Ensuring your children receive the financial support they need can feel overwhelming. At The Spencer Law Group, our child support attorneys in Columbia, MD, guide you through establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support orders. We explain Maryland’s support guidelines, protect your rights, and work to secure fair terms for both parents and children.
Maryland calculates child support using a standardized formula that considers both parents’ incomes and the time each parent spends with the child. The goal is to allocate financial responsibility equitably while serving your child’s best interests.
Key factors include:
Net income from wages, bonuses, commissions, and other sources.
The number of nights the child spends with each parent.
Work-related childcare costs and uninsured medical expenses.
Each additional child alters the support calculation.
Our attorneys review your financial information and explain how guidelines apply to your case. Whether you have a simple arrangement or complex income sources, we ensure the calculation reflects your family’s unique situation.
If you are beginning a support case, our team handles every step:
Discuss your situation, custody arrangements, and financial details. Explain how Maryland’s guidelines work and what to expect.
Draft and file the complaint with the appropriate circuit court. Serve notice on the other parent.
Collect pay stubs, tax returns, and documentation of other income sources. Prepare financial affidavits required by the court. Calculate preliminary support amounts using Maryland’s Child Support Guidelines.
Attempt to reach an agreement through negotiation or mediation. If negotiations fail, represent you at a support hearing. Present evidence and argue for a fair award.
Once a judge issues a child support order, we ensure it is entered correctly. Explain payment methods – wage withholding or direct payments – and timelines.
Life changes such as job loss, increased income, relocation, or changes in parenting time may warrant a modification. Maryland allows modifications when there is a “material and substantial change in circumstances.” Common reasons include:
Significant increase or decrease in either parent’s earnings.
A parent gains or loses custody time, affecting the support calculation.
Unexpected medical costs, private school tuition, or special needs care.
If a child turns 18 or becomes emancipated.
Modifying support involves: Evaluating Eligibility, Filing a Petition to Modify, Interim Orders (If Necessary), and Negotiation or Hearing. Our attorneys handle every procedural detail to help you obtain a modification that reflects your current family needs.
When a parent fails to pay, enforcing a child support order is crucial. We pursue enforcement through:
Request automatic wage garnishment if not already in place.
File a motion for contempt if support payments are past due. The court can impose fines, license suspension, or even jail for willful nonpayment.
Seek interception of federal or state tax refunds to cover arrears.
Place liens on property or levies on bank accounts belonging to the delinquent parent.
Request suspension of the nonpaying parent’s driver’s license until support is current.
We guide you through each enforcement tool, striving to secure past-due support and prevent further shortfalls.
Maryland uses an income-shares model. The court combines both parents’ net incomes and applies a percentage based on the number of children. Adjustments are made for shared care, childcare costs, and uninsured medical expenses.
Yes. Even with shared care, one parent may owe support if there is a significant income disparity. The court considers both parents’ earnings and childcare expenses when calculating support in shared care scenarios.
We can petition the court to compel financial disclosures. Failure to provide required documents may result in sanctions or a default support order calculated with the available evidence.
You may file for modification at any time, but you must show a material and substantial change in circumstances since the last order. Frequent but minor fluctuations may not qualify for modification.
We pursue enforcement through wage withholding, contempt hearings, liens, or other remedies. Our goal is to collect past-due support promptly and keep future payments current.
Child support issues can profoundly affect your family’s well-being. Whether you need to establish a new order, modify an existing decree, or enforce unpaid support, The Spencer Law Group is here to help.
Call us at (410) 203-2223 or visit our Contact page to schedule a confidential consultation. Let our Columbia, MD, child support lawyers protect your children’s financial security and guide you toward a stable future.