Will I Still Get Child Support in Maryland if I Earn More Than My Ex?

 Posted on June 13, 2026 in Child Support

Child support in Maryland is intended to give the child the financial resources they would have had if their parents had stayed together. Because of this, it is possible that you’ll receive child support from your ex, even if they earn less than you. Whether you receive support depends on both parents' incomes, how parenting time is divided, and which parent the child primarily lives with.

If you're navigating a child support question in 2026, a Pasadena, MD child support attorney can help you understand what to expect in your situation.

How Does Maryland Calculate Child Support?

Maryland does not look at one parent's income in isolation. It also does not automatically make the higher-earning person pay child support to the lower-earning one. The state uses what's called the income shares model to determine how much support is needed and who pays it to whom.

Using the income shares model, the court combines both parents' adjusted incomes. The "adjusted income" is the actual income of both parents – the total amount of normal earnings, benefits, bonuses, etc. – minus expenses such as preexisting support paid for another child.

The court then finds the basic support obligation on a state schedule of incomes (Md. Code, Family Law § 12-204). Additional expenses, such as the cost of childcare or insurance, are factored in. This represents the final total amount of child support. The parent the children live with most is presumed to spend their share directly on the children. The other parent typically pays their share to the custodial parent.

These guidelines are mandatory when the parents' combined income is $30,000 per month or less. Above that, the court has more discretion on how much support to order.

How Does Parenting Time Affect Who is Paid Child Support in Maryland?

Parenting time can significantly change a support order, sometimes more than income does.

Sole Physical Custody

If you have sole custody over your child, support generally will be paid to you by your co-parent, even if they earn less than you do.

Shared Physical Custody

Maryland uses a different calculation for child support when parents share physical custody. Maryland defines shared physical custody as each parent having the child overnight for more than 25 percent of the year (at least 92 overnights) and contributing to the child's expenses.

The court still starts with both incomes, but adjusts the obligation to reflect that both parents are covering costs directly during their time. The result can reduce the difference between what each parent owes. If you earn more but your ex has the children a substantial number of nights, you are likely to pay support to them.

Can the Higher-Earning Parent Receive Child Support Even if They Don’t Have Sole Custody ?

You may still receive child support even if you don’t have exclusive custody of your child. If your child lives with you most of the time, you are likely spending your share of the child support amount directly on them. Not only that, but if you are the custodial parent and the other parent has few overnights, you are also likely to be covering the bulk of things like housing, food, and school expenses.

The parent with majority custody may well be spending equal to or greater than the court-ordered total for child support, even if they don’t have their children all the time. In these cases, the other parent is obligated to offset this amount by paying you their share of the total.

Knowing how support will be calculated is valuable. If your co-parent earns less than you but is ordered to pay support, they may become frustrated or uncooperative, making your life more difficult. Being able to explain how the court reached its decision may help avoid this frustration.

Call Our Columbia, MD Child Support Attorney Today

Our Pasadena, MD child support lawyer at DM Family Law brings over 20 years of experience and a personal, client-centered approach to every family law case. If you have questions about your child support order, call us at 443-545-8100 today to schedule your consultation.