How Much Will I Pay For Child Support?
Child support in Maryland, as in all other states, is calculated using very specific criteria in an attempt to create consistency regarding the amount of support paid. This requirement is mandated by federal law.
Some state laws only consider the income of the non-custodial parent; Maryland law however, considers the income of both the custodial and non-custodial parent and unlike some other states, Maryland uses gross and not net income to calculate child support. Being unemployed or underemployed does not excuse a parent’s obligation to support their children in Maryland. Judges are allowed to impute income to parents who are found to be purposely avoiding employment (voluntarily impoverishment) in an attempt to keep their child support obligation lower.
The Maryland Child Support Guidelines allow work related child care expenses to be factored into the calculation of child support. However, if the child is under two years of age, then the custodial parent may be allowed to stay home and care for the child. This is due to the considerable cost of childcare for infants. However, having an infant child is not an automatic exemption from the requirement to be employed. If a parent prior to the birth of the child was making substantial income that would enable him or her to afford the infant childcare and still contribute financially to the family and they chose not to return to work, then the court could impute their previous income for the purposes of determining child support.
Maryland law allows deductions for any alimony that is being paid and also allows a deduction for child support that has been ordered in another case for another child. These deductions are only considered if they are court ordered vs. voluntary and are actually being paid.
Maryland also allows a credit for the cost of health insurance to the parent who is providing coverage for the child. The credit is for the cost to insure the child only, not the entire premium on the plan. Extraordinary medical expenses will be taken into consideration as well. In Maryland extraordinary medical expenses are treatments, procedures, medical devices, prescriptions, and the like that cost One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or more for a single occurrence.
Other expenses that are given consideration in Maryland include, the cost of transportation, especially if the non-custodial parent lives out of state; school expenses and tuition, especially if the child has attended a private or other non-publically funded institution; and, expenses for activities, such as dance, football, music lessons, and the like, particularly if these are activities that the child is already involved in and should be able to continue.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Maryland law also takes into account the amount of time that the child spends with the non-custodial parent. The more overnights a non-custodial parent has with the child, the less their child support obligation may be. This factor can lead to custody and visitation becoming an issue once this fact is discovered as parents and attorneys literally count overnights in an attempt to increase or reduce child support.
As always, we here at Delaney & Keffler, LLC will take the time to fully explain the calculation of child support in your case. Contact us today at 410-535-3476 (FIRM) or welcome@delaneykeffler.com for a free consultation.
