the Maryland Courts Use Child Support Guidelines?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Under the Code of Federal Regulations \u00a745.302.56<\/a>, every state must establish child support guidelines and update them at least once every four years. This law also requires lawmakers to consider the NCP’s income, essential expenses, and specific circumstances when crafting the guidelines.<\/p>\r\n

Federal law also states that there is a rebuttable presumption that the child support amount determined by the guidelines is correct. The NCP must submit enough evidence to show they cannot afford to pay the requisite amount. Otherwise, the child support order<\/a> will stand, and noncompliance on the part of the NCP will result in potential civil and criminal penalties.<\/p>\r\n

Maryland law holds that every child has the right to receive support from both parents, even if the parents are divorced<\/a>, legally separated<\/a>, or were never married in the first place. The guidelines use parents’ income to determine basic child support obligations with this in mind.<\/p>\r\n

What Factors Do the Child Support Guidelines Include?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

As stated above, some couples can agree on child support<\/a> without the court’s intervention. In these child support cases, there’s no need for the guidelines. Of course, the parties may ask their attorney to run the numbers to see the guidelines amount. But, Maryland’s strict child support guidelines do not strangle their negotiations.<\/p>\r\n

When the courts are involved in determining child support, they rely on several objective factors, such as:<\/p>\r\n