Maine Child Support Calculator (2026)
Maine calculates child support under income-shares guidelines (19-A M.R.S. §§ 2006, 2011). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: combined annual gross income.
Enter the income above to see the guideline estimate.
Simplified guideline estimate, interpolated from the official schedule — before health-insurance, childcare, and parenting-time adjustments. For the exact figure use the official Maine calculator.
Your Case Details
Answer a few questions to see your estimated range.
Approximate gap between higher-earner and lower-earner.
Estimated Monthly Support
$840 — $1,560
State formulas vary significantly. This estimate uses national averages — your state's guidelines may produce a different number.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Maine uses the income-shares model: both parents' incomes are combined, the official schedule sets a basic support obligation, and each parent owes their proportional share (19-A M.R.S. §§ 2006, 2011). The calculator above interpolates the official schedule for a quick estimate — health-insurance, child-care, and parenting-time adjustments come on top.
How Maine Calculates Child Support
Maine uses an Income Shares model built on Betson-Rothbarth economic data. Courts add both parents' combined ANNUAL gross income and look it up on the DHHS 'Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligation' (the official Child Support Table adopted by rule under 19-A M.R.S. §2011) to get a WEEKLY basic support entitlement per child, which is then divided between the parties in proportion to their respective gross incomes (§2006(4)). The current table was adopted following the Department's Nov. 1, 2022 quadrennial guidelines review and is distributed as the '2023 Maine Child Support Table'; the next quadrennial review is scheduled for 2026, with new guidelines expected in 2027. (Note: Maine's official table lists weekly PER-CHILD amounts; the table on this page converts them to combined ANNUAL totals for comparability with other states.)
Statutory basis: 19-A M.R.S. §§ 2006, 2011. Exact figure: official Maine calculator.
Official Schedule — Excerpt
Basic support obligation at selected combined incomes (combined annual gross income), from the official Maine schedule:
| Combined income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,200 | $7,280 | $11,024 | $13,416 |
| $60,000 | $10,348 | $15,496 | $18,564 |
| $90,000 | $12,792 | $19,136 | $22,620 |
| $120,000 | $14,716 | $21,840 | $25,584 |
Worked Example
Two parents have a combined annual gross income of $90,000 and 2 children. On the DHHS Child Support Table, that yields a basic weekly support entitlement of $184 per child ($368/week total for both children, ≈$19,136/year). Per §2006(4), this is divided in proportion to each parent's share of the combined income — e.g., if Parent A earns $54,000/year (60%) and Parent B (the nonprimary care provider) earns $36,000/year (40%), Parent B's basic weekly obligation is 40% × $368 = $147.20/week (about $638/month), before adding either parent's share of work-related child care costs or the child's health insurance premium, which §2006(3) adds on top of the basic entitlement.
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- Number of children for whom support is being determined exceeds six (§2007(1)(B))
- Standard of living each child would have enjoyed had the parents' relationship continued (§2007(1)(F))
- Financial resources and needs of a party, including nonrecurring income (§2007(1)(E))
- Educational, physical, or emotional needs of a child (§2007(1)(G)-(H))
- Substantial transportation costs exceeding 15% of the yearly support obligation (§2007(1)(P))
- Income imputed on nonincome-producing assets of $10,000 or more, or financial contributions of a domestic associate/new spouse (§2007(1)(N), (J))
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cap on how much income Maine's child support table considers?
Yes. Once the parents' combined annual gross income exceeds $400,000, the table no longer applies directly. Instead, §2006(5)(B) presumes the basic support entitlement is not less than the table's amount at exactly $400,000 combined income, and courts have discretion to set support above that floor for higher earners.
What counts as income under Maine's guidelines?
19-A M.R.S. §2001 defines gross income broadly to include salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, pensions, Social Security, and disability benefits, among other recurring sources. Child support received for other children and means-tested public assistance are excluded from gross income.
How does shared or 50/50 custody affect the calculation?
Maine's statute does not set a specific overnight percentage. Instead, §2006(5)(D)-(D-1) applies whenever parents provide 'substantially equal care' for a child: if both parents also have equal annual gross incomes, neither owes the other a parental support obligation; if their incomes differ, an income-proportional 'enhanced support entitlement' formula applies instead of the standard calculation.
Until what age does child support run in Maine, and is there college support?
The DHHS Child Support Table covers children ages 0-18, or up to age 19 if the child is still enrolled in secondary school. Maine's child support guidelines do not include a mandatory college-support provision.