Child support generally may be changed or modified by filing a motion to modify and demonstrating to the court that the circumstances of the child or one or both parents have materially and substantially changed, or that some period of time (3 years, for example) has passed since the court’s last child support order. And if there has been a material and substantial change in the custody of the child—if, for example, the noncustodial parent who was paying child support has become the custodial parent—the court may change or eliminate the child support obligation based on the change in the custody arrangement.

In Maryland, child support orders can be modified if there has been a material and substantial change in the circumstances of the child or either parent. To initiate a modification, a parent must file a motion to modify with the court. The court will then evaluate if the changes are significant enough to warrant an adjustment to the child support amount. Common examples of such changes include a significant increase or decrease in either parent's income, a change in the child's needs, or a change in custody arrangements. If, for instance, the noncustodial parent who was previously paying child support becomes the custodial parent, the court may reduce or terminate the child support obligation to reflect the new custody situation. Additionally, Maryland law also allows for a review of child support orders every three years, at which point either parent can request a modification based on the passage of time and any accompanying changes in circumstances.