Unlike many other states, Maine doesn't provide an official, online calculator for child support. To calculate the support under the Maine child support guidelines, you'll need to use the state's worksheet and its current child support table. Here's what you'll need to get started.
Typically, you apply for child support when you file for divorce in Maine. As part of your divorce process, you'll include your completed child support worksheet along with the other divorce papers.
If you aren't married to your child's other parent, you may get help with requesting support by applying for services from Maine's Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery (DSER). If needed, the DSER can also help establish the child's legal paternity and locate a missing parent.
Under Maine's child support guidelines, the parent who has physical custody of the children for less than half the time (the "non-primary care provider," also known as the noncustodial parent) will pay child support to the primary care provider in most cases. There are different rules when the children live with each parent for about the same amount of time (equal custody) or when each parent has custody of at least one of their children (split custody).
That means you'll need to know what your parenting time arrangements will be before you can calculate child support. If you're still negotiating custody, you could try calculations under the potential scenarios to see what effect they would have on child support. And if you've hired an attorney to handle your divorce, your lawyer can explain the consequences of different custody arrangements on child support.
You'll also need to gather some basic financial information, including:
Maine's child support guidelines spell out the details on what does and does not count an income for purposes of calculating child support. (Me. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 2001(5) (2024).)
The guidelines also include adjustments for special circumstances, including when parents have very low incomes and when they have either equal or split custody.
Between the DSER website and the Maine Judicial Branch's Child Support page, you can find links to the latest versions of the forms, instructions, and other important information, including:
Maine judges will presume that they should order the amount of child support calculated under the guidelines, unless they find that amount would be unjust or inappropriate under the particular circumstances. A number of factors may justify deviating from the guideline amount, including:
Even if the parents have agreed on child support, a judge will have to review their agreement and compare it to the standard calculation, to make sure the agreed amount is adequate.
(Me. Stat. tit. 19-A, §§ 2005, 2006(5), 2007 (2024).)
In Maine, child support orders must include an order for income withholding, unless there's a good reason otherwise (such as when a noncustodial parent is self-employed). With income withholding, the support payments are taken out of the parent's paychecks and forwarded to the custodial parent. (Me. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 2651 (2024).)
If you're having trouble collecting support payments, Maine's DSER can help enforce your child support order. Depending on how much the other parent owes, the agency can use several enforcement methods, including:
Either parent may request a modification of child support. The requirements for granting such a request depend on how long it's been since the existing order was issued or last modified:
You may request a review of your current child support order from the Maine DSER. After getting current financial information from both parents and conducting the review, the agency will let you know the results. Be aware that even if the review shows that a change is warranted, that doesn't necessarily mean that a judge will order a modification.