Comparison of Child Support: Maryland, Virginia and D.C. Guidelines

Here is a comparison applying the child support guidelines 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 – $1,567
custodial % of income .75
recommended support order $1,175

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 recommended support order – $2,197

Maryland recommended support order – $2,135

Virginia recommended support order – $1,541

And the same facts except combined monthly income of $20,000, non-custodial parent’s income is $15,000 and custodial parent’s income is $5,000
District of Columbia: recommended support order – $2,714

Maryland recommended support order (extrapolated)- $2,847

Virginia recommended support order – $1,765

And now with combined monthly income of $30,000, non-custodial parent’s income is $22,500 and custodial parent’s income is $7,500
District of Columbia: recommended support order – $2,714

Maryland recommended support order (extrapolated)- $4,271

Virginia recommended support order – $2,144

As you can see, at higher incomes, child support is much lower in Virginia than in Maryland or the District, just as it was in 2011. At incomes over $20,000, recommended support in Maryland using extrapolation is much higher than in DC or Virginia.