Maryland Child Support
Estimate for Maryland
Maryland uses the Income Shares model.
Official schedule: Md. Code, Family Law § 12-204(e), Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligation (current, amended effective 10/1/2024). Income basis = Combined Adjusted Actual Income (net of preexisting support, alimony paid, and child's health insurance). (2024)
View calculation breakdown
| Combined parental income | $9,000 |
|---|---|
| Total basic obligation (schedule) | $1,811 |
| Obligor income share | 55.6% |
| Obligor basic obligation | $1,006 |
| Estimated monthly support | $1,006 |
How the basic obligation splits between parents
Estimated monthly support by number of children
§ How Maryland calculates support
Maryland uses the Income Shares model on both parents' combined gross ('actual') income. The Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations (Family Law Code § 12-204) sets the base amount, which is split by each parent's share of income; health insurance, work-related childcare, and extraordinary medical costs are added and divided the same way. The schedule covers combined monthly income up to $30,000 (about $360,000/year); above that the court sets the amount. Worksheet A is used for primary custody and Worksheet B for shared physical custody.
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case in Maryland
- Open a case through the local Child Support Administration (CSA) office or the court; for unmarried parents, establish parentage first (Affidavit of Parentage or genetic testing).
- Both parents provide financial information (income, taxes, support paid for other children, childcare, and insurance costs).
- Complete the appropriate guidelines worksheet — Worksheet A (primary custody) or Worksheet B (shared physical custody) — using the § 12-204 schedule, or use the online calculator.
- The CSA or court reviews the presumptive amount. The guideline amount carries a rebuttable presumption; a judge may deviate only with written findings under § 12-202.
- The court enters the order, typically with income withholding to collect payments automatically.
- To modify: request a review/modification through the Child Support Administration or file with the court; show a material change (e.g., income or custody change) or that the guideline result is unjust.
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Parent A (non-custodial) earns $6,000/month; Parent B (custodial) earns $4,000/month. One child. Combined actual monthly income is $10,000.
Walk-through: Under Fam. Law § 12-204, the base obligation for one child at $10,000 combined monthly income is $1,345. Split by income: Parent A (60%) owes $807; Parent B (40%) owes $538. Health insurance and work-related childcare are added on top and divided by the same percentages. Parent A pays $807 plus their share of add-ons to Parent B.
Takeaway: The guideline base is split by each parent's share of combined income; the higher earner pays the larger portion even when the other parent has primary custody.
Scenario: Parents earn similarly and each has the child a substantial share of overnights, qualifying as shared physical custody.
Walk-through: Worksheet B adjusts the obligation to reflect each parent's direct spending during their parenting time. The base is still looked up on the § 12-204 schedule and split by income, but the shared-custody formula reduces the cash transfer between households compared with Worksheet A.
Takeaway: More equal parenting time lowers the amount one parent pays the other, because each household already covers day-to-day costs directly.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://dhs.maryland.gov/child-support-services/ · https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/import/family/publications/cs3.pdf · https://legalclarity.org/how-much-is-child-support-in-maryland-2 · https://dhs.maryland.gov/blog/wp-content/uploads/QA_Child_Support_Book_2025-DES250.pdf