Have Kids in Two Households? Maryland Just Changed How Your Child Support Is Calculated

Maryland families that have two households will see a shift in how child support is calculated. As of October 1, 2025, there is an updated multifamily adjustment law that impacts your support obligation. If you have kids in two households, things have likely changed for how this impacts your support. 

At RPM Law, our Maryland family law attorneys help you understand child support and the impact of these recent changes. Get in touch today to learn about potential modification of child support or your continued obligations.  

What Changed on October 1, 2025?

Maryland updated its child support guidelines to more accurately reflect the financial reality of parents who support children in more than one family. Before this change, the guidelines offered limited adjustments for parents with “other children in the home,” and the credit often didn’t reflect the true cost of raising those children.

The new multifamily adjustment law expands and modernizes these credits. It allows courts to consider a broader range of circumstances when determining how much of a parent’s income is actually available for child support in a particular case.

If you have children in multiple households, the formula used to calculate your child support just changed, and likely in your favor.

How the New Multifamily Adjustment Works

The updated law allows Maryland courts to apply a more realistic deduction from a parent’s income when that parent supports additional children outside the case being decided. The adjustment can apply in several situations:

• You have biological or adopted children living with you full-time.
• You have children in another household for whom you provide financial support, even without a court order.
• You have multiple child support orders across different families.

Under the new rules, the court can apply a standardized credit that reflects the cost of raising those additional children. This credit reduces the income used in the child support calculation, which may lower the guideline support amount.

Why Maryland Updated the Law

Maryland’s previous guidelines didn’t fully account for modern family structures. Many parents today raise children across blended families, shared custody arrangements, and multiple households. The old system often resulted in support orders that didn’t reflect the real financial obligations parents carry.

The 2025 update aims to:

• Reduce inequities for parents supporting multiple families
• Ensure children in all households are treated fairly
• Create a more accurate and predictable formula
• Align Maryland with national best practices

This change is part of Maryland’s broader effort to modernize child support laws and make them more responsive to real-world parenting situations.

Who Benefits From the New Adjustment?

The multifamily adjustment can affect both paying and receiving parents.

You may benefit if you are:

• A parent paying child support for children in more than one household
• A parent with additional children living in your home
• A parent supporting children informally without a court order
• A parent whose financial obligations weren’t fully recognized under the old guidelines

You may see changes if you are receiving support. If the other parent has children in multiple households, the new adjustment may reduce their guideline support amount. This doesn’t mean your child’s needs matter less. It simply means the court must consider the needs of all children the parent supports.

Will My Existing Child Support Order Change Automatically?

No. Maryland does not automatically recalculate existing child support orders when the law changes.

However, you can request a modification if the new multifamily adjustment would significantly change the guideline amount. To modify an order, you must show a material change in circumstances, and a change in Maryland’s child support law often qualifies.

What Should Maryland Parents Do Now?

• Review your current child support order.
• Run a new guideline calculation using the updated multifamily adjustment.
• Consider whether a modification makes sense based on your financial situation.
• Document support you provide to children in other households.
• Seek legal guidance if you’re unsure how the new law applies to your case.

Consult a Maryland Child Support Attorney for Help

If you have kids in two different households, this law change may impact you. Speak to an attorney to help run a calculation and see how best to proceed in your case. 

Our team at RPM Law are ready to help with your family law needs. Contact us today for a consultation.