2010 Maryland Code
FAMILY LAW
TITLE 12 - CHILD SUPPORT
Subtitle 2 - Child Support Guidelines
Section 12-204 - Determination of child support obligation.

§ 12-204. Determination of child support obligation.
 

(a)  Schedule to be used; division among parents; maintenance and alimony awards.-  

(1) The basic child support obligation shall be determined in accordance with the schedule of basic child support obligations in subsection (e) of this section. The basic child support obligation shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes. 

(2) (i) If one or both parents have made a request for alimony or maintenance in the proceeding in which a child support award is sought, the court shall decide the issue and amount of alimony or maintenance before determining the child support obligation under these guidelines. 

(ii) If the court awards alimony or maintenance, the amount of alimony or maintenance awarded shall be considered actual income for the recipient of the alimony or maintenance and shall be subtracted from the income of the payor of the alimony or maintenance under § 12-201(c)(2) of this subtitle before the court determines the amount of a child support award. 

(b)  Voluntarily impoverished parent.-  

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if a parent is voluntarily impoverished, child support may be calculated based on a determination of potential income. 

(2) A determination of potential income may not be made for a parent who: 

(i) is unable to work because of a physical or mental disability; or 

(ii) is caring for a child under the age of 2 years for whom the parents are jointly and severally responsible. 

(c)  Income between amounts in schedule.- If a combined adjusted actual income amount falls between amounts shown in the schedule, the basic child support amount shall be extrapolated to the next higher amount. 

(d)  Income above schedule levels.- 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. 

(e)  Basic child support obligation.- Schedule of basic child support obligations: 
 
  
Combined
Adjusted                                                          6 or
Actual       1         2          3          4          5        More
Income     Child   Children   Children   Children   Children   Children
100-120
0                            $20 - $150 Per Month, Based
                               On Resources And Living
                           Expenses Of Obligor And Number
                               Of Children Due Support


 
 

   1250      162        163        165        167        169        170
   1300      195        197        199        202        204        206
   1350      229        231        234        236        239        241
   1400      262        265        268        271        274        277
   1450      295        299        302        305        308        312
   1500      310        330        334        338        341        345
   1550      319        362        366        370        374        378
   1600      327        394        398        402        407        411
   1650      336        425        430        435        439        444
   1700      344        457        462        467        472        477
   1750      353        488        494        499        505        510
   1800      361        520        526        532        537        543
   1850      370        537        558        564        570        576
   1900      378        550        590        596        603        609
   1950      387        562        622        629        635        642
   2000      395        574        654        661        668        675
   2050      403        586        686        693        701        708
   2100      412        598        706        726        733        741
   2150      420        610        720        758        766        774
   2200      428        622        734        790        799        807


 
 

   2250      437        634        748        823        831        840
   2300      445        646        761        851        864        873
   2350      453        657        775        866        897        906
   2400      462        669        789        882        930        939
   2450      470        681        803        897        962        972
   2500      478        693        817        913        995       1005
   2550      486        705        831        928       1021       1039
   2600      495        717        845        944       1038       1072
   2650      503        729        859        959       1055       1105
   2700      511        741        873        975       1072       1138
   2750      520        753        886        990       1089       1171
   2800      528        764        900       1006       1106       1202
   2850      536        776        914       1021       1123       1221
   2900      544        788        928       1037       1140       1240
   2950      553        800        942       1052       1157       1258
   3000      561        812        956       1068       1175       1277
   3050      570        825        971       1084       1193       1297
   3100      578        837        985       1101       1211       1316
   3150      587        849       1000       1117       1229       1335
   3200      595        861       1014       1133       1246       1355
   3250      603        874       1029       1149       1264       1374


 
 












  

(f)  Adjusted basic child support obligation.- The adjusted basic child support obligation shall be determined by multiplying the basic child support obligation by one and one-half. 

(g)  Child care expenses.-  

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, actual child care expenses incurred on behalf of a child due to employment or job search of either parent shall be added to the basic obligation and shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes. 

(2) Child care expenses shall be: 

(i) determined by actual family experience, unless the court determines that the actual family experience is not in the best interest of the child; or 

(ii) if there is no actual family experience or if the court determines that actual family experience is not in the best interest of the child: 

1. the level required to provide quality care from a licensed source; or 

2. if the obligee chooses quality child care with an actual cost of an amount less than the level required to provide quality care from a licensed source, the actual cost of the child care expense. 

(3) Additional child care expenses may be considered if a child has special needs. 

(h)  Extraordinary medical expenses.-  

(1) Any actual cost of providing health insurance coverage for a child for whom the parents are jointly and severally responsible shall be added to the basic child support obligation and shall be divided by the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes. 

(2) Any extraordinary medical expenses incurred on behalf of a child shall be added to the basic child support obligation and shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes. 

(i)  School and transportation expenses.- By agreement of the parties or by order of court, the following expenses incurred on behalf of a child may be divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual incomes: 

(1) any expenses for attending a special or private elementary or secondary school to meet the particular educational needs of the child; or 

(2) any expenses for transportation of the child between the homes of the parents. 

(j)  Setoff for third party payments.-  

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, when a disability dependency benefit, a retirement dependency benefit, or other third party dependency benefit is paid to or for a child of an obligor who is disabled, retired, or is receiving benefits from any source as a result of a compensable claim, the amount of the compensation shall be set off against the child support obligation calculated using the guidelines. 

(2) (i) If the amount paid to or for a child exceeds the current child support obligation calculated using the guidelines, the excess payment shall be credited to any existing child support arrearage that accrued after the effective date the benefits were awarded. 

(ii) The excess payment may not be credited to any future child support obligation. 

(k)  Use, possession or occupancy of family home.-  

(1) Upon the expiration of a use and possession order or the expiration of the right to occupy the family home under a separation or property settlement agreement and upon motion of either party, the court shall review the child support award. 

(2) If the allocation of financial responsibility for the family home was a factor in departing from the guidelines under subsection (a) of this section, the court may modify the child support, if appropriate in all the circumstances, upon the expiration of the use and possession order or the expiration of the right to occupy the family home under a separation or property settlement agreement. 

(l)  Cases other than shared physical custody cases.-  

(1) Except in cases of shared physical custody, each parent's child support obligation shall be determined by adding each parent's respective share of the basic child support obligation, work-related child care expenses, health insurance expenses, extraordinary medical expenses, and additional expenses under subsection (i) of this section. 

(2) The obligee shall be presumed to spend that parent's total child support obligation directly on the child or children. 

(3) The obligor shall owe that parent's total child support obligation as child support to the obligee minus any ordered payments included in the calculations made directly by the obligor on behalf of the child or children for work-related child care expenses, health insurance expenses, extraordinary medical expenses, or additional expenses under subsection (i) of this section. 

(m)  Shared physical custody cases.-  

(1) In cases of shared physical custody, the adjusted basic child support obligation shall first be divided between the parents in proportion to their respective adjusted actual incomes. 

(2) Each parent's share of the adjusted basic child support obligation shall then be multiplied by the percentage of time the child or children spend with the other parent to determine the theoretical basic child support obligation owed to the other parent. 

(3) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) of this subsection, the parent owing the greater amount under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall owe the difference in the 2 amounts as child support. 

(4) In addition to the amount of the child support owed under paragraph (3) of this subsection, if either parent incurs child care expenses under subsection (g) of this section, health insurance expenses under subsection (h)(1) of this section, extraordinary medical expenses under subsection (h)(2) of this section, or additional expenses under subsection (i) of this section, the expense shall be divided between the parents in proportion to their respective adjusted actual incomes. The parent not incurring the expense shall pay that parent's proportionate share to: 

(i) the parent making direct payments to the provider of the service; or 

(ii) the provider directly, if a court order requires direct payments to the provider. 

(5) The amount owed under paragraph (3) of this subsection may not exceed the amount that would be owed under subsection (l) of this section. 
 

[1989, ch. 2; 1990, ch. 58; 1992, ch. 22, § 1; 2004, ch. 25, § 6; chs. 116, 491; 2007, chs. 35, 36; 2010, chs. 262, 263.] 
 

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