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Maryland Child Support Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support, Public Benefits and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: How to get custody of child that have been in my care for 7yrs no legal paperwork state of Maryland gives me run around
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 31, 2023

In Maryland, if you have been caring for a child for seven years without legal paperwork, you may consider filing for legal guardianship or custody. This is especially pertinent if you have been the primary caregiver and the biological parents are not involved or unable to care for the child.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: 14 year old with mom in GA and 18 year old with me in MD, enrolled in college. Should there be a support obligation?

There is no court order for custody, visitation, nor support - never has been. I paid 18 years and 14 1/2 years on my own. We were both military, I'm now retired and she's still active. She makes more money.

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 2, 2023

If she has primary custody of the 14 year old, there would still be a legal obligation on your part to pay child support. How much depends both parents’ incomes and an application of the child support guidelines in the state where the child primarily resides. You should obtain a private... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: Can child care portion of payment be paid directly to child care?

Child’s mother only put child in daycare right before hearing to make child support payment higher. Afraid she will take child out of daycare after hearing.

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Nov 27, 2023

The court can order that the child care portion of child support be paid directly to the daycare provider. This is called an income withholding order for child care expenses. The income withholding order will direct the non-custodial parent's employer to withhold a portion of their wages and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: If the motion to compel documents was granted. Will sanction occur if documents are submitted in a timely matter after?

I’m the defendant. The plaintiff was granted motion to compel documents from me. They also requested sanction, asking that I pay his attorney fees. If I turn the documents in the time the they request (5 days), can I still be sanctioned?

Jason Ostendorf
Jason Ostendorf
answered on Aug 4, 2023

I see you're in Prince George's County. Although I'm a [Baltimore County child custody lawyer](https://www.ostendorflaw.com/practice_areas/maryland-child-custody-lawyer.php), the same principles would apply in your jurisdiction as we are discussing Maryland law generally.... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: What happen if I respond for a mediation meeting without being legally served? does it make me being legally served?

I was compelled to meet in a zoom meeting for mediation for child support in CA. But I already initiated a complaint for divorce, child support and custody in Maryland. Do I have to attend it? what is going to happen with the action in Maryland?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jul 12, 2023

You need a lawyer to review the jurisdictional issues. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act has been codified in both CA and MD (and every other state, I believe) and there must be a hearing first to determine which state court will hear the case and exercise jurisdiction... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: Am I within my rights to withhold a month's child support if he'll be with me that entire month?

He lives in MD, I live in CA. I'm passing for his airfare to come out per the agreement. She's expecting me to travel with him to take him back. I'll need that money for food and other expenses during his visit. The agreement was processed through a Maryland court so I'm sure it... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jul 2, 2023

If your child support order does not already include a waiver of child support while your child is with you exclusively for a month or whatever period of time you have him, then no, you cannot unilaterally withhold child support or take it to defray your costs. Only another court order modifying... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: My son's father owes over $12,000 in child support and refuse to pay. He closed all his bank accounts and quit his jobs.

He started working under the table, moved so I cannot find his address, and has Virginia license tags. He has social media showing that he is working and stated in text messages that he is working his own business under the table. He gets him during the summer, and I get to see him during my... View More

Elizabeth Pugliese
Elizabeth Pugliese
answered on Apr 27, 2023

You need to file contempt. Deliberate failure to follow a court order could cause a judge to hold him in contempt. Contempt is to secure future compliance with an order -- so yes, the court can actually make him follow it. Or face severe consequences up to and including jail.

For...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: What legal actions can I take against my children’s father for neglect and abandonment in Maryland?

I am currently Homeless I have two small toddlers, and I am currently pregnant. The father of my children refuses to provide any help and does not pick the children up one days he said he supposed to. He does not send financial help, and he is verbally, and sometimes physically abusive to me. What... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Apr 17, 2023

First, if you are homeless with children the immediate need would seem to be to secure housing for your family. A variety of government and non-government agencies are available to help. The local Department of Social Services may be a good place to start, or you may want to reach out to an... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: If the mother has full custody and she chose no child support, could she still put me on child support at a later date?

I gave away all my rights so the mother has full sole custody. In the paperwork she chose to not put me on child support at the time. If she ever wanted to could she put me on child support even though I’m not responsible for the child at all?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Apr 5, 2023

Yes. Both parents ALWAYS remain legally responsble to support their minor children. That legal obligation cannot be waived and "contracted" away, except through legal adoption (where another person adopts your child and you relinquish your parental rights). Absent a legal adoption, if... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Military Law for Maryland on
Q: My ex-wife has sent "Income Withholding for Support" papers to my current employer & Military pension... Why?

I'm current on my child support payments. My ex-wife has sent Income withholdings for support to my current employer and Military pension. Both forms are asking for the same support amount. Will I be double tapped on child support?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 15, 2023

It's possible that your ex-wife has sent income withholding orders to both your current employer and your military pension to ensure that she receives the full amount of child support owed to her on a timely basis. This is a common practice to ensure that child support payments are made... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: Can my dad win my custody of me even tho he owes some child support money from previous years?

He has a debt because he had an injury and stop working, that formed into a debt. My mom is trying everything she can to not let me see him and now has an arrest warrant towards him. Since we live in different states if he were to travel to see me he will get arrested. I don’t want to live with... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 27, 2023

If you are a minor child, so you are limited in what you can do. Your father's child support arrearage is not a bar to his having primary residential custody. Judges will start to take into consideration the wishes of the minor child at around age 12, and by 15 or 16, the child's... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: My ex has over 24k I. Arrears( childsupport). How to go about getting a judgement. We both reside in maryland .

Also, how to report child support application fraud?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 26, 2023

(1) Take your court order for child support to the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) in the county in Maryland or City of Baltimore where the order was entered, and have them open a case. If the child support order was entered in another state (you list Washngton DC in your question but... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: what does "Maryland annotated code, courts and judicial proceedings 6-202..." mean in a custody case?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 16, 2023

That section simply sets forth the appropriate court venue (the county or City of Baltimore) where a suit may be filed for various types of actions. In the case of a custody matter, that Section states, "[T]the following actions may be brought in the indicated county: ... (5) Action relating... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: Thank you for your time and response. It’s greatly appreciated. I’ve always wanted to be in my sons life, but

Money is an issue and has been from the time he was born, as to why I never had the funds to obtain an attorney to get visitation rights. So, basically it seems as if I’m stuck paying support for a child I can’t even interact with?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 29, 2022

The Circuit Court in the jurisdiction in Maryland where your child resides may have a self-help programs for self-represented litigants in domestic/family law cases. Most common legal motions, comlaints and petitions are available as fill-in-the-bank forms for family law cases, including... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: Is my son’s father is still suppose to be paying child support or not? Im confused by the court order.

Me and my son’ father had in our court order that child support was to be paid until he turns 18. In May, he filed for a modification. Why? I don’t know. My son graduated in June and that was the last payment I received. There was a court date in Sept, which we both missed, and the judge... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 2, 2022

By law, in the absence of an agreement by the parents to the contrary, child support ceases once the child turns 18, or if the child is still enrolled in high school and not yet reached graduation, then through completion of high school --whichever is later (but not past the child's 19th... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: Looking for guidance on how to seek counsel and file for a legal separation vs. Divorce in Baltimore, County Maryland
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Oct 20, 2022

You do not "file" for legal separation. You either file for divorce (if you meet the statutory grounds), or you and your spouse can sign a marital separation and property settlement agreement that resolves all your marital rights. Alternatively, you can just sign an agreement to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support for Maryland on
Q: Is child support violating my constitutional rights by suspended my license?

Will the dear colleague letter help me

Scott Scherr
Scott Scherr
answered on Mar 15, 2023

The right to drive is a privilege and not a right. There is no constitutional right to drive.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: what does Title 4d motion/request genetic testing results mean?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Feb 28, 2023

Either parent in a custody/child support case can request paternity DNA testing to prove whether the alleged father is in fact the father of the child. This motion and request is how that is done.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support for Maryland on
Q: Can I transfer child support from one state to another if the other parent is behind in payments?

moving from DC to PG county in MD. He is over 40,000 behind in payments. He lives in Oregon

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 20, 2022

Yes

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support for Maryland on
Q: for a children custody case when the one parent fails to pay for what he agreed to, does he pay my lawyer fees?

what is the law for breach of contract for family matter when it comes to his children's obligations?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Sep 28, 2022

An award of attorney's fees is an available remedy when filing a motion to enforce a support obligation and for contempt of a court order requiring the payment. The decision to award fees, and how much, is in the discretion of the judge.

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