Maryland child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
Maryland guidelines effective October 1, 2025. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, Maryland's guideline amount is $1,061 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Maryland uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect October 1, 2025.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your Maryland guideline amount
Guideline child support
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Maryland child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $434 | $654 | $862 | $1,159 |
| 2 children | $629 | $932 | $1,213 | $1,619 |
| 3 children | $756 | $1,117 | $1,449 | $1,903 |
| 4 children | $845 | $1,248 | $1,619 | $2,126 |
| 5 children | $929 | $1,372 | $1,781 | $2,338 |
How Maryland calculates child support
Maryland uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined monthly adjusted actual income, and each parent is responsible for their share.
Income from almost any source counts, before taxes. Support paid for other children and alimony paid are subtracted, and alimony between the parents in this case is added to the parent who receives it. Means-tested benefits such as SSI and SNAP don't count.
Shared physical custody applies when each parent has at least 92 overnights a year. The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 and divided by income share, and each parent's share is applied to the other parent's percentage of time. A parent with 92 to 109 overnights has their amount increased by 10% down to 2%. The parent owing more pays the difference, but no more than they would owe without shared custody.
The schedule builds in a self-support reserve of $1,145 a month for the paying parent, and its first row sets minimum amounts for combined income up to $1,200 a month. No separate low-income test applies.
Work-related child care, the children's health insurance and uninsured medical costs above $250 a year are added to the basic obligation and divided by income share. A parent who pays a cost directly gets credit for it.
Support a parent already pays for other children is subtracted from their income. A parent can also deduct 75% of the schedule amount for other children living with them, figured on that parent's own income.
The schedule runs to $30,000 of combined income a month. Above that the court decides; this estimate shows the amount at the top of the schedule.
Income shares are kept to a hundredth of a percent and amounts to the cent, as in the state's calculator.
Parenting time in Maryland
Shared physical custody applies when each parent has at least 92 overnights a year. The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 and divided by income share, and each parent's share is applied to the other parent's percentage of time. A parent with 92 to 109 overnights has their amount increased by 10% down to 2%. The parent owing more pays the difference, but no more than they would owe without shared custody.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,061 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $1,061 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $881 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $661 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $269 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in Maryland
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $452 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $3,435 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
The schedule builds in a self-support reserve of $1,145 a month for the paying parent, and its first row sets minimum amounts for combined income up to $1,200 a month. No separate low-income test applies.
The schedule runs to $30,000 of combined income a month. Above that the court decides; this estimate shows the amount at the top of the schedule.
Child support by number of children in Maryland
- 1 child$744 a month
- 2 children$1,061 a month
- 3 children$1,268 a month
- 4 children$1,417 a month
- 5 children$1,558 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law §§ 12-201 to 12-204 and § 12-102; Md. Rule 9-206
- Maryland child support guidelines
- Worksheet A (CC-DR-034) and Worksheets B and C (CC-DR-035)
- Official Maryland child support calculator
- Maryland Department of Human Services, Child Support Administration
- Changing a Maryland child support order
Guidelines effective October 1, 2025. Verified against the official Maryland sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Maryland?
Maryland uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined monthly adjusted actual income, and each parent is responsible for their share. Income from almost any source counts, before taxes. Support paid for other children and alimony paid are subtracted, and alimony between the parents in this case is added to the parent who receives it. Means-tested benefits such as SSI and SNAP don't count.
What is the child support for one child in Maryland on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, Maryland's guideline amount for one child is about $654 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Maryland?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $269 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Shared physical custody applies when each parent has at least 92 overnights a year. The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 and divided by income share, and each parent's share is applied to the other parent's percentage of time. A parent with 92 to 109 overnights has their amount increased by 10% down to 2%. The parent owing more pays the difference, but no more than they would owe without shared custody.
What is the minimum child support in Maryland?
The schedule builds in a self-support reserve of $1,145 a month for the paying parent, and its first row sets minimum amounts for combined income up to $1,200 a month. No separate low-income test applies.
When does child support end in Maryland?
Support normally ends at 18. If the child is still in high school, it continues until the child graduates or leaves school, marries, becomes emancipated or turns 19, whichever happens first. A parent who is able to must support an adult child who can't support themselves because of a mental or physical infirmity. We didn't locate an official source that lets a court order support for college.