Baltimore, Maryland Child Support Lawyers

Attorneys Helping Parents Establish Child Support Orders in Baltimore

In Maryland, both parents have a legal obligation to provide financial support to their minor children. Since 1989, Maryland courts have utilized set guidelines, passed by the legislature, to calculate the amount of support owed for the benefit of their children. Using these guidelines enhances efficiency for the courts, provides greater consistency, and helps prevent inadequate child support awards from going into effect.

At Silverman Thompson, we work with clients to ensure that they can establish child support orders that will provide for their children while addressing their own financial needs. We work to ensure that all factors are assessed correctly when calculating an appropriate amount of support. If necessary, we can help clients take steps to enforce child support orders and collect the amounts that are due.

With child support, the general idea is that children should enjoy the benefit of the same amount of their parents' income as they would have had if the parents remained married or lived together as a family unit. The guidelines also help to ensure children have the benefit of maintaining the standard of living established prior to their parents' divorce/separation. It is important to remember that child support is not just for kids born of marriage; all minor children are entitled to the financial support from their parents, and the guidelines help make sure they get an adequate amount.

Calculating Child Support

The calculation of child support is primarily based on each parent's gross income from all sources and the amount of overnights the child spends with each parent. Certain expenses paid directly by either or both parents are also considered in calculations.

This may lead people to wonder if the guidelines are applied to everybody. While there is a rebuttable presumption that the guidelines would result in the correct award of child support, there are certain circumstances where this may not remain true. For example, families where the parents earn over a set amount per month or where a parent is permanently disabled or incarcerated (among other different circumstances) may not be immediately subject to the child support amount calculated by the guidelines.

Resolving Child Support Disputes

When parents do not live together, a dispute regarding child support can arise. A parent can seek child support on behalf of the child/ren in a divorce proceeding, a child custody proceeding, or an independent child support case (cases where the parties were never married or the child was born after a divorce). It is important to note that child support can also be modified if the circumstances surrounding a prior child support award change in a material way.

Child support is a critical factor for any parent in Maryland facing divorce or living separately from the other parent. It is a process that can also, unfortunately, be complicated by the other parent attempting to conceal or misrepresent their income. Retaining experienced legal counsel can help ensure the best outcome for you and your children.

Contact Our Baltimore, MD Child Support Attorneys

The family law team at Silverman Thompson, which is led by Senior Partner Monica Scherer, works to ensure that our clients can resolve their cases successfully. We have vast experience with child support cases, including interstate child support issues, and we can provide advice about your options in a related case.

Our lawyers have worked with hundreds of people and families throughout the state of Maryland. We can assist with cases in the city of Baltimore and Baltimore County, as well as Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George's County, Montgomery County, Harford County, Frederick County, and other counties.

To get legal help with child support and other family law concerns, contact our Baltimore child support lawyers at 410-385-2225. Set up a consultation to discuss your case and see how we can make a difference for you.