Child Support Lawyers in Maine

Child support lawyers helping Maine families

When parents in Maine separate or divorce, determining child support is one of the most important legal and financial matters to resolve. You want to ensure your children’s needs are met—but you also need to understand your rights and obligations under Maine’s child support laws.

At The Maine Divorce Group, we help parents navigate the child support process with clarity, confidence, and compassion. Whether you’re seeking to establish, modify, or enforce a child support order, our experienced Maine family law attorneys will protect your interests and focus on what matters most: the well-being of your children.

What Is Child Support in Maine?

Child support is a court-ordered financial contribution from one parent to help cover the costs of raising a child after separation or divorce. Maine uses the “income shares model,” which means both parents are expected to contribute to the child’s financial needs based on their proportion of the combined household income.

Child support helps cover basic necessities like housing, food, clothing, education, and medical care—essentially maintaining the standard of living the child would have experienced if the family had remained together.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Maine?

The Maine Child Support Guidelines provide a formula to estimate each parent’s fair share of support. Key factors include:

• Each parent’s gross monthly income
• The number and age of the children
• The parenting time schedule and custody arrangement
• Health insurance and childcare costs
• Any extraordinary expenses for the child’s needs

While the guidelines offer a helpful starting point, every family’s situation is unique. That’s why it’s crucial to work with a child support attorney who understands the law, the calculations, and how to present your case effectively in negotiations or court.

How to calculate gross income when establishing child support in Maine

Parents can work out child support and include it in a divorce settlement, but before it becomes legally binding, a judge will need to approve it. The agreement must be in the child’s best interests for court approval.

The key calculation to make for child support in Maine is the gross income of both parents. To calculate this, you will need to include all pretax income, both earned and unearned, including:

• Wages
• Commissions and bonuses
• The value of fringe benefits
• Self-employed earnings (minus acceptable business costs)
• Disability payments
• Pensions
• Investment income
• Alimony received from an ex-spouse who is not the parent of your child (but not child support payments from an ex)

You cannot lower your child support obligations by choosing not to work or to work at a lower-paying job than you are qualified.

The court in Maine will assess your employment history and the current employment landscape and has the power to assign additional potential income. This is often called “imputing income” and it will increase the child support obligation accordingly in such cases.

What forms are needed to calculate support in Maine?

Parents in Maine can estimate child support amounts using the Child Support Worksheet.

After filling in the worksheet, you will be able to view the amount of support that the courts would award in your case, assuming all the information provided is accurate.

How does custody affect support calculations in Maine?

In Maine, child support is closely tied to the physical custody arrangement between parents. The parent who has primary physical custody—meaning the child lives with them more than 50% of the time—is generally presumed to be meeting their financial obligations by directly covering the day-to-day costs of raising the child.

The non-custodial parent, or the one with whom the child spends less time, is typically responsible for making child support payments to help cover their share of expenses such as housing, food, clothing, medical care, and education.

What Happens in Shared Custody Situations?

When parents share custody equally or nearly equally—often referred to as shared or equal parenting time—Maine courts use a different formula to calculate support. In these cases, both parents are contributing significantly to the child’s daily care and financial needs, so a supplemental shared parenting worksheet is required along with the standard child support worksheet. This adjusted calculation ensures that support is allocated fairly based on income and time spent with the child.

Whether you have primary, shared, or split custody, both parents must also complete and file a Child Support Affidavit when submitting information to the court. This legal form details your income and relevant expenses, and it plays a critical role in the final child support determination.

How are additional expenses accounted for in child support?

The base child support amount calculated using Maine’s Child Support Worksheet is designed to cover a child’s essential daily needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. However, raising a child often involves more than just the basics.

Under Maine law, parents are also expected to contribute to additional expenses that arise as children grow. These may include:

• Childcare costs (especially if necessary for a parent to work or attend school)
• Extraordinary medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
• Health insurance premiums for the child
• Special educational needs, tutoring, or extracurricular activities
• Other necessary expenses that support the child’s development and well-being

These costs are typically divided between the parents proportionally based on their combined gross income. If one parent is already covering more than their fair share of these additional expenses, the court may adjust the support order to ensure a more equitable distribution of financial responsibility.

Judges in Maine have discretion to deviate from standard child support guidelines when it’s in the best interest of the child, especially in cases involving significant out-of-pocket costs. Having a skilled child support attorney can help you ensure that all relevant expenses are considered and fairly addressed in your support agreement.

Can Judges Deviate from Maine’s Child Support Guidelines?

Yes—while Maine’s Child Support Guidelines provide a standardized formula for calculating financial obligations, family court judges have the discretion to deviate from these guidelines when appropriate. The goal is always to serve the best interests of the child while ensuring fairness to both parents.

When Might a Judge Deviate from the Guidelines?

Judges generally follow the guidelines closely, but deviations may occur based on unique family circumstances or when the standard calculation would lead to an unfair result. Situations that may justify a deviation include:

• The non-custodial parent provides residential care for the child more than 30% of the time
• Spousal support or property division is being determined alongside child support
• One parent receives non-recurring income or holds non-income-producing assets exceeding $10,000
• There are six or more children involved
• The age of the child (younger than 12 or older than 12) significantly affects expenses
• The child has special needs, including educational, medical, or transportation requirements
• The child has substantial financial resources or assets of their own
• The standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the marriage had continued
• The child’s physical or emotional condition requires additional support
• The effects of inflation or increased cost of living
• The tax consequences of the support obligation for each parent
• The income of each parent’s new spouse, if remarried, and its effect on household finances

In these and other qualifying circumstances, the court may adjust the child support amount upward or downward to ensure a just outcome. These deviations are fact-specific, and it’s important to present clear financial documentation and arguments if you’re seeking an adjustment.

A knowledgeable child support attorney can help you understand whether your case might qualify for a deviation—and how best to present your position in court.

Child support modifications and termination in Maine

Once a child support order is approved by the court in Maine, it becomes legally binding, and the paying parent is expected to follow the court-ordered payment schedule. However, the law also recognizes that life circumstances change, and child support obligations may need to be adjusted over time.

When Can Child Support Be Modified?

To request a modification of child support in Maine, a parent must file a formal motion with the court and demonstrate a substantial and ongoing change in circumstances. Some common examples include:

• Job loss or significant change in income (promotion, demotion, disability)
• Changes in the custody or parenting time arrangement
• A parent’s relocation, especially across state or national lines
• A change in the child’s needs, such as new medical or educational expenses
• One parent gaining additional financial responsibilities or obligations

In general, the court will consider a modification if the difference between the current child support order and a newly calculated amount is greater than 15% under the Maine Child Support Guidelines. Judges review these cases carefully to ensure any change is justified and in the best interest of the child.

When Does Child Support End in Maine?

In most cases, child support in Maine ends when a child turns 18—the legal age of majority. However, there are circumstances where support may continue beyond age 18, such as if the child is still attending high school or has special needs. The court must authorize any extension beyond the standard termination date.

If you’re unsure whether your child support order qualifies for modification or termination, it’s essential to consult with an experienced child support attorney. At The Maine Divorce Group, we help parents pursue or contest modifications with the proper legal strategy and documentation.

Can you modify a child support order after remarrying in Maine?

Parents can file a request to modify child support at any time but unless there is a substantial change or the order is over three years old already, it is unlikely to be adjusted.

If either parent remarries, this alone does not constitute a substantial change in circumstances.

However, say the custodial parent remarries and is then provided with support in raising the child by the new spouse (there is no legal duty to do this). This may constitute a substantial enough change to warrant a modification of support, but it will depend on how much the additional help with everyday expenses covers the costs of raising the child.

Additional income from a new spouse can be considered a part of either parent’s overall household income, so if the noncustodial parent remarries, the child support obligation of that parent may be increased by a judge because of the lower household expenses incurred.

If the new marriage results in children, the judge may need to adjust support to balance the needs of both families.

Child support cases – and modification requests – involve many factors, and no two are exactly the same. For assistance with your situation, contact a child support attorney at The Maine Divorce Group.

The following forms are for a ‘Motion to Modify’:

• Family and Probate Matter Summary Sheet (FM-002);
• Social Security Number Confidential Disclosure Form (CR-CV-FM-PC-200);
• Motion to Modify (FM-062);
• Acknowledgment of Service (two copies) (CV-036);
• Child Support Affidavit (if applicable) (FM-050).

Speak with a Trusted Maine Child Support Attorney Today

Whether you’re preparing for divorce, already navigating the legal process, or need to modify or enforce an existing child support order, the experienced attorneys at The Maine Divorce Group are here to help.

We understand how profoundly child support decisions can impact both parents and children—financially, emotionally, and legally. Our team is committed to helping you protect your rights while ensuring that your child’s best interests remain the top priority.

When the stakes are this high, you need more than just legal advice—you need a dedicated advocate who knows Maine’s family law system inside and out. Our attorneys have the experience, compassion, and courtroom skill to guide you through every step of the process.

Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation. Let’s discuss your situation, explore your legal options, and take the next steps toward a resolution that works for your family.