Maine Child Support

Below you will find basic information on child support in Maine.

Who can get child support?
How much child support can I get?

Who can get child support?

You can seek child support if you are the child’s primary caregiver and living separately from the other parent, whether you are married or unmarried. Child support lasts until:

• the child turns 18; or
• if the child is still in high school at age 18, child support will continue until the child finishes high school or turns 19, whichever happens first.¹

Note: The order could end before the child reaches 18 if the child gets married or joins the military.¹

A child support order can be part of a parental rights and responsibilities action,² a divorce action, or its own separate action. You can also get temporary child support if you have a temporary protection from abuse order.³

¹ M.R.S. 19-A § 1653(8), (12)
² M.R.S. 19-A § 1653(2)(D)(3)
³ M.R.S. 19-A § 4007(1)(I)

How much child support can I get?

The court determines child support with a formula that takes into account the age of the child, the income of each parent, and other factors, including: 

• debts; 
• dependents; 
• access to savings, such as trust funds, investments, etc..¹

You can get a better idea of much child support you might receive by using a child support calculator. (Please note that WomensLaw.org is not affiliated with that website and cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information contained on it).

¹ M.R.S. 19-A § 2001(1), (5)