Understanding Maryland’s New Child Support Adjustments for Parents with Multiple Families

 Posted on October 31, 2025 in Family Law

Maryland recently passed House Bill 275 (HB275). This law makes important changes to how child support is calculated when a parent (the "payor parent") has more than one family. These updates, which went into effect on October 1, 2025, are designed to make child support calculations fairer in cases where a parent supports children from different households.

If you live in Maryland and you pay or receive child support, talk to our Severna Park child support attorneys. We can help you understand whether your payments are fair and whether you should ask for a modification. 

What Does HB275 Change About Maryland Child Support? 

Before HB275, Maryland’s child support guidelines did not clearly account for situations where a parent had to pay child support and was also supporting other children in their home. This created an imbalance for parents supporting multiple children in different households.

Under the new law, if a payor parent has another child who lives with them for at least 92 overnights per year, that parent is now entitled to a credit toward their child support calculation for the current case.

How the Multifamily Adjustment Works

The Maryland Child Support Guidelines (CSG) now require a two-step calculation process to determine the appropriate credit for a parent with another child living in their household.

Step 1: Run a Prospective Child Support Calculation for the Other Child

First, the court runs a basic child support calculation for the other child living with the payor parent at least 92 nights per year. This step estimates what the parent would owe in support if that child were the subject of a separate child support case.

Once that number is determined, then the court multiplies the award by .75. The result represents the credit the parent is entitled to claim in the second calculation.

Step 2: Apply the 75 Percent Credit to the Current Case

Next, you run a new child support calculation for the child or children in the current case.

During this second calculation, you insert the 75 percent figure from Step 1 as an "existing child support payment." This reduces the parent’s overall support obligation in the current case because the law recognizes their financial duty to another child in their care.

Questions and Uncertainties Under Maryland HB275

While HB275 establishes a clear framework, many questions remain about how these adjustments will work in real cases.

For example:

• How many credits can a parent claim? If a parent has multiple other children who live with them at least 92 overnights a year, can they run separate credits for each?

• What if the other child lives with the parent for more than 92 nights? Does the amount of time above that threshold increase the credit? Or is 92 nights simply a minimum to qualify, regardless of the actual number of overnights?

• What if the other child lives with the parent less than 92 nights? The statute is clear that 92 nights is the minimum for the credit to apply, but it is less clear how courts will handle situations just below that threshold.

• Who verifies the number of overnights? Courts will likely rely on parenting schedules, custody orders, or testimony, but the procedures may vary by county or even by judge.

Because this adjustment is new, Maryland family courts are still developing consistent approaches. In the coming months and years, court rulings and updates to the Maryland Child Support Guidelines will likely clarify these details.

Talk to a Cambridge, MD Family Law Attorney About HB275

Child support calculations are already complex. HB275 adds a new layer of analysis for parents with multiple families. Whether you are paying or receiving child support, you should know how the new multifamily adjustment applies to your case.

The experienced Severna Park, MD child support lawyers at Zide Law Group, LLC stay up to date on changes to the law so our clients can understand how the new child support rules apply in real-world situations.

Call 410-760-9433 to discuss how HB275 might affect your case.