Rockville, Maryland, Family Law Blog

Calculating child support is an important part of any divorce involving children. In some cases, parents with joint custody may decide that it's unnecessary, but the obligation to pay support usually falls on the shoulders of those who have less time with the children.

Every state has its own child support system, but there are a few factors that influence how much someone will pay. Those factors include:

• The ability to pay based on the parent's income
• The financial needs of the child, which include special needs, day care, insurance, education and other necessities
• The standard of living the child was used to during the parents' marriage
• The income and needs of the parent who has primary custody

No one wants to go through a divorce because the intention of getting married is not to leave your spouse. Even if you agree that you need to go your separate ways, a divorce is devastating when it comes to the plans you once had for your future.

As someone who is going through the beginning of a divorce, you may not be sure what you should do. Should you be willing to negotiate with your spouse? Should you be firm about what you need moving forward? Here are a few things to consider.

Paying child support is an important obligation. Making those payments on time helps the custodial parent guarantee that your child has the best care, the best home and the things they need to grow up successfully in their home.

As a parent who has to pay child support, it's a good idea to know how child support is calculated. Maryland uses the income shares model to determine child support obligations. That model considers how much money each parent makes, how many children there are, the alimony being paid, any costs associated with day care, the cost of extraordinary medical care, child support for other children and alimony being received. By looking at all these factors, the judge can make a better decision regarding the amount of support that would be fair to pay.

If you have a child outside of marriage, you may be wondering what your rights are as a father. Establishing your paternal rights is important to both you and your child. Your child deserves to have both parents in his or her life. Financial support is only one of many reasons your child needs you. Your emotional support and love are even more important. In Maryland, there are two ways to establish paternity. You can file an Affidavit of Parentage or request a court order. Here are five steps to follow: