How it works · official guideline
How child support is calculated in Maryland
Maryland’s child support guidelines are in the Family Law Article (§§ 12-201 to 12-204): the parents' combined monthly adjusted actual income and the number of children give a basic obligation from the statutory schedule, which is divided between the parents in proportion to their incomes, with child care, health insurance and other expenses added and a separate calculation for shared physical custody.[1]
Key facts: child support in Maryland
| Guideline model | Income shares[1] |
|---|---|
| Income counted | Actual (gross) income from any source, minus prior support, alimony paid and other-children allowance[2] |
| Shared parenting time | Shared physical custody: each parent keeps the children overnight more than 25% of the year (at least 92 overnights)[2] |
| Low income | Self-support reserve: 110% of the 2019 federal poverty level (built into the schedule)[2] |
| Official calculator | CSA online child support calculator (Maryland Department of Human Services, Child Support Administration) |
| Guideline last checked | October 26, 2026 |
Maryland’s model
Income shares
Income shares: combined monthly adjusted actual income, then statutory schedule (Fam. Law § 12-204(e)), divided in proportion to adjusted actual incomes.
Official calculator · Maryland Department of Human Services, Child Support Administration
CSA online child support calculator (Maryland Department of Human Services, Child Support Administration)Link checked October 26, 2026
Why no calculator here? We publish a calculator only after it reproduces the state’s official numbers exactly. We haven’t matched Maryland’s yet, so use the official calculator for a number.
From the official text
The rules behind Maryland’s numbers
The guideline is Md. Code, Family Law § 12-204. Open each rule to read the exact words.
- Income counted
Actual (gross) income from any source, minus prior support, alimony paid and other-children allowance
Actual income is income from any source; adjusted actual income subtracts prior child support and alimony actually paid and an allowance for other children in the home.[2]
Official text · Md. Code, Family Law § 12-201(b)–(c)
““Actual income” means income from any source.”
- Shared parenting time
Shared physical custody: each parent keeps the children overnight more than 25% of the year (at least 92 overnights)
Shared physical custody means each parent has the children overnight for more than 25% of the year and both contribute to expenses; a shared-custody adjustment applies between 92 and 109 overnights.[2]
Official text · Md. Code, Family Law § 12-201(o), (p)
““Shared physical custody” means that each parent keeps the child or children overnight for more than 25% of the year and both parents contribute to the expenses of the child or children in addition to the payment of child support.”
- Low income
Self-support reserve: 110% of the 2019 federal poverty level (built into the schedule)
Schedule amounts marked with an asterisk are reduced so the paying parent keeps at least 110% of the 2019 federal poverty level for one person after support and taxes.[2]
Official text · Md. Code, Family Law § 12-201(n)
““Self–support reserve” means the adjustment to a basic child support obligation ensuring that a child support obligor maintains a minimum amount of monthly income, after payment of child support, federal and state income taxes, and Federal Insurance Contribution Act taxes, of at least 110% of the 2019 federal poverty level for an individual.”
- Top of the guidelines
Schedule runs to $30,000 combined monthly; above it, court discretion
The schedule covers combined adjusted actual income up to $30,000 a month; above the top level the court may use its discretion.[1]
Official text · Md. Code, Family Law § 12-204(d)–(e)
“If the combined adjusted actual income exceeds the highest level specified in the schedule in subsection (e) of this section, the court may use its discretion in setting the amount of child support.”
Guideline: Md. Code, Family Law § 12-204 (Maryland General Assembly), checked October 26, 2026.
Estimate and general information only — not legal advice. MediationList is a directory, not a law firm, and doesn’t endorse any mediator. Guidelines change; confirm with the official calculator (sources checked October 26, 2026). See also divorce laws in Maryland and child support in every state.
Sources
Maryland’s child support guideline, rules and official tools, read on the official sites, with the date we checked each.