On October 1, 2025, a change to Maryland's child support guidelines took effect. House Bill 275, enacted as Chapter 532 of 2025, added an allowance for parents who also support other children living in their home.
What’s Changing
Under the current rules, Maryland’s child support formula looks mainly at each parent’s income, the number of children in the case, and any existing child support orders already being paid. What it doesn’t consider are other children living in the home who rely on that same parent for support, even if there’s no formal court order in place.
Since October 1, 2025, the guidelines can take those children into account. Many parents support children who live with them from a current marriage or another relationship, and the law now recognizes that responsibility.
How the New Adjustment Works
If a parent has a child living in their home for more than 92 overnights a year, owes that child a legal duty of support, and the child is not covered by the support order in the case, the guidelines allow an allowance to be subtracted from that parent’s actual income before support is calculated.
Here’s the simple version of how it will work:
- Determine what the parent would pay in child support if there were a formal order for the children in their home, using only that parent’s actual income.
- Multiply that amount by 75 percent.
- Deduct the result from the parent’s actual income.
This adjusted figure becomes the basis for calculating the new support obligation for the child or children in the case at hand.
What It Means for Parents
For many families, this will make a real difference. Parents who are raising additional children at home will now receive limited credit for that financial responsibility. The change is designed to reduce the strain on parents who are supporting children in multiple homes — helping to create a fairer picture of their true ability to pay.
The allowance is part of the guideline calculation, but the court must decline to apply it if, after considering the evidence and the best interest of the child, it finds that applying it would be unjust or inappropriate.
What to Expect When Using the Calculator
Maryland's Department of Human Services offers its own child support estimate tool. Check whether any calculator you use, including ours, asks about other children in your home before relying on its estimate.
Final Thoughts
The multifamily allowance gives courts a way to account for children in a parent's current home when setting support for children in another home.
Disclaimer: This article is an educational summary only and is not a substitute for legal advice. Read the official law and talk to a Maryland family law attorney or your local child support office about your case. Sources: Md. Code, Fam. Law § 12-201; HB 275 (2025); Maryland DHS multifamily adjustment page.
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If you’d like to stay up to date on how these changes unfold — and what they mean for families across the state — follow my Substack newsletter: The Support Ledger. There, I share insights, breakdowns, and real-world stories about child support, family law, and financial justice.