FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CHILD SUPPORT IN MARYLAND
Why is child support suddenly a hot topic?
During its 2010 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly will consider making changes to the child support calculations. If the changes happen, parents who are ordered to pay child support after the legislation passes will pay slightly more. Higher payments will result in greater financial stability for children who rely on child support for the economic stability.
Which state agency handles child support issues?
The Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR) is home to the Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA). In fiscal year 2008, CSEA collected more than $518 million in child support payments and transferred those funds to custodial parents.
When was the last time the child support amounts were changed?
The Maryland General Assembly last made changes to the child support guidelines in 1988 - more than 20 years ago. Since that time, the estimates of the true cost of raising a child are based on more complete and accurate data. The new child support formulas should reflect today's economic reality.
What is child support?
Child support is a court-ordered payment requiring one parent who does not have custody of the child to the other parent who does have custody of the child. A court may also order child support to be paid when parents share custody of a child. Child support payments help pay for the costs associated with raising the child. Children have the right to benefit from the incomes of both parents.
What are custodial and non-custodial parents?
A custodial parent is the parent who cares for the child most of the time. A non-custodial parent is the parent who does not have custody of the child and who cares for the child either some or none of the time.
So, only the non-custodial parent actually pays to raise a child?
No. The state of Maryland has an income-shares model for determining child support orders - meaning that both parents are responsible for the expense of raising a child. If a non-custodial parent is ordered to pay $100 in child support for one child, then the custodial parent is also expected to contribute $100, assuming that both parents earn the same amount of income.
Do both parents provide an equal amount of money to be used to care for a child?
The amount of money each parent is responsible for is based on the percentage of the total income they earn. If the custodial parent earns 40 percent of the total income, the custodial parent is responsible for assuming 40 percent of cost of raising the child.
How many child support cases are there in Maryland?
We estimate that there are approximately 500,000 child support cases in the state. About half of the total cases are handled between private parties and their attorneys. All other child support cases are handled through the Maryland Department of Human Resources, home of the Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA). Please note: all data herein reflects only the child support cases that are handled by DHR.
Is there a further data breakdown for child support cases?
As of September 2009, CSEA has nearly 253,000 child support cases on the books. However, a significant number of those cases have past-due balances only - cases with past-due balances are called "arrears" cases.
Do we know how many children are on each child support case?
There are approximately 187,000 active child support cases in Maryland that involve at least one child. Approximately 75 percent of the active child support cases involve only one child.
Are women always the custodial parents?
No. Roughly 10 percent of non-custodial parents in Maryland are women. While women are more likely to have custody of children, men can also have custody and be owed child support.
What is the connection between child support and poverty?
Children in single-parent families are more than twice as likely to live in poverty, in comparison to all other Maryland children.
If the child support formula is changed, how much will the average non-custodial parent be responsible for paying?
The vast majority of non-custodial parents will have to pay between $50 and $75 more a month. However, low-income non-custodial parents will pay slightly less under the new formula.
What? Why would we allow some people to pay less in child support?
Low income earners pay a disproportionately high percentage of their income toward child support. This is unfair. The goal is to have non-custodial parents actually pay their child support obligation. We believe that slightly lower bills - for the lowest income earners - will increase the likelihood that will pay their child support obligations and continue their involvement with the child.
Don't most people who receive child support have a lot of children?
No. Nearly 75 percent of all of CSEA cases have to do with one child, one custodial parent and one non-custodial parent. More than 98 percent of all families owing or receiving child support have three or fewer children.