Maryland Child Support Calculator

How Maryland Calculates Child Support

Under Maryland Code, Family Law Article § 12-204, the court calculates support by first combining your and the other parent's monthly incomes. This combined income is used to find a basic child support amount on a state schedule. This base amount is then divided between you based on your respective shares of the total income, with adjustments for costs like health insurance and childcare.

Understanding MD's Shared Custody Formula

In Maryland, shared physical custody significantly alters the support calculation when each parent has the child for at least 92 overnights (over 25% of the year). As defined in Maryland Code, Family Law § 12-201(n), this triggers a special formula that increases the basic support obligation by 1.5 times and then allocates it to each parent based on their percentage of overnights. This method accounts for the increased costs of maintaining two separate households for the child.

Calculate Your Support

✓ Verified for Effective July 1, 2022 (2026 Guidelines) • Reviewed October 2026 by Harmoney

Maryland Child Support Guidelines at a Glance

Guideline Model Income Shares Model
Governing Legal Authority Maryland Code, Family Law Article § 12-204
Shared Custody Threshold 92 Overnights (over 25% of the year)
Age Support Ends Age 18 (or 19 if still in high school)
Modification Standard Material Change in Circumstances (25% change in support is a common trigger)

Frequently Asked Questions About Maryland Support


At what age does child support end in MD?

Child support in Maryland ends when a child turns 18, but if the child is still enrolled in high school, support continues until graduation or age 19, whichever occurs first. This is governed by Maryland Code, Family Law § 12-201(d), which defines a 'child' for support purposes.

How is child support calculated if one parent is unemployed in MD?

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, a Maryland court will calculate child support using an 'imputed income' based on that parent's potential earning capacity. The court considers factors like past earnings, education, work history, and job opportunities in the area to determine a fair income for the calculation.

How do I modify a child support order in MD?

You can modify a child support order in Maryland by proving a 'material change of circumstances' has occurred since the entry of the last order. Under Maryland Code, Family Law § 12-104, a change in income that results in a 25% or greater change in the child support obligation is often considered a material change sufficient to warrant a modification.

Does MD child support cover college expenses?

No, Maryland courts cannot order a parent to pay for college or post-secondary education expenses unless the parents have a separate, written agreement to do so. If such an agreement exists, the court can enforce it as a binding contract.

How does MD handle health insurance and childcare costs?

Health insurance premiums, extraordinary medical expenses, and work-related childcare costs are added to the basic child support obligation and are divided between the parents in proportion to their respective incomes. These 'add-on' expenses are specifically addressed in Maryland Code, Family Law § 12-204(g) and (h).