Child Support
Howard and Montgomery County, Maryland Child Support Attorneys
Protecting children’s needs in Bethesda, Rockville, Fulton, and Columbia
Parents have a duty to provide for their children. Sadly, too many parents think that the parent with whom the child lives has the sole financial responsibility. At McCabe Russell Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers, our Howard and Montgomery County child support lawyers understand the Maryland state guidelines. We can examine tax returns and other financial records to show what a parent’s income really is. Our family lawyers are skilled at how to cross-examine a parent about their real ability to pay child support. From our offices in Bethesda, Rockville, Fulton, and Columbia, we fight to get your children every dollar they deserve.
Table of Contents:
- Child support guidelines in Maryland
- Modification of child support orders
- What happens if my child has ongoing medical needs?
- Does child support cover educational costs and extracurricular activities?
- How do I adjust support when income or circumstances change?
- Can I enforce child support if payments fall behind?
- How do I plan for support when my child becomes an adult?
- Frequently asked questions
Child support guidelines in Maryland
To make sure the needs of children come first, Maryland has established guidelines that determine how much child support parents need to make for their children. The guidelines, like most rules, work best when the proper data is put into the rules.
The key guidelines for child support are:
- The income of each parent
- The child support payments are being paid for children from another spouse or parent
- Alimony payments for a prior spouse
- Health insurance and medical costs are not covered by insurance for the child
- Daycare and other expenses to ensure a child has adult supervision
- How many other minor children are there
- The custody arrangements for the children
Our Howard and Montgomery County family attorneys, in some cases, may be able to persuade a judge to deviate from the suggested guidelines. Child support can include more than writing a check to another parent. Support orders can require a parent to maintain health insurance coverage for the child and to pay uninsured medical/dental/vision costs; courts may also, by agreement or order, require life insurance to secure support. A support order can include the requirement that a parent pay for airplane fare so that visitation obligations can be met.
Courts may use civil contempt (including jail with a purge amount tied to present ability to pay) and other tools (e.g., wage withholding) to enforce support.
Modification of child support orders
Once an order is entered, no matter the age of the child at the time, the parents are obligated to pay the amount of the order on a regular basis. A court may modify support only upon a material change in circumstances, and any change is effective no earlier than the motion’s filing date. Some reasons for allowing a change are:
- The income of a parent has changed
- The child’s expenses have changed
- The physical custody schedule has changed
Child support orders cease when a child reaches the age of majority (18, although it may continue to 19 if a child is still in high school), dies, or becomes emancipated. Emancipation in Maryland is fact‑specific; marriage or military service commonly results in emancipation, but self‑support alone isn’t automatically sufficient.
What happens if my child has ongoing medical needs?
Child support isn't just about the basics. It needs to cover comprehensive care where required. At McCabe Russell Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers, we help families secure adequate support for children with chronic, ongoing, or special medical or therapeutic needs. In addition to standard guideline amounts, your support order can address uncovered medical treatments, equipment, therapy sessions, and even specialized schooling.
We collaborate with medical professionals and insurance providers to assess your child’s future needs, ensuring support orders include sufficient funding, not just for today, but for tomorrow as well.
Does child support cover educational costs and extracurricular activities?
Supporting your child’s growth means investing beyond basic necessities. Whether it’s special tutoring, summer camp, sports-related travel, or private schooling, McCabe Russell Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers guides you in negotiating child support that reflects these real and often essential costs of raising a child in today’s world.
By incorporating these expenses into your support agreement, we help ensure the child’s development is nurtured both inside and outside the classroom.
How do I adjust support when income or circumstances change?
Life changes, and child support should evolve accordingly. Whether you’re dealing with job loss, a raise, additional dependents, or a shift in custody arrangements, we assist clients in navigating Maryland’s modification standards.
We can assess whether new circumstances meet the threshold for a support adjustment, including routine changes and unforeseen events, and guide you through mediation or court filings as needed to get modifications swiftly and effectively.
Can I enforce child support if payments fall behind?
Child support needs to be reliable, and the law offers clear tools when it’s not. At McCabe Russell Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers, we stand ready to enforce support orders through actions like wage garnishment, tax refund interception, and even contempt proceedings when necessary.
Our team will walk you through each enforcement method, tailored to your situation, so you can pursue the support your child deserves and bring the other parent into legal compliance, if needed.
How do I plan for support when my child becomes an adult?
Child support generally stops at the age of majority, but transitions need planning. We help parents understand how support legally ends when a child turns 18, marries, enlists in the military, or becomes self-supporting, and work with clients to anticipate and prepare for those milestones.
Whether it’s supporting a transition to college, vocational training, or independent living, we help draft agreements that consider reimbursement of educational expenses or gradual pivoting of financial responsibilities, providing continuity during what can often be a challenging change.
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Maryland?
Our state uses a Child Support Guidelines formula to calculate the amount of support one parent must pay the other. This formula takes into consideration the following:
- Each parent’s gross monthly income
- The number of children involved
- The custody arrangement (how many overnights the child spends with each parent)
- Expenses like health insurance, child care, and school tuition
The goal is to make sure that both parents contribute fairly to the children’s well-being. In situations like joint custody, support amounts might be reduced based on shared time and responsibilities.
Who pays child support, the mother or the father?
Child support isn’t automatically assigned to one gender. The non-custodial parent (the one who has the child for fewer overnights) usually pays support to the custodial parent. However, if both parents share physical custody equally and have similar incomes, child support could be reduced or even waived.
Do I still have to pay child support if I lose my job?
Yes. However, you may be eligible for a modification. If you experience a significant change in income because of job loss, illness, or other hardship, you can file a request with the court to lower your support amount. Until the court approves the change, however, you must continue paying the original amount. Your local court may require proof of job loss and efforts to find new work.
How long does child support last in Maryland?
In most cases, child support continues until the child turns 18. If the child is still in high school at that time, payments will continue until graduation, but not past the child’s 19th birthday. In rare cases, support can be extended if you have a child with special needs who cannot become self-supporting.
What if the other parent refuses to pay child support?
If the paying parent fails to make their child support payments, Maryland courts can take enforcement actions, which include:
- Garnishing their wages
- Intercepting tax refunds
- Suspending driver’s or professional licenses
- Filing contempt of court charges
Can child support be modified?
Yes. Either parent can request a modification if there’s a significant change in circumstances, like a change in income, custody, or the child’s needs. You must file a formal request with the court for a modification. Verbal agreements between parents won’t change anyone’s legal obligations.
Talk with an experienced Howard and Montgomery County child support attorney today
At McCabe Russell Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers, our Howard and Montgomery County child support attorneys can make a preliminary estimate of your likely child support order. We work to maximize that order for the benefit of your children in every way possible. Put your mind at ease; please call our offices or complete our contact form to schedule an appointment at one of our offices located in Bethesda, Rockville, Fulton, or Columbia.