Most states have child support guidelines in their statutes—often in the statutes collected in the state’s family code. These child support guidelines provide percentages and methods of calculating child support payments based on the number of children; the parents’ incomes and financial resources; the income and needs of the custodial parent; the needs of the children, including any special needs; and the standard of living for the children before the parents’ divorce or separation. The child support guidelines are just guidelines, and the court generally has discretion to order more or less child support based on the best interest of the children.

In Maine, child support guidelines are established by state statutes to ensure that children receive adequate financial support from their parents following a divorce or separation. These guidelines are found in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 19-A, Chapter 63. The guidelines take into account various factors such as the number of children, the combined income of the parents, and the proportion of time each parent spends with the children. The state uses a formula to calculate the basic child support obligation, which can then be adjusted based on the needs of the children, including any special needs, the standard of living the children would have enjoyed had the marriage remained intact, and the financial resources and needs of both parents and children. While these guidelines provide a framework for determining child support, Maine courts have the discretion to deviate from the guidelines if it is found to be in the best interest of the child, considering factors such as extraordinary medical, educational, or travel expenses.