Child Support Attorney in Maryland
If you are trying to figure out child support in Maryland, you are probably carrying two big worries at once: making sure your child is fully supported and making sure the numbers are fair. We help parents across Prince George’s County and throughout Maryland understand the guidelines, prepare the right worksheets, and advocate for a support order that fits the real facts of your case.
- Clarity: Understand how Maryland calculates child support and what counts as income.
- Confidence: Know what documents and worksheets the court expects.
- Protection: Address health insurance, child care, and special expenses the right way.
- Options: Get help establishing, enforcing, or modifying a child support order.
How Maryland Calculates Child Support
Maryland uses statewide child support guidelines that follow an income shares approach. In most cases, the court requires a child support worksheet to be filed so the calculation is transparent and consistent. Maryland courts use different worksheets depending on whether you have primary physical custody or shared physical custody.
Step 1: Identify each parent’s income
The starting point is each parent’s actual income. If a parent is unemployed or underemployed and the court believes that person can work, the court may consider earning capacity rather than reported income.
Step 2: Apply the correct worksheet based on the custody schedule
In Maryland, shared physical custody generally means each parent has the child overnight for more than 25 percent of the year, which is more than 92 overnights. The worksheet and formula can change depending on overnights, so it is important to use the correct approach from the beginning.
Step 3: Combine incomes and calculate each parent’s proportional share
The guidelines look at the parents’ combined income and the number of children to determine a basic support amount. Each parent’s share is tied to their percentage of the combined income.
Expenses That Can Increase or Affect Child Support
Child support is not only about a base number. Maryland courts may also factor in certain additional costs, especially when they are predictable and well documented. Common examples include:
- Health insurance premiums for the child
- Work related child care costs
- Extraordinary medical expenses
- Some education related costs, depending on the situation
Can Child Support Be Set Below the Guideline Amount
It can happen, but the court generally expects guideline support unless there is a strong reason to deviate. If you are seeking a deviation, it is important to present clear evidence and a child focused explanation for why the guideline result would be unjust or inappropriate.
Modifying Child Support in Maryland
If your income changed, the parenting schedule shifted, or child care or health insurance costs changed, you may have options to request a modification. The key is showing a meaningful change in circumstances and presenting the numbers in the way the court expects.
How The Burton Firm Helps Maryland Parents
At The Burton Firm, LLC, we help you understand what the guidelines mean in your specific situation, prepare the correct support worksheet, and advocate for an order that matches the facts. Whether you are establishing support, seeking enforcement, or requesting a modification, we focus on practical steps and clear communication.
About the firm: The Burton Firm is led by Aubrey Burton, Jr., a former U.S. District Court judicial law clerk licensed in Maryland, Washington D.C., and California with decades of family law experience. From our Upper Marlboro office we help families across Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert, and Montgomery Counties and throughout Maryland resolve child support and custody issues with personalized strategy and transparent guidance.
Talk With a Maryland Child Support Attorney
If you are ready for clarity on what child support should look like in your case, we are here to listen and help you map your next step. Call (301) 420-5540 to schedule a confidential consultation.
For additional background, you can also review Maryland’s worksheet based process and shared physical custody threshold through the Maryland People’s Law Library.