Ch. 2                                           LAWS OF MARYLAND

(K) "BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION" MEANS THE BASE AMOUNT
DUE FOR CHILD SUPPORT USED ON THE COMBINED ADJUSTED ACTUAL
INCOMES OF BOTH PARENTS.

12-202.

(A)  IN ANY PROCEEDING TO ESTABLISH OR MODIFY CHILD SUPPORT,
WHETHER PENDENTE LITE OR PERMANENT, THE COURT MAY USE THE CHILD
SUPPORT GUIDELINES SET FORTH IN THIS SUBTITLE.

(B)  (1) SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS
SUBSECTION, THE ADOPTION OF THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH IN THIS
SUBTITLE MAY BE GROUNDS FOR REQUESTING A MODIFICATION OF A CHILD
SUPPORT AWARD BASED ON A MATERIAL CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES.

(2) THE ADOPTION OF THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH IN THIS
SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE GROUNDS FOR REQUESTING A MODIFICATION OF A
CHILD SUPPORT AWARD BASED ON A MATERIAL CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES
UNLESS THE USE OF THE GUIDELINES WOULD RESULT IN A CHANGE IN THE
AWARD OF 25% OR MORE.

(C) THE CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES SET FORTH IN THIS
SUBTITLE ARE ADVISORY ONLY AND GIVE RISE TO NO PRESUMPTION OR
INFERENCE.

(D) IF A COURT DECIDES TO USE THE CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES
UNDER THIS SUBTITLE, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE THE COURT MAY:

(1) CONSIDER FACTORS NOT SPECIFIED UNDER THIS
SUBTITLE; OR

(2) DISCOUNT OR DISREGARD FACTORS SPECIFIED UNDER
THIS SUBTITLE.

12-203.

(A)  THE COURT OF APPEALS SHALL MAY ISSUE STANDARDIZED
WORKSHEET FORMS TO BE USED IN APPLYING THE CHILD SUPPORT
GUIDELINES SET FORTH IN THIS SUBTITLE.

(B)  (1) INCOME STATEMENTS OF THE PARENTS SHALL BE VERIFIED
WITH DOCUMENTATION OF BOTH CURRENT AND PAST ACTUAL EARNINGS
INCOME.

(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF
THIS PARAGRAPH, SUITABLE DOCUMENTATION OF ACTUAL EARNINGS INCOME
INCLUDES PAY STUBS, EMPLOYER STATEMENTS OTHERWISE ADMISSIBLE
UNDER THE RULES OF EVIDENCE, OR RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES IF
SELF-EMPLOYED, AND COPIES OF EACH PARENT'S 2 3 MOST RECENT
FEDERAL TAX RETURNS.

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