Quick answer: Maine child support modification: an order that varies more than 15% from the guidelines is a substantial change. Under 3 years old, the court shall modify it; at 3 years or longer the court reviews it without proof of a change. A modification reaches back only to service of the petition. Maine orders are weekly.
This Maine child support modification calculator applies 19-A M.R.S. 2009. Enter your current weekly order and the weekly amount the guidelines give today (you can get it from the Maine child support calculator), say how old the order is, and it shows whether the court will modify, the weekly and monthly gap and what it adds up to after service. Support before service cannot change.
Maine child support modification at a glance
| Rule | What Maine says |
|---|---|
| Substantial change | An order that varies more than 15% from the guideline obligation is a substantial change of circumstances (19-A M.R.S. 2009(3)) |
| Under 3 years | The court shall modify the order according to the guidelines (2009(3)) |
| 3 years or longer | The court reviews the order without requiring a showing of changed circumstances and modifies it if the amount differs from the guidelines (2009(3)) |
| Deviation orders | If the order was set under the deviation section, a 15% variation is not a substantial change (2009(3); 2007) |
| Start date | Retroactive only from the date notice of the petition is served on the opposing party (2009(2)) |
| Hearing | A written request for hearing within 30 days of service; mediation first; if none, the court may enter the proposed order (2009(5)-(6)) |
How does child support modification work in Maine?
- Know the 15% and 3-year rules. See what counts as a substantial change in Maine.
- File and serve on time. See how to modify child support in Maine.
- Income problems. See lowering child support after job loss or incarceration in Maine and, for what stays owed from before service, the Maine child support arrears calculator.
What does this modification calculator check?
The calculator applies the more-than-15% test (exactly 15% does not count) for an order under 3 years old, the no-showing review for an order 3 years or older, and the exception for orders set by deviation. It shows the weekly gap, its monthly equivalent and the accrued difference after service. The weeks before service are the ones you cannot recover.
Frequently asked questions
How much does child support have to change to be modified in Maine?
An order that varies more than 15% from the guideline amount is a substantial change of circumstances, and the court shall modify it if it is under 3 years old.
Can I modify Maine child support without a change after 3 years?
Yes. At 3 years or longer the court reviews the order without requiring a showing of changed circumstances and modifies it if the amount differs from the guidelines.
Is exactly 15% enough in Maine?
No. The statute says more than 15%.
From what date can Maine child support change?
Only from the date notice of the petition for modification is served on the opposing party.
Does the 15% rule apply to a Maine deviation order?
No. If the order was set under the deviation section, a 15% variation is not a substantial change of circumstances.