Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

Re: child support

If all 3 of the children reside with the same mother, than the support award should be based on the amount in the child support guidelines for a 3 child family. But when the children reside with different custodial parents, it's a different situation because more than one household needs the support. The courts have held that the presence of children in the home of the parent paying support does not justify a departure from the guidelines for the child in the custodial parent's home.

Re: child support

The court may take into consideration the other children you support. The statue allows for a departure in the child support guidelines under some circumstances. One of the circumstances is other children living in the household for which you are 100% responsible for. Additionally, there have some been some recent changes in how the guidelines are calculated that also might warrant a change. Under your circumstances a modification with the court might be warranted.

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