The minor child's father and mother are the joint natural guardians and are held jointly and severally charged with providing the child's support and maintenance. In determining an award for child support, it is for the trial judge to set an amount reasonably caluclated to maintain as nearly as possible the standard of living enjoyed by the child prior to the parents' divorce. Child support guidelines require the parties to complete standardize worksheet forms to be used in making payment calculations.The Maryland Legislature sets the basic child support obligations, which are divided between the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual income. If the court awards alimony or maintenance, the amount of alimony or maintanence awarded shall be considered actual income for the recipient of the alimony and shall be subtracted from the income of the payor before the court determines the amount of a child support award.
Modification of Child Support
An award for child support may be modifed by the court in the exercise of its sound judicial discretion. The court may from time to time set aside, modify, its decree or order concerning the child. The court may modify a child support award subsequent to the filing of a motion for modification and upon a showing of a material change of circumstance.