By Jason M. Rice, Esq. | Dirigo Divorce | Springvale, Maine
Last Updated: May 2026 | 8-Minute Read
If you are going through a divorce or separation in Maine and you have children, child support is one of the most important financial issues you will face. Whether you expect to be paying support or receiving it, understanding how Maine calculates child support — and what you can do if circumstances change — will help you navigate the process with confidence.
This guide explains exactly how Maine’s child support system works, what factors the court considers, and what options you have if the current order no longer reflects your family’s reality.
How Maine Calculates Child Support
Maine uses an Income Shares Model to calculate child support. The basic idea behind this model is straightforward: children should receive the same proportion of their parents’ combined income that they would have received if the family had stayed together.
The calculation starts with both parents’ gross incomes — meaning income before taxes and deductions. Maine courts consider a wide range of income sources, including:
- Wages, salaries, and tips
- Self-employment income and business profits
- Rental income
- Investment income and dividends
- Social Security benefits
- Unemployment and disability benefits
- Pension and retirement income
- Any other regular source of income
Once both parents’ gross incomes are established, the court adds them together to get the combined gross income. That combined figure is then applied to the Maine Child Support Guidelines — a table set by the state that specifies the basic child support obligation based on income and the number of children.
What Adjustments Are Made to the Basic Obligation
The basic child support figure from the guidelines is just the starting point. Several adjustments are then applied to reach the final support amount:
Health Insurance
If one parent provides health insurance for the children, the cost of that coverage is factored into the calculation. The parent paying for health insurance receives a credit that adjusts the support obligation accordingly.
Childcare Costs
Work-related childcare expenses — daycare, after-school care, and similar costs — are added to the basic obligation and shared between the parents in proportion to their incomes. If you have been paying for childcare entirely on your own, this is an important factor to raise with your attorney.
Other Adjustments
Courts can also consider other factors in appropriate cases, including:
- Other child support obligations a parent is already paying for children from a different relationship
- Extraordinary medical expenses not covered by insurance
- Educational expenses such as private school tuition where the parents have agreed to this
- Any other significant costs specific to a child’s needs
What if a Parent is Voluntarily Unemployed or Underemployed?
This is one of the most important questions in child support litigation — and one of the most commonly litigated. Maine courts will not simply accept a parent’s claim that they cannot work or cannot earn more than they currently do.
If a court finds that a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed — meaning they are capable of earning more but are choosing not to — the court can impute income to that parent. This means the court assigns an income figure based on what the parent could earn given their education, work history, and the job market, and uses that imputed income in the support calculation rather than their actual reported income.
This prevents parents from deliberately reducing their income to lower their child support obligation. If you believe the other parent is hiding income or deliberately underemploying themselves, this is a critical issue to raise with your attorney from the very beginning of your case.
Can a Child Support Order Be Modified?
Yes — child support orders in Maine are not permanent. They can be modified when circumstances change. There are two pathways to modification in Maine:
Automatic Review After Three Years
Either parent can request a review of the child support order after three years have passed since the order was entered, even without showing any specific change in circumstances. The court will recalculate support based on current incomes and the current guidelines.
Substantial Change in Circumstances
At any time — even before three years have passed — either parent can seek a modification by showing that there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the last order. Examples that courts have recognized as substantial changes include:
- A significant increase or decrease in either parent’s income
- Job loss or a major change in employment
- A significant change in the child’s needs — medical, educational, or otherwise
- A change in the parenting time schedule that affects the support calculation
- The child reaching the age of majority for one child in a multi-child order
- A parent beginning to provide or ceasing to provide health insurance
If you are paying support and your income has dropped significantly, do not simply stop paying. Contact an attorney immediately and file for modification. Unpaid support accrues as a judgment against you with interest — falling behind can create serious long-term financial consequences.
How is Child Support Enforced in Maine?
If the parent who owes support is not paying, Maine has several enforcement tools available:
- Income withholding — support is automatically deducted from the paying parent’s paycheck
- Interception of state and federal tax refunds
- Suspension of driver’s license, professional licenses, and recreational licenses
- Reporting to credit bureaus
- Contempt of court proceedings, which can result in fines or incarceration in serious cases
If you are owed support that is not being paid, you do not have to wait for the state to act. A private attorney can file a contempt motion on your behalf and seek attorney’s fees in addition to the unpaid support.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support in Maine
Until what age does child support continue in Maine?
In Maine, child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later — but only until the child turns 19.
Does child support cover college expenses?
Maine courts do not have authority to order parents to pay college tuition as part of a child support order. However, parents can agree to contribute to college costs as part of a negotiated settlement, and that agreement can be made part of the court order and enforced accordingly.
Can parents agree on a different child support amount than the guidelines produce?
Yes — parents can agree to a different amount, either higher or lower than the guidelines figure. However, the court must approve any deviation from the guidelines and will only do so if the deviation is in the best interests of the child and the reasons for it are clearly stated in the order.
What happens to child support if I lose my job?
A job loss can be grounds for a modification of your child support order — but you must file for modification promptly. Your support obligation does not automatically pause because you lost your job. File a motion to modify as quickly as possible after a significant income change, and document your job search efforts carefully.
Is child support taxable income in Maine?
No. Child support payments are not taxable income to the parent receiving them, and they are not tax deductible for the parent paying them under federal or Maine state tax law.
Questions About Child Support in Maine?
Child support calculations can be complex — especially when income is disputed, parenting time is contested, or modification is needed. At Dirigo Divorce, we help parents across central and southern Maine understand their rights and fight for a fair outcome.
We serve clients throughout Androscoggin County, Cumberland County, York County and southern Maine, including Auburn, Lewiston, Portland, Springvale, Sanford, Kennebunk, the Berwicks, Biddeford, Saco, and surrounding communities. We are also licensed in New Hampshire and serve clients across the Seacoast region.Call us at (207) 200-3231 or visit dirigo-divorce.com to schedule a consultation today.