How Does Child Support Get Decided in Maryland?

 Posted on September 30, 2026 in Divorce

If you're separating from your child's other parent, you might understandably be worried about how child support amounts will be calculated. Child support in Maryland is usually set with a formula written into state law with the exception of very high-earning couples. The formula accounts for both parents' incomes, the number of children, and a few specific costs.

A Pikesville, MD child support attorney can help you understand how those pieces fit together for your family in 2026.

What Formula Does Maryland Use to Calculate Child Support?

Maryland uses what's called an income shares model. The idea is that a child should get more or less the same share of both parents' income that they would have if the parents lived together.

The court adds both parents' monthly incomes together, adjusted for some allowable deductions like preexisting child support orders. It then uses that income to find the appropriate monthly child support amount listed in Maryland Code, Family Law Section 12-204.

This amount is allocated between the parents in proportion to their incomes. If one earns 60 percent of the combined income, they're generally responsible for 60 percent of the obligation. The parent the child lives with most of the time is assumed to spend their share directly on the child and will usually be the one receiving support payments.

The schedule covers combined incomes up to $30,000 per month. Above that level, the judge can use more discretion in setting support.

What Counts as Income for Maryland Child Support?

Maryland counts income from most sources for child support. This can include wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, Social Security, unemployment benefits, and workers' compensation. For a parent who's self-employed, income is generally gross receipts minus ordinary business expenses. Means-tested public assistance, such as food stamps and Supplemental Security Income, does not count as income.

If a parent chooses to earn less without a reason beyond their control, the court may find that they are "voluntarily impoverished." The court can then base support on what that parent could be earning. This doesn't apply to a parent who can't work because of a disability, who is caring for a child under age 2, or who is incarcerated.

What Other Costs Are Added to Child Support in Maryland?

Certain costs are added on top of the baseline amount and split between parents based on income. These include:

• Child care costs related to a parent's job or job search

• The cost of health insurance for the child

• Extraordinary medical expenses, meaning uninsured costs over $250 in a year

• Transportation costs for the child between the parents' homes, if the parents agree or the court orders it

Parents with combined incomes above $30,000 a month might have other additional expenses considered when child support is set, such as private schooling.

Does Shared Custody Change Child Support in Maryland?

Shared physical custody can change the calculation. Maryland treats custody as shared when each parent has the child overnight for more than 25 percent of the year. Both parents also have to contribute to the child's expenses beyond the support payment.

In a shared custody case, Maryland uses a different formula because both parents are paying for the child in their own homes. The court looks at each parent’s income and how many overnights the child spends with each parent. Those numbers are used to decide how much support one parent pays the other. The result could sometimes be lower payment than in a case where one parent has the child most of the time.

Call a Dorchester County, MD Child Support Attorney Today

Making sure your child support is appropriately calculated is an important part of figuring out your finances after separating from a partner. We can help you have confidence in your final child support order.

The team at Zide Law Group, LLC gives every client focused, supportive, and personalized attention. Our Pikesville, MD family law lawyers are true counselors of the law with strong litigation and analytical skills across all areas of family law. We have over 50 years of combined experience, and most of our team has worked together for 10 years. Attorney Marla Zide is also active in the community, including teaching on legal panels.

Call Zide Law Group, LLC at 410-760-9433 to discuss your child support case today.