The costs of separation: Child support and spousal support in Maryland divorce

Divorce is often a financial drain on both parents, as you now have to live in two separate homes without any additional income. However, when one parent is significantly worse off or asked to bear more of the burden of raising children, the courts will step in to require child support or spousal support. This article explains how these decisions are made and answers frequently asked questions about how they are handled in Maryland divorces, including…

• How is child support determined and how can it be adjusted?
• Who pays for alimony, aka spousal support, and how much are you likely to pay or receive?
• How long does alimony last in Maryland divorce cases?

How is child support determined in Maryland?

Used in Maryland to cover the extra costs of raising children as a divorced parent, child support is determined by a purely mathematical calculation.

The equation takes into account each party's income and certain expenses that are related to childcare, such as healthcare premiums, daycare costs, and extraordinary medical expenses (like braces or another sort of ongoing healthcare issue). The process also tries to take into account whether or not one parent is paying to support another child with another parent or paying alimony to another ex.

All that information will go into an equation, and that equation will calculate a recommended amount of child support based in part on the visitation schedule. The judge at the court will then decide to either go with the recommended guidelines or implement a slightly different arrangement, if the parties agree to it.

Will child support be paid during the divorce process?

Sometimes, divorces can be long, and a parent may need that extra support during the divorce process. If you request the court to order child support during a preliminary hearing, child support may be required before other matters are settled.

Can child support be adjusted in Maryland?

It is possible to adjust or change the amount of child support. However, this requires both parties to agree to a lower or higher figure and the court to approve it.

The court typically goes with whatever the guidelines are unless there is a convincing argument made by the parties to do something different. However, an argument for an alternative to the guidelines is almost certain to fail unless it is made in the best interest of the child.

If you have equal parenting time, will anyone have to pay child support?

Parenting time is one of many factors that the court will take into account when determining child support.

Thus, unless the parties are both making the same amount of income, then child support will likely still be required. Someone will most certainly have to pay child support unless both are making the same income and contribute equally to any healthcare and childcare expenses.

Who will pay for spousal support in Maryland?

In Maryland, spousal support, (sometimes still referred to as alimony), is designed to help a divorced partner cope with a lower income. Thus, the spouse who is making significantly more money will be the one to pay for spousal support.

How much alimony is usually required in Maryland?

To determine the amount of spousal support required, the court will typically take the combined incomes of both spouses, divide that figure by two, and then see what the difference is. Then, half that difference is what the higher-income spouse will be required to pay to the lower-income spouse.

How long does alimony and child support last in Maryland?

On average, alimony lasts about half the length of the marriage while child support lasts until the children turn 18. If these timelines prove to be too much of a burden or insufficient to cover the essential costs you need them to, a divorce and family law attorney can help you try and renegotiate or petition the court for a change. For more information on Child Support And Alimony In Maryland Divorce, an initial consultation is your next best step.