Quick answer: In Maryland, the legal rate on a money judgment is 10% a year; we could not verify how it attaches to unpaid support installments. The Administration can seek license suspension at 120 days or more out of compliance and certify arrears over $150 to the Comptroller. Contempt must start within 3 years.
This Maryland child support arrears calculator adds up the unpaid principal, lets you test an interest rate (10% is the legal rate under Courts and Judicial Proceedings 11-107) and flags the refund-offset, license and passport thresholds. Interest defaults to zero. Arrears do not accrue during incarceration if you have insufficient resources.
Maryland child support arrears and interest at a glance
| Rule | What Maryland says |
|---|---|
| Legal interest on a judgment | 10% a year on the amount of the judgment (Courts and Judicial Proceedings 11-107(a)); how it applies to unpaid support installments was not verified |
| Contempt window | A contempt proceeding for failure to pay support must be brought within 3 years of the date the payment became due (Family Law 10-102) |
| Driver’s license | The Administration may notify the MVA of an obligor 120 days or more out of compliance, after notice and a chance to request an investigation (10-119) |
| Tax refund offset | The Administration may certify an obligor in arrears of more than $150 to the Comptroller (10-113) |
| Settlement | In assigned cases the Administration may accept less than the full arrearage in settlement, with court approval on request (10-112) |
| Incarceration | No arrears accrue while incarcerated and 60 days after release if resources are insufficient and no work release (12-104.1) |
How do child support arrears work in Maryland?
- Interest and method. See the Maryland child support interest rule.
- Collection. See what happens if you do not pay child support in Maryland.
- Time limits and forgiveness. See whether Maryland child support arrears expire or can be forgiven.
What does this arrears calculator check?
You enter the monthly support and the number of installments unpaid, and optionally a rate to test. The calculator adds simple interest from each due date only if you enter a rate, and flags the $150 Comptroller threshold, the 120-day license trigger (about four missed monthly payments), the number of installments older than 3 years and the $2,500 passport line. It does not model partial payments. To change the amount going forward, see the Maryland child support modification calculator, and for when the obligation stops, the Maryland child support end date calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the interest rate on child support arrears in Maryland?
The legal rate on a money judgment is 10% a year. We could not verify from the sections we read how it applies to unpaid support installments, so ask the court or the Administration.
How long can I be behind before Maryland acts on my driver's license?
The Administration may notify the MVA when an obligor is 120 days or more out of compliance, after a notice and a chance to request an investigation.
Does Maryland intercept tax refunds for child support?
The Administration may certify an obligor in arrears of more than $150 to the Comptroller, who can withhold the refund.
Is there a time limit for a Maryland contempt action on unpaid child support?
Yes. A contempt proceeding must be brought within 3 years of the date the payment became due.
Can Maryland settle child support arrears for less?
In assigned cases the Administration may accept less than the total, and a court may approve it.
Official sources
- Md. Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings 11-107: legal rate of interest on a judgment
- Md. Code, Family Law 10-102: three-year limit for contempt
- Md. Code, Family Law 10-119: driver’s license suspension
- Md. Code, Family Law 10-119.3: licensing authority information
- Md. Code, Family Law 10-113: Comptroller certification
- Md. Code, Family Law 10-112: settlement of arrearages
- Md. Code, Family Law 12-104.1: incarceration
- 15 U.S.C. 1673: restriction on garnishment
- 42 U.S.C. 652(k): denial of passports