How Maryland Calculates Child Support
Maryland combines the parents’ adjusted actual incomes, reads the basic obligation in the statutory schedule for the number of children, adds child care, insurance and medical expenses, and has the obligor pay an income share minus what he or she pays directly.
Step 1: Adjusted actual income
Actual income is income from any source, including salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, dividends, pensions, interest, trust and annuity income, Social Security and disability benefits, alimony received and significant expense reimbursements; for the self-employed it is gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses. It excludes means-tested public assistance. Adjusted actual income is actual income minus preexisting reasonable child support actually paid, alimony actually paid, and an allowance for each other child in the parent’s home who spends more than 92 overnights there (Family Law § 12-201(b) and (c)). Alimony awarded in the same proceeding is decided first and counts as income for the recipient. See income, add-ons and the self-support reserve.
Step 2: The schedule
Add the two adjusted incomes and find the combined amount in the schedule for the number of children (Family Law § 12-204(e)). The first row covers $0 to $1,200, and rows then run every $50 to $30,000. If the combined income falls between two rows, the basic obligation is extrapolated to the next higher amount (12-204(c)). Asterisked amounts are adjusted by the self-support reserve.
Step 3: Add-ons
Actual work-related child care, the actual cost of the children’s health insurance and extraordinary medical expenses (uninsured costs over $250 a calendar year) are added to the basic obligation, and the court may add private school and transportation expenses by agreement or order.
Step 4: Shares and credits
Each parent’s total obligation is his or her income percentage of the total. The obligee is presumed to spend his or her share directly on the children, and the obligor owes his or her total obligation minus ordered direct payments for child care, insurance and the other expenses (12-204(l)).
A worked example
Two children live mostly with their mother (A), who earns $3,800 a month and pays $500 for child care. The father (B) earns $6,200 and pays $200 for the children’s health insurance.
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly actual income: A (custodial) / B (obligor) | $3,800 / $6,200 |
| Combined adjusted actual income | $10,000 |
| Shares of income | 38% / 62% |
| Basic obligation, two children, row $10,000 | $1,881 |
| Child care $500 paid by A plus health insurance $200 paid by B | +$700 |
| Total obligation | $2,581 |
| B’s 62% share | $1,600.22 |
| Less the $200 B pays directly | −$200.00 |
| Monthly child support | $1,400 |
The monthly support is $1,400. The Maryland child support calculator reproduces this example.
What to gather
Income records for both parents, records of alimony and preexisting child support, child care invoices, the cost of the children’s insurance and a calendar of the actual overnights. Maryland courts use a child support guidelines worksheet.
Above the schedule
If the combined adjusted actual income exceeds $30,000 a month, the court may use its discretion in setting support (12-204(d)); the schedule’s top row is a floor to start from.
Frequently asked questions
Does Maryland use gross or net income for child support?
Actual income, which is a gross figure, less preexisting support, alimony paid and allowances, called adjusted actual income.
Is child care added to Maryland child support?
Yes. Actual work-related child care is added to the basic obligation and shared in proportion to adjusted actual incomes.
Who pays child support in Maryland?
The obligor owes his or her total obligation to the obligee, minus direct payments for covered expenses.
How is alimony treated for Maryland child support?
The court decides alimony first; it counts as income for the recipient and is subtracted from the payor's income.
Is the Maryland schedule monthly?
Yes. Combined adjusted actual income and the basic obligations are monthly amounts.
Official sources
- Md. Code, Family Law § 12-204: child support guidelines and schedule
- Md. Code, Family Law § 12-201: definitions
A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Maryland statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Maryland attorney.