Maryland’s Child Support Laws
Maryland’s Child Support Administration is required by law to review the Child Support Guidelines every 4 years to ensure that parents receive appropriate child support awards. The Child Support Administration must report its findings to the General Assembly. The most recent changes to the law occurred in 2020 and are set to be reviewed once again this year in 2024. They will go into effect in 2026. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the recent changes to Maryland’s child support laws and how they could impact your divorce case.
Most recent changes to the child support guidelines
The most recent schedule of child support obligations became effective on July 1, 2022. The schedule increased for parents with a combined adjusted actual income greater than $19,200 a year. This change takes into account that the actual costs of raising a child have increased. However, with the standard of living skyrocketing over the past two years, more changes are likely to be placed into effect this year to compensate for inflation and other factors.
Prior to July 1, 2022, the Child Support Guidelines provided a schedule of support obligations for parents with a combined adjusted actual income of between $100 and $15,000 a month. Under the older version of the statute, the court was authorized to set the amount of child support when the combined adjusted actual income of the parents exceeded $15,000 per month. Parents with a combined adjusted actual income between $100 and $1,200 a month would pay between $20 and $150 per month.
The new version of the law provides a schedule of basic child support obligations for parents with a combined adjusted actual income of up to $30,000 per month. Essentially, the income threshold was doubled so that more parents would fall within the schedule set forth by the statute. This makes child support guidelines more predictable because the court must apply the guidelines set forth by the schedule. Prior, the court could use its discretion when setting child support for parents with incomes greater than $15,000 per month. Now, the court can only use its discretion when the parent’s combined adjusted actual income exceeds $30,000 per month.
Generally speaking, there is a presumption that the amount set forth by the child support guidelines is the correct amount to be awarded. However, this presumption is rebuttable if the application of these guidelines would be “unjust” or “inappropriate.” The court will consider various factors when making that determination.
Talk to a Maryland Divorce Lawyer Today
The Maryland family law attorneys at Schlaich & Thompson, Chartered represent the interests of Maryland spouses who are seeking a divorce. We can help you with various aspects of divorce such as settlement of the marital estate, alimony, child support, and child custody. Call our Bel Air family lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.
