Rule 9-206.Child support guidelines
Last amended July 1, 2026 · Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026
In one sentenceRule 9-206 requires each party in a child support case to file a guidelines worksheet, and prints Worksheets A, B and C.
Full Text of Rule 9-206
(a) Definitions. The following definitions apply in this Rule:
(1) Multifamily Adjustment. “Multifamily adjustment” means an allowance for support for each child (A) living in a parent’s home to whom the parent owes a legal duty of support, (B) spending more than 92 overnights in the parent’s home in a year, and (C) not subject to the support order.
Committee note: In calculating a multifamily adjustment, the court (1) uses the actual income of the parent entitled to the deduction to determine the basic child support obligation for each additional child in the parent’s home in accordance with Code, Family Law Article, § 12-204, then (2) multiplies that amount by 75 percent. See Code, Family Law Article, § 12-201(c)(1)(iii).
(2) Shared Physical Custody. “Shared physical custody” has the meaning stated in Code, Family Law Article, § 12-201 (o).
(3) Worksheet. “Worksheet” means a document to compute child support under the guidelines set forth in Code, Family Law Article, Title 12, Subtitle 2.
(b) Filing of Worksheet. In an action involving the establishment or modification of child support, each party shall file a worksheet in the form set forth in section (c) or (d) of this Rule. Unless the court directs otherwise, the worksheet shall be filed not later than the date of the hearing on the issue of child support.
Cross reference: See Code, Family Law Article, § 12-203 (a) and Walsh v. Walsh, 333 Md. 492 (1994).
(c) Primary Physical Custody. Except in cases of shared physical custody, the worksheet shall be in substantially the following form:
In the
Circuit Court for
v.
No. .............................................
WORKSHEET A — CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION: PRIMARY PHYSICAL CUSTODY
Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth
Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth
Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth
Parent 1 Parent 2 Combined
$ $
1. MONTHLY ACTUAL INCOME (Before taxes) (Code,
-
Family Law Article, § 12-201 (b) and (c))
a. Minus preexisting child support payment actually -
paid
b. Minus alimony actually paid - -
c. Plus/minus alimony awarded in this case +/- +/-
d. Minus multifamily adjustment - -
2. MONTHLY ADJUSTED ACTUAL INCOME $ $ $
3. PERCENTAGE SHARE OF INCOME Divide each parent's % %
income on line 2 by the combined income on line 2.)
4. BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION (Apply line 2 $
Combined Income to Child Support Schedule.)
a. Work-Related Child Care Expenses (Code, Family $ $ +
Law Article, § 12-204 (g))
b. Health Insurance Expenses (Code, Family Law $ $ +
Article, § 12-204 (h)(1))
c. Extraordinary Medical Expenses (Code, Family $ $ +
Law Article, § 12-204 (h)(2))
d. Cash Medical Support (Code, Family Law Article, $ $ +
§ 12-102 (c) — applies only to a child support order
under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act)
e. Additional Expenses (Code, Family Law Article, § $ $ +
12-204 (i))
5. TOTAL CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION (Add lines 4, 4 a, $
4 b, 4 c, 4 d, and 4 e).
6. EACH PARENT'S CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION $ $
(Multiply line 5 by line 3 for each parent.)
7. TOTAL DIRECT PAY BY EACH PARENT (Add the $ $
expenses shown on lines 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, and 4 e paid by
each parent.)
8. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT AMOUNT (Subtract $ $
line 7 from line 6 for each parent.)
9. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER (Bring down $ $
amount from line 8 for the non-custodial parent only. If this is
a negative number, see Comment (2), below.)
Comments or special adjustments, such as (1) any adjustment for certain third party benefits paid to or for the child of an obligor
who is disabled, retired, or receiving benefits as a result of a compensable claim (see Code, Family Law Article, § 12-204 (j) or
(2) that there is a negative dollar amount on line 9, which indicates a recommended child support order directing the custodial
parent to reimburse the non-custodial parent this amount for “direct pay” expenses):
PREPARED BY: DATE:
(d) Shared Physical Custody. In cases of shared physical custody, the worksheet shall be in substantially the following form:
In the
Circuit Court for .......................................................................
v.
No. .............................................................................................
WORKSHEET B — CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION: SHARED PHYSICAL CUSTODY
Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth
Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth
Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth
1. MONTHLY ACTUAL INCOME (Before taxes) (Code, Parent 1 Parent 2 Combined
$ $ / ......................................
Family Law Article, § 12-201 (b) and (c)) - / ......................................
a. Minus preexisting child support payment actually - -
paid
b. Minus alimony actually paid -
c. Plus/minus alimony awarded in this case +/- +/- / ......................................
d. Minus multifamily adjustment - -
2. MONTHLY ADJUSTED ACTUAL INCOME $ $ $
3. SHARE OF INCOME % % / / / ..............................
(Divide each parent's
income on Line 2 by the
combined income on Line 2.)
4. BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION (Apply Line 2 / / ................................. / / ................................. $
Combined Income to Child Support Schedule.)
5. ADJUSTED BASIC CHILD SUPPORT / / ................................. / / ................................. $
OBLIGATION (Multiply Line 4
by 1.5)
6. OVERNIGHTS with each parent (must total 365) 365
7. PERCENTAGE WITH EACH PARENT (Divide Line 6 by A % B % / ......................................
365)
STOP HERE IF Line 7 is less than / / / ..................... / / / ..................... / / / ......................
25% for either parent. Shared
Physical custody does not apply.
(Use Worksheet A.)
8. EACH PARENT'S SHARE OF ADJUSTED BASIC CHILD A$ B$ / / / ..............................
SUPPORT OBLIGATION (Multiply Line 5 by Line 3 for
each parent.)
9. THEORETICAL BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION A$ B$ / / / / / ........................
FOR TIME WITH OTHER PARENT (Multiply Line 8A by
Line 7B; put answer on Line 9 A.) (Multiply Line 8B by Line
7A; and put answer on Line 9B.)
10. SHARED PHYSICAL CUSTODY ADJUSMENT (If Line 7 for a parent A$ B$ .......................................
B$ / / / / / / / / / / / ........
is more than 25%, but less than 30%, multiply that parent's Line 9 by the
amount below:
# of overnights amount
• 92-94 .10
.08
• 95-98 .06
.04
• 99-102 .02
• 103-105
• 106-109
11. ADJUSTED THEORETICAL BASIC CHILD SUPPORT A$
OBLIGATION (If the shared physical custody Adjustment
applies, add Line 10 to that parent's Line 9; put the answer on
Line 11.)
12. NET BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION (If there $ $
is no shared physical custody adjustment: Subtract Line
9 lesser amount from greater amount . Place answer here
under column with greater amount in Line 9. Shared physical
custody Adjustment: For that parent use amount from Line 11
instead of Line 9 when completing calculation.)
13. EXPENSES: .......................................
a. Work-Related Child Care / / / ............................../ / / .............................. +
Expenses
(Code, Family Law Article, § 12-204 (g))
b. Health Insurance Expenses (Code, Family Law / / ................................. / / ................................. +
Article § 12-204(h)(1))
c. Extraordinary Medical / / ................................. / / .................................
Expenses
(Code, Family Law Article,
§ 12-204 (h)(2)) ....................................... +
d. Cash Medical Support / / / / / ....................... / / / / / ....................... +
(Code, Family Law Article,
§ 12-102 (c) — applies only to a child support order
under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act)
e. Additional Expenses / / ................................. / / ................................. +
(Code, Family Law Article,
§ 12-204 (i))
14. NET ADJUSTMENT FROM WORKSHEET C. Enter amount $ $ / / / / ...........................
from Line l, WORKSHEET C, if applicable. If not, continue
to Line 15.
15. NET BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION (From Line $ $ / / ..................................
12, WORKSHEET B)
16. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER (If the same / / / / / / / / / / / / / ...
parent owes money under Lines 14 and 15, add these two
figures to obtain the amount owed by that parent. If one parent
owes money under Line 14 and the other owes money under
Line 15, subtract the lesser amount from the greater amount.
The parent owing the greater of the two amounts on Lines 14
and 15 will owe that difference as the child support obligation.
Note: amount owed in a shared custody arrangement may not $ $ / / / / / ........................
exceed the amount that would be owed if the obligor parent
were a non-custodial parent. See WORKSHEET A).
Comments or special adjustments, such as any adjustment for certain third party benefits paid to or for the child of an obligor
who is disabled, retired, or receiving benefits as a result of a compensable claim (see Code, Family Law Article, § 12-204 (j)):
PREPARED BY: DATE:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORKSHEET C: Use Worksheet C ONLY if any of the Expenses listed in Lines 13 is paid out
or received by the parents in a different proportion than the percentage share of income entered on Line 3 of Worksheet B.
Example: One parent pays 100% of day care, or parents split education/medical costs 50/50 and Line 3 is other than 50/50. If
there is more than one 13 e expense, make calculations on Lines i and j below for each expense.
WORKSHEET C — FOR ADJUSTMENTS, LINE 12, WORKSHEET B
a. Payments made for Line 13 a expenses multiplied by each Parent 1 Parent 2
$ $
parent's percentage of income (Line 3, WORKSHEET B)
(Proportionate share)
b. Excess payments made by the parent who pays more than the
amount in Line a, above.
(Subtract proportionate share from amount paid) $ $
c. Total amount of direct payments made for Line 13 b expenses $ $
multiplied by each parent's percentage of income (Line 3,
WORKSHEET B)
d. The excess amount of direct payments made by the parent who $ $
pays more than the amount calculated in Line c, above.
e. Total amount of direct payments made for Line 13 c expenses $ $
multiplied by each parent's percentage of income (Line 3,
WORKSHEET B)
f. The excess amount of direct payments made by the parent who $ $
pays more than the amount calculated in Line e, above.
g. Total amount of direct payments made for Line 13 d expenses $ $
multiplied by each parent's percentage of income (Line 3,
WORKSHEET B)
h. The excess amount of direct payments made by the parent who $ $
pays more than the amount calculated in Line g, above.
i. Total amount of direct payments made for Line 13 e expenses $ $
multiplied by each parent's percentage of income (Line 3,
WORKSHEET B)
j. The excess amount of direct payments made by the parent who $ $
pays more than the amount calculated in Line i, above.
k. For each parent, add Lines b, d, f, h, and j $ $
l. Subtract lesser amount from greater amount in Line k, above.
Place the answer on this Line under the amount in Line k.
Also enter this answer on Line 14 of WORKSHEET B, in the $ $
same parent's Column.
Source: This Rule is new.
End
Amendment History
Maryland publishes each rule’s adoption and amendment record as a bracketed “Credits” note beneath the rule, giving the date of each Rules Order and the date it took effect. It is reproduced verbatim below.
[Adopted March 5, 2001, effective July 1, 2001. Amended eff. Dec. 4, 2007; Oct. 5, 2009; March 2, 2015, eff. March 15, 2015; March 30, 2021, eff. July 1, 2021; Feb. 23, 2026, eff. July 1, 2026.]
Plain-English Summary
Maryland calculates child support from a formula, and the worksheet is where the formula is applied. In any action involving the establishment or modification of child support, each party files one — in the primary physical custody form or the shared physical custody form — and unless the court directs otherwise it is filed not later than the date of the hearing on support.
Three definitions frame it. A multifamily adjustment is an allowance for each child living in a parent's home to whom that parent owes a legal duty of support, who spends more than 92 overnights a year in that home, and who is not covered by the support order. A committee note explains the arithmetic: the court uses the actual income of the parent entitled to the deduction to work out the basic obligation for each additional child, then multiplies by 75 percent. Shared physical custody takes its meaning from the statute, and a worksheet is the document used to compute support under the guidelines.
Worksheet A applies except in shared physical custody. Worksheet B applies in shared custody, and Worksheet C adjusts line 12 of Worksheet B where certain expenses are paid out of proportion. All three are reproduced on this page in their original column layout, because a worksheet reflowed into sentences is not a worksheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which child support worksheet do I use?
Worksheet A except in cases of shared physical custody; Worksheet B in shared physical custody. Worksheet C is used to compute the adjustment entered on line 12 of Worksheet B.
When is the worksheet due?
Unless the court directs otherwise, not later than the date of the hearing on the issue of child support.
What is a multifamily adjustment?
An allowance for support for each child living in a parent's home to whom the parent owes a legal duty of support, who spends more than 92 overnights in that home in a year, and who is not subject to the support order.
How is the multifamily adjustment calculated?
The committee note explains it: the court uses the actual income of the parent entitled to the deduction to determine the basic child support obligation for each additional child in that parent's home, then multiplies that amount by 75 percent.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
Maryland Rules, Title 9 — Family Law Actions (Md. Rule 9-206). Adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 8, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: Maryland child support worksheetWorksheet A child supportshared custody worksheet Bmultifamily adjustment Marylandchild support guidelines worksheet