The new Maryland divorce law went into effect on October 1, 2023. In this article, the top-rated Maryland divorce attorneys here at the Law Office of Robert Castro provide this basic discussion of child support and how it works. We are divorce attorneys in Waldorf, Maryland. Call us at (301) 870-1200 for a no-risk consultation.

Maryland Child Support Basics

Under Maryland divorce laws, child support is to be provided by BOTH parents for the upbringing of any children of the marriage. In Maryland, there are types of child support that can be broken down into four categories: basic, additional, temporary, and permanent.

Basic child support is what most people think of when they hear the words “child support.” That is, monthly payments from the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent. This is often the largest financial component of child support. What is called “Additional Child Support” can also be ordered. These can also be very expensive and include court-ordered payments for child daycare expenses, health insurance, health care costs (not covered by insurance), schooling, transportation, and more.

Any of these types of child support can be ordered by a Maryland divorce court temporarily while the divorce proceedings are pending. Note that when the court orders temporary child support, it might be too low or too high. The court will make adjustments — up or down — when the court enters the final child support order. Permanent child support is what the court sets out in the final divorce decree. However, “permanent” is a bit of a misnomer since it IS possible to have child support modified. And “permanent” is generally only until the child turns 19.

How much child support will I have to pay in Maryland?

The amount of basic child support payments in Maryland is a function of four factors:

• The parents’ joint income
• Each parent’s percent contribution to the joint income
• The number of children and
• The Maryland child support statutory Guidelines

The Guidelines create a “grid” that cross-references the number of children and the total income of the parents. Let’s say the number of children is two, and the total monthly income is, say, $10,000. Let’s say then that the total child support identified on the “grid” is $1,800 per month. From there, that $1,800 is divided proportionally between the parents. If one parent makes 75% of the income, then, in general, that parent will pay 75% of the child support. The custodial parent will be assumed to “spend” their share on housing, food, clothing, transportation, and more. The non-custodial parent will send payment for his or her share. See Md. Fam. Law Code, § 12-204.

Additional child support

As noted above, beyond the base child support calculated pursuant to the Maryland child support guidelines, the Maryland divorce court can — and often does — order other types of additional child support. As noted, common examples are costs for daycare, education, and health care. These expenses are also allocated to the parents proportionally to their share of the total parental income.

When does Maryland child support end?

Child support ends when the child turns 18 or for several months thereafter until the child graduates from high school (or fails to graduate).

Contact Waldorf, Maryland Family Law and Divorce Lawyer Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland family law and divorce lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Divorce lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD, 20601.