September 23, 2009

The Honorable Robert M. Bell,

Chief Judge

The Honorable Glenn T. Harrell, Jr.

The Honorable Lynne A. Battaglia

The Honorable Clayton Greene, Jr.

The Honorable Joseph F. Murphy, Jr.

The Honorable Sally D. Adkins

The Honorable Mary Ellen Barbera,

Judges

The Court of Appeals of Maryland

Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Your Honors:

The Rules Committee submits this Letter Report, and recommends that the Court adopt, on an emergency basis, the amendments to Rule 9-206 transmitted with it. The purpose of the proposed changes is to conform the Child Support Guidelines Worksheets set forth in sections (c) and (d) of the Rule to statutory changes to Code, Family Law Article, Title 12, made by Chapter 508, Laws of 2009 (SB 70). The bill was passed to comply with federal mandates regarding child support and prevent the loss of federal funds. Its effective date is October 1, 2009.

Because the statutory changes affect the computation of child support awards under the Maryland Child Support Guidelines, the Committee respectfully requests that the Court add to the agenda of the October 5, 2009 open meeting on Rules consideration of the amendments to Rule 9-206.

For the further guidance of the Court and the public, following the Rule as amended is a Reporter's Note describing in further detail the reasons for the proposal and any changes that would be effected in current law or practice. We caution that

the Reporter's Note is not part of the Rule, has not been debated or approved by the Committee, and is not to be regarded as any kind of official comment or interpretation. It is included solely to assist the Court in understanding some of the reasons for the proposed changes.

Respectfully submitted,

Alan M. Wilner

Chair

Linda M. Schuett

Vice Chair

AMW/LMS:cdc

MARYLAND RULES OF PROCEDURE

TITLE 9 - FAMILY LAW ACTIONS

CHAPTER 200 - DIVORCE, ANNULMENT AND ALIMONY

AMEND Rule 9-206 to add provisions concerning "cash medical support" to the worksheets, as follows:

Rule 9-206. CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES

(a) Definitions

The following definitions apply in this Rule:

(1) Shared Physical Custody

"Shared physical custody" has the meaning stated in Code, Family Law Article, §12-201 (i).

(2) Worksheet

"Worksheet" means a document to compute child support under the guidelines set forth in Code, Family Law Article, Title 12, Subtitle 2.

(b) Filing of Worksheet

In an action involving the establishment or modification of child support, each party shall file a worksheet in the form set forth in section (c) or (d) of this Rule. Unless the court directs otherwise, the worksheet shall be filed not later than the date of the hearing on the issue of child support.

Cross reference: See Code, Family Law Article, §12-203 (a) and Walsh v. Walsh, 333 Md. 492 (1994).

(c) Primary Physical Custody

Except in cases of shared physical custody, the worksheet

shall be in substantially the following form:

__________________________ In the

Circuit Court for ________________

v.

_____________________________ No. ____________

WORKSHEET A - CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION: PRIMARY PHYSICAL CUSTODY

_________________________________________________________________

_________________ _____________ _______________ _____________

Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth

_________________ _____________ _______________ _____________

Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth

_________________ _____________ _______________ _____________

Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth

Mother Father Combined

1. MONTHLY ACTUAL INCOME (Before ////////

taxes) (Code, Family Law $ $ ////////

Article, §12-201 (b))

_________________________________________________________________

a. Minus preexisting child support ////////

payment actually paid - - ////////

_________________________________________________________________

b. Minus alimony actually paid - - ////////

_________________________________________________________________

c. Plus/minus alimony awarded ////////

in this case +/- +/- ////////

_________________________________________________________________

2. MONTHLY ADJUSTED ACTUAL INCOME $ $ $

_________________________________________________________________

3. PERCENTAGE SHARE OF INCOME ////////

Divide each parent's income ////////

on line 2 by the combined income ////////

on line 2.) % % ////////

_________________________________________________________________

4. BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION ////// //////

(Apply line 2 Combined Income ////// //////

to Child Support Schedule.) ////// ////// $

_________________________________________________________________

a. Work-Related Child Care

Expenses (Code, Family Law

Article, §12-204 (g)) $ $ +

_________________________________________________________________

b. Health Insurance Expenses

(Code, Family Law Article,

§12-204 (h)(1)) $ $ +

_________________________________________________________________

c. Extraordinary Medical

Expenses

(Code, Family Law Article,

§12-204 (h)(2)) $ $ +

_________________________________________________________________

d. Cash Medical Support

(Code, Family Law Article,

§12-102 (c) - applies only to

a child support order under

Title IV, Part D of the Social

Security Act) $ $ +

_________________________________________________________________

e. Additional Expenses

(Code, Family Law Article,

§12-204 (i)) $ $ +

_________________________________________________________________

5. TOTAL CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION ////// //////

(Add lines 4, 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, ////// //////

4 d, and 4 e). ////// ////// $

_________________________________________________________________

6. EACH PARENT'S CHILD SUPPORT //////

OBLIGATION (Multiply line //////

5 by line 3 for each parent.) $ $ //////

_________________________________________________________________

7. TOTAL DIRECT PAY BY EACH PARENT //////

(Add the expenses shown on lines //////

4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, and 4 e //////

paid by each parent.) $ $ //////

_________________________________________________________________

8. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT AMOUNT //////

(Subtract line 7 from line 6 for //////

each parent.) $ $ //////

_________________________________________________________________

9. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER //////

(Bring down amount from line 8 for //////

the non-custodial parent only. //////

If this is a negative number, see //////

Comment (2), below.) $ $ //////

_________________________________________________________________

Comments or special adjustments, such as (1) any adjustment for certain third party benefits paid to or for the child of an obligor who is disabled, retired, or receiving benefits as a result of a compensable claim (see Code, Family Law Article,

§12-204 (j) or (2) that there is a negative dollar amount on line 9, which indicates a recommended child support order directing the custodial parent to reimburse the non-custodial parent this amount for "direct pay" expenses):

_________________________________________________________________

PREPARED BY: DATE:

_________________________________________________________________

(d) Shared Physical Custody

In cases of shared physical custody, the worksheet shall

be in substantially the following form:

______________________________ In the

Circuit Court for _____________

v.

______________________________ No. ___________________________

WORKSHEET B - CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION: SHARED PHYSICAL CUSTODY

_________________________________________________________________

_________________ _____________ _______________ _____________

Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth

_________________ _____________ _______________ _____________

Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth

_________________ _____________ _______________ _____________

Name of Child Date of Birth Name of Child Date of Birth

Mother Father Combined

1. MONTHLY ACTUAL INCOME (Before //////

taxes) $ $ //////

(Code, Family Law Article, §12-201 (b))

________________________________________________________________

a. Minus preexisting child support //////

payment actually paid - - //////

_________________________________________________________________

b. Minus alimony actually paid - - //////

_________________________________________________________________

c. Plus/minus alimony awarded //////

in this case +/- +/- //////

_________________________________________________________________

2. MONTHLY ADJUSTED ACTUAL INCOME $ $ $

_________________________________________________________________

3. PERCENTAGE SHARE OF INCOME //////

(Divide each parent's	//////

income on line 2 by the //////

combined income on line 2.) % % //////

_________________________________________________________________

4. BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION ////// //////

(Apply line 2 Combined Income ////// //////

to Child Support Schedule.) ////// ////// $

_________________________________________________________________

5. ADJUSTED BASIC CHILD SUPPORT ////// //////

OBLIGATION (Multiply Line 4 ////// //////

by 1.5) ////// ////// $

_________________________________________________________________

6. OVERNIGHTS with each parent (must

total 365) 365

_________________________________________________________________

7. PERCENTAGE WITH EACH PARENT //////

(Line 6 divided by 365) A % B % //////

_________________________________________________________________

STOP HERE IF Line 7 is less than 35% ////// ////// //////

for either parent. Shared physical ////// ////// //////

custody does not apply. (Use ////// ////// //////

Worksheet A, instead.) ////// ////// //////

_________________________________________________________________

8. EACH PARENT'S THEORETICAL CHILD //////

SUPPORT OBLIGATION (Multiply //////

line 5 by line 3 for //////

each parent.) A$ B$ //////

_________________________________________________________________

9. BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION //////

FOR TIME WITH OTHER PARENT //////

(Multiply line 8A by line //////

7B and put answer on Line 9A.) //////

(Multiply line 8B by line //////

7A and put answer on line 9B.) A$ B$ ////// _________________________________________________________________

10. NET BASIC CHILD SUPPORT //////

OBLIGATION (Subtract lesser //////

amount from greater amount in //////

line 9 and place answer here //////

under column with greater amount //////

in Line 9.) $ $ //////

_________________________________________________________________

11. EXPENSES: ////// //////

a. Work-Related Child Care ////// //////

Expenses ////// //////

(Code, Family Law Article, ////// //////

§12-204 (g)) ////// ////// +

_________________________________________________________________

b. Health Insurance Expenses ////// //////

(Code, Family Law Article ////// //////

§12-204 (h)(1)) ////// ////// +

_________________________________________________________________

c. Extraordinary Medical ////// //////

Expenses ////// //////

(Code, Family Law Article, ////// //////

§12-204 (h)(2)) ////// ////// +

_________________________________________________________________

d. Cash Medical Support ////// //////

(Code, Family Law Article, ////// //////

§12-102 (c) - applies only	////// //////

to a child support order ////// //////

under Title IV, Part D of ////// //////

the Social Security Act) ////// ////// +

_________________________________________________________________

e. Additional Expenses ////// //////

(Code, Family Law Article, ////// //////

§12-204 (i)) ////// ////// +

_________________________________________________________________

12. NET ADJUSTMENT FROM WORKSHEET //////

C. Enter amount from line l, //////

WORKSHEET C, if applicable. If //////

not, continue to Line 13. $ $ //////

_________________________________________________________________

13. NET BASIC CHILD SUPPORT //////

OBLIGATION (From Line 10, //////

WORKSHEET B) $ $ //////

_________________________________________________________________

14. RECOMMENDED CHILD SUPPORT ORDER //////

(If the same parent owes money //////

under Lines 12 and 13, add //////

these two figures to obtain the //////

amount owed by that parent. If //////

one parent owes money under //////

Line 12 and the other owes //////

money under Line 13, subtract //////

the lesser amount from the //////

greater amount to obtain the //////

difference. The parent owing //////

the greater of the two amounts //////

on Lines 12 and 13 will owe //////

that difference as the child //////

support obligation. NOTE: The //////

amount owed in a shared custody //////

arrangement may not exceed the //////

amount that would be owed if //////

the obligor parent were a //////

non-custodial parent. See //////

WORKSHEET A). $ $ //////

_________________________________________________________________

Comments or special adjustments, such as any adjustment for certain third party benefits paid to or for the child of an obligor who is disabled, retired, or receiving benefits as a

result of a compensable claim (see Code, Family Law Article, §12-
204 (j)):

_________________________________________________________________

PREPARED BY: DATE:

_________________________________________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORKSHEET C: Use Worksheet C ONLY if any of the Expenses listed in lines 11 a, 11 b, 11 c, 11 d, or 11 e is directly paid out or received by the parents in a different proportion than the percentage share of income entered on line 3 of Worksheet B. Example: If the mother pays all of the day

care, or parents split education/medical costs 50/50 and line 3 is other than 50/50. If there is more than one 11 e expense, the calculations on lines i and j below must be made for each expense.

WORKSHEET C - FOR ADJUSTMENTS, LINE 12, WORKSHEET B

_________________________________________________________________

Mother Father

a. Total amount of direct payments

made for Line 11 a expenses

multiplied by each parent's percentage

of income (Line 3, WORKSHEET B)

(Proportionate share) $ $

_________________________________________________________________

b. The excess amount of direct payments

made by the parent who pays more than

the amount calculated in Line a, above.

(The difference between amount paid and

proportionate share) $ $

_________________________________________________________________

c. Total amount of direct payments made for

Line 11 b expenses multiplied by

each parent's percentage of income

(Line 3, WORKSHEET B) $ $

_________________________________________________________________

d. The excess amount of direct payments made

by the parent who pays more than the

amount calculated in Line c, above. $ $

_________________________________________________________________

e. Total amount of direct payments made

for Line 11 c expenses multiplied

by each parent's percentage of income

(Line 3, WORKSHEET B) $ $

_________________________________________________________________

f. The excess amount of direct payments

made by the parent who pays more than

the amount calculated in Line e, above. $ $

_________________________________________________________________

g. Total amount of direct payments made

for Line 11 d expenses multiplied by

each parent's percentage of income

(Line 3, WORKSHEET B)	$ $

_________________________________________________________________

h. The excess amount of direct payments

made by the parent who pays more

than the amount calculated in line

g, above. $ $

_________________________________________________________________

i. Total amount of direct payments made

for Line 11 e expenses multiplied by

each parent's percentage of income

(Line 3, WORKSHEET B)	$ $

_________________________________________________________________

j. The excess amount of direct payments

made by the parent who pays more

than the amount calculated in line

i, above. $ $

_________________________________________________________________

k. For each parent, add lines b, d,

f, h, and j $ $

_________________________________________________________________

l. Subtract lesser amount from greater

amount in Line k, above. Place the

answer on this line under the lesser

amount in Line k. Also enter this

answer on Line 12 of WORKSHEET B, in

the same parent's column. $ $

_________________________________________________________________

Source: This Rule is new.

REPORTER'S NOTE

Chapter 508, Laws of 2009 (SB 70) requires the court, under certain circumstances, to order one or both parents to pay "cash medical support," as that term is defined in Code, Family Law Article, §12-102 (a)(6). Under certain other circumstances, the new statute authorizes, but does not require, the court to order the payment of cash medical support. Code, Family Law Article, §12-102 (c)(5) requires that if cash medical support is ordered, the amount of it "shall be added to the basic child support obligation and divided by the parents in proportion to their adjusted actual income."

The Worksheets contained in Rule 9-206 are proposed to be amended to conform to this legislation.