A Comparison of Child Support under the Maryland, Virginia and D.C. Guidelines
Here is a comparison applying the child support guideline of each local jurisdiction to a typical case: two children, sole custody, $0 health insurance and $0 child care costs and combined monthly income of $10,000, non-custodial parent’s income is $7,500 and custodial parent’s income is $2,500:
District
total support $25,174/12 = $2,098
custodial % of income .75
recommended support order $1,573
Maryland
total support $1,811
custodial % of income .75
recommended support order $1,358
Virginia
total support – $1,577
custodial % of income .75
recommended support order $1,183
Again, applying the child support guidelines to a case with the same facts except combined monthly income of $15,000, non-custodial parent’s income is $11,250 and custodial parent’s income is $3,750
District of Columbia:
total support $35,152/12 = $2,929
custodial % of income .75
recommended support order $2,197
Maryland:
total support $2,847
custodial % of income .75
recommended support order $2,135
Virginia
total support –1,597+.051 x $5,000 = $1,832 1/
custodial % of income .75
recommended support order $1,374
As you can see, at higher incomes, child support is much lower in Virginia than in Maryland or the District.
1/ Total support for two children increases $5.10 for each $100 dollars of combined income between $10,000 and $20,000.