Maryland's child support guidelines in Family Law §§ 12-201 to 12-204 are an income-shares model built on both parents' actual income. The current schedule took effect on October 2021 and runs to $30,000 of combined monthly income. This calculator follows Worksheet A for sole custody and Worksheet B for shared physical custody, when each parent has at least 92 overnights a year.
Maryland Worksheet Inputs
Actual income before taxes, less support for other children and alimony paid
Actual income before taxes, less support for other children and alimony paid
Out of 365; 92+ with each parent is shared physical custody
This is a guideline estimate under Md. Code, Family Law §§ 12-201 to 12-204 for informational purposes only — it is not legal
advice and not a substitute for the official worksheet or a family-law attorney. Courts can deviate
from guideline amounts based on statutory factors, and inputs like income determination or imputed
income are ultimately decided by the court.
Maryland child support at a glance
Model
Income shares (monthly adjusted actual income)
Schedule range
Up to $1,200, then $50 rows to $30,000 combined monthly income
Between rows
Next higher row
Shared physical custody
92+ overnights with each parent; basic × 1.5
Children on the schedule
1 to 6 or more
Schedule effective
October 2021
Adjusted actual income and the schedule
Maryland starts from actual income from any source before taxes, then subtracts support actually paid for other children, alimony actually paid and an allowance for other children living in the home; this calculator takes the adjusted figure as entered. Combined income is matched to the schedule for one to 6 or more children: every income up to $1,200 has the same amount, then each $50 row has its own, and an income between rows uses the next higher one. Asterisked amounts at low incomes are already reduced by the self-support reserve.
Sole and shared physical custody
With sole custody (Worksheet A), the basic obligation, work-related child care and the children's health insurance are added and split by income share, and the obligor pays their share less the child care and insurance they pay directly. Shared physical custody (Worksheet B) applies when each parent keeps the children overnight more than 25% of the year. The obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each parent's income share of it is weighted by the other parent's overnights, and a parent with 92–109 overnights has that amount raised by 10% at 92–94 overnights down to 2% at 106–109. The larger amount pays the difference, never more than the sole custody amount, and child care and insurance are shared by income share on top.
Low and high incomes
The schedule's asterisked amounts at low combined incomes apply the self-support reserve, so they rise slowly until the reserve no longer binds. Above $30,000 a month ($360,000 a year) of combined income, the court sets support in its discretion; the calculator shows the $30,000 amount for reference. A court can also depart from the guidelines when applying them would be unjust or inappropriate.
Frequently asked questions
Does Maryland use gross or net income for child support?
Gross (actual) income before taxes, from almost any source. Preexisting child support and alimony actually paid are subtracted, along with an allowance for other children living in the parent's home, to reach adjusted actual income.
How many overnights is shared custody in Maryland?
More than 25% of the year, at least 92 overnights, with each parent, with both parents contributing to the children's expenses. Below that, Worksheet A applies and the paying parent's time with the children does not change the amount.
What is the shared physical custody adjustment?
A parent with 92–109 overnights has their theoretical obligation raised: 10% at 92–94 overnights down to 2% at 106–109. It phases in the shared custody formula so support does not drop sharply at 92 overnights.
What if combined income is above $30,000 a month?
The schedule stops at $30,000 ($360,000 a year), and above it the court may use its discretion in setting the amount. The calculator shows the $30,000 amount for reference.
Are child care and health insurance included?
Yes. Work-related child care and the cost of health insurance for the children are added to the basic obligation and divided by income share. Extraordinary medical expenses are divided the same way; school and transportation costs can be shared by agreement or court order.
What does this calculator leave out?
Income adjustments, potential income, extraordinary medical expenses, special school and transportation costs, dependency benefits paid to the child, the court's discretion above the schedule, and departures from the guidelines.
