Maine Child Support Laws: Guidelines, Calculations, and Enforcement

How Child Support Works in Maine

Maine follows the income shares model for calculating child support. This approach assumes both parents, whether married or not, share a legal duty to support their children financially. The model estimates what parents would have spent on the child if the household had remained intact and divides that amount between them.

The governing statute is Title 19-A, Chapter 63 of the Maine Revised Statutes. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Maine court system both play roles in establishing and enforcing child support orders.

How Child Support Is Calculated

The calculation process follows several steps. First, each parent reports their gross annual income. The court combines those figures and looks up the base support obligation in the Maine Child Support Table.

Under Title 19-A, Section 2006, the court or hearing officer:

• Locates the combined gross income in the left-hand column of the child support table
• Identifies the base support amount for the number of children
• Multiplies the base amount by the number of children covered by the order
• Divides the total obligation between parents based on each parent's share of the combined income

For example, if Parent A earns $60,000 per year and Parent B earns $40,000 per year, their combined income is $100,000. Parent A would be responsible for 60% of the support obligation and Parent B for 40%.

The child support table distinguishes between children under age 12 and children age 12 and older, recognizing that older children generally cost more to raise.

Additional Expenses Shared Between Parents

Beyond the basic support amount, Maine law requires parents to share these costs proportionally based on income:

• Health insurance premiums for the child
• Work-related child care expenses
• Uninsured medical expenses
• Extraordinary medical costs

These amounts are added to the base obligation and divided between the parents according to their income percentages.

Using the Child Support Worksheet

Maine DHHS provides an online self-calculating Child Support Worksheet (CSWS) that automatically performs the calculations as you enter financial data. This tool follows the same formulas that courts use.

You can also complete the worksheets manually using these forms:

• Child Support Worksheet (FM-040): Download here
• Child Support Affidavit (FM-050): Download here
• Supplemental Worksheet for Equal Custody (FM-040-SA): Download here

The Child Support Affidavit must be signed before a court clerk, attorney, or notary public. Each parent provides a copy to the other parent.

What Counts as Gross Income

Maine defines gross income broadly under Title 19-A, Section 2001(5). It includes income from any ongoing source, such as:

• Wages, salaries, and commissions
• Bonuses and severance pay
• Self-employment income (gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses)
• Pensions and retirement benefits
• Social Security benefits
• Disability insurance payments
• Workers' compensation benefits
• Dividends, interest, and capital gains
• Royalties and trust fund income
• Spousal support received from someone other than the other parent in the case

What Does Not Count as Income

The following are excluded from gross income calculations:

• Means-tested public assistance (TANF, SSI, SNAP, general assistance)
• Child support received for other children
• Permanency guardianship subsidies for other children
• Preexisting spousal support obligations to a former spouse who is not the other parent
• Preexisting child support obligations for other children

Imputed Income for Unemployed or Underemployed Parents

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income based on that parent's earning capacity. Under Title 19-A, Section 2001, the court can include the difference between actual earnings and earning capacity when sufficient evidence supports it.

There are exceptions. A parent providing primary care for a child under 24 months old is not considered available for employment. For parents caring for children between 24 months and 12 years old, the court considers anticipated child care and work-related expenses before deciding whether to impute income.

Establishing a Child Support Order

Maine designates the parent with whom the children spend the most time as the "Primary Care Provider." The other parent is the "Non-Primary Care Provider" and typically pays child support.

For parents who share "substantially equal care," the supplemental worksheet (FM-040-SA) applies. This adjusts the calculation to account for the shared custody arrangement and the increased costs each parent bears when the child lives in two households.

The judge can deviate from the guideline amount if the calculated result does not serve the best interests of the child. While parents may negotiate their own agreement, the court must review it to confirm the amount is adequate.

Low-Income Protections

Maine law protects low-income parents from excessive obligations. If the non-primary care provider's annual gross income falls below the federal poverty level (currently $15,960 for a single person in 2026), the weekly child support obligation is capped at 10% of weekly gross income.

This cap prevents support obligations from pushing low-income parents deeper into financial hardship while still providing some level of support for the child.

The child support table also includes a self-support reserve for parents earning $22,800 or less per year. This reserve helps ensure the paying parent retains enough income to cover basic living expenses.

High-Income Parents

Maine's child support table caps at $400,000 in combined annual gross income. For parents whose combined income exceeds this threshold, Chapter 63 of the guidelines provides that the table no longer applies directly. However, the basic weekly support amount is presumed to be no less than the amount shown in the table for $400,000 in combined income.

In these cases, the court uses discretion to determine an appropriate support amount based on the child's needs and the standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the parents remained together.

Factors Courts Consider

Maine courts evaluate several factors when calculating support under the guidelines:

• Combined gross income of both parents
• Health insurance costs for the child
• Work-related child care costs
• Subsistence needs of the non-primary care provider
• Parenting time arrangements
• Number of children covered by the order
• Extraordinary medical expenses

Grounds for Deviation

Under Title 19-A, Section 2007, judges may order a different amount than the guidelines suggest based on:

• The child's special physical, emotional, or educational needs
• Financial resources not captured in income calculations
• The combined effect of child support, property division, and spousal support
• The standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the parents stayed together
• Tax benefits from child-related exemptions and credits
• Income and contributions of a parent's current spouse or partner

Any deviation must include written findings explaining why the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate.

How to Apply for Child Support Services

Maine's Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery (DSER), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, provides child support services to Maine families.

You can apply for child support services online through the Maine DHHS portal. You can also call DSER at (800) 371-7179 or (207) 624-7830 for the automated system, or (207) 624-4100 to speak with a representative.

DSER services include:

• Establishing paternity
• Locating absent parents
• Establishing and modifying child support orders
• Collecting and distributing payments
• Enforcing support orders across state lines

How to Modify Child Support in Maine

Maine allows child support modification when there is a "substantial change in circumstances" under Title 19-A, Section 2009. The change must be ongoing and not caused voluntarily by the parent seeking modification.

Examples of qualifying changes include:

• Serious illness or disability affecting earning ability
• Incarceration
• Involuntary job loss
• Significant increase or decrease in either parent's income
• Changes in the child's needs (medical, educational)
• Changes in custody or parenting time arrangements

Modification Thresholds

The rules differ based on how long the current order has been in effect:

Time Since Last Order	Requirement
Less than 3 years	Must show a substantial change in circumstances. A 15% or greater difference between the current order and a recalculated amount is considered substantial.
3 years or more	The court will review the order without requiring proof of changed circumstances. Any difference from the guideline amount may justify modification.

Retroactive Modification

Child support modifications can apply retroactively, but only back to the date that the other parent was formally served with notice of the modification petition. You cannot get credit for overpayments or underpayments before that service date.

Forms for Modification

To request a modification through the court, you need:

• Motion to Modify (FM-062)
• Family Matter Summary Sheet (FM-002)
• Social Security Number Confidential Disclosure Form

You can also request an order review from DSER without filing a court motion.

Enforcement: What Happens If You Do Not Pay

Maine takes child support enforcement seriously. DSER uses multiple tools to collect unpaid support:

• Income withholding: Support is automatically deducted from paychecks, the most common collection method
• Bank account levy: DSER can garnish or seize funds from bank accounts
• Property liens: Liens can be placed on cars, boats, homes, and other property after 30 days of arrears
• License suspension: Driver's licenses, recreational licenses, and professional licenses can all be revoked under Title 19-A, Section 2603-A
• Tax refund interception: Both state and federal tax refunds can be seized to cover arrears
• Passport denial: Under federal law, the U.S. State Department will deny or revoke passports for parents who owe more than $2,500 in child support
• Lottery winnings interception: DSER can intercept lottery winnings to satisfy child support debt
• Credit bureau reporting: Delinquent child support is reported to credit agencies, affecting the parent's credit score
• Contempt of court: Willful nonpayment can result in fines or jail time

Contempt of Court Proceedings

To prove contempt in Maine, the parent seeking enforcement must demonstrate that the other parent:

• Has intentionally failed to honor the support obligation
• Has the financial ability to pay
• Has willfully disregarded the court's order

To file for contempt, you need:

• Rule 66 Motion for Contempt (FM-068)
• Family Matter Summary Sheet (FM-002)

Statute of Limitations on Arrears

Maine has a 20-year presumption of payment under Title 14, Section 864. After 20 years, the law presumes the debt has been paid unless the custodial parent can prove otherwise. However, within that window, arrears can be collected at any time using all available enforcement methods.

Paternity must be established before the child turns 18 for a support order to be created.

Debt forgiveness for child support arrears is rare in Maine. If you carry significant arrears, consult with a family law attorney to understand your options.

When Does Child Support End in Maine?

Under Title 19-A, Section 1653, child support ends when the child reaches age 18. There are several exceptions:

• High school enrollment: If the child turns 18 while still attending secondary school, support continues until the child graduates, withdraws, is expelled, or turns 19, whichever comes first
• Disability: Support may continue indefinitely if the child has a mental or physical disability that prevents self-support
• Marriage: Support ends if the child marries before age 18
• Military service: Support ends if the child enlists in the armed forces
• Emancipation: Support ends if the child obtains a court order of emancipation

Child support obligations do not extend to cover college expenses in Maine. The court has no authority to order either parent to pay for post-secondary education.

Emancipation in Maine

A minor seeking emancipation must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Be financially self-sufficient
• Demonstrate that emancipation serves their best interest

Once emancipated, the child is legally treated as an adult, and the parent's support obligation ends.

Termination of Parental Rights

Maine courts may terminate parental rights under Title 22, Section 4056 when:

• Both parents voluntarily consent
• Termination serves the best interest of the child
• The parent has abandoned the child or is unable to protect them

Termination of parental rights ends both the obligation to pay support and all rights regarding the child's upbringing.