Maine Child Support Calculator

How Maine Calculates Child Support

Maine determines child support using the Income Shares Model, the standard set out in 19-A M.R.S.A. § 2006. Under this model, the incomes of both parents are combined to estimate what they would have spent on the children if the family were intact, and that total obligation is then divided between them in proportion to each parent's share of the combined income.

The calculator above applies that formula to the income and expense figures you enter and shows each step of the math, so you can see exactly how the estimate is built. Because every order ultimately runs through a judge, the guideline figure is a starting point rather than a guaranteed result — the sections below explain what goes into it and where real orders can differ.

Key Rules Behind the Maine Formula

• Maine's guidelines run on GROSS income: income taxes and FICA are never subtracted before the schedule is applied (they are already built into the schedule amounts). Enter income before taxes.
• Maine uses the Income Shares model under 19-A M.R.S.A. § 2006, combining both parents' annual gross incomes to determine the basic child support obligation.
• The basic obligation is taken from the Maine Child Support Table and prorated between parents based on each parent's share of combined income.
• A primary care adjustment applies when the noncustodial parent has 128 or more overnights per year (approximately 35% of the time), resulting in a reduction of the support obligation.
• Health insurance premiums and work-related childcare costs are added to the basic obligation and divided proportionally between parents.
• Maine applies a self-support reserve to ensure the obligor retains sufficient income for basic needs before child support is calculated.
• Gross income includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, dividends, pensions, trust income, Social Security benefits, and income from self-employment.
• Courts may deviate from the guidelines upon a written finding that application would be unjust or inappropriate, considering factors such as the child's special needs, shared parenting arrangements, and extraordinary expenses (19-A M.R.S.A. § 2007).

What Counts as Income

Child support guidelines are built on each parent's income, so the figure you enter matters more than any other input. Most states start from a broad definition of gross income that includes wages, salary, tips, commissions, bonuses, self-employment earnings, and many forms of government benefits, then subtract specific deductions to reach the income the formula actually uses.

Maine's rules under 19-A M.R.S.A. § 2006 spell out which deductions apply and whether the formula runs on gross or net income. The calculator's field labels tell you which figure to enter; when in doubt, use your most recent pay stubs and tax return, and confirm the details in the Maine child support laws guide.

How to Establish a Child Support Order in Maine

A child support obligation becomes enforceable only once a court or the state child support agency issues an order. Either parent can request one, and in Maine, as in every state, the local child support agency that operates under the federal Title IV-D program can open a case, locate the other parent, establish paternity if needed, and ask the court to set support using the guideline formula.

When you apply, expect to provide proof of income for both parents, the child's information, and details about health insurance and childcare costs — the same inputs this calculator uses. Running your numbers here first gives you a realistic idea of the order amount before you file.