Child support in Massachusetts
On behalf of Roncone Law Offices, P.C. | Dec 1, 2020 | Family Law
Every child has a lawful right to financial support from her parents. It makes no difference whether her parents were never married, separated, or divorced. This financial support is court-ordered child support. These payments are required to help with the financial necessities of raising a child – for health, food, and other types of care.
Requesting child support in Massachusetts
BA child’s parents can make an agreement and approach a judge to request a support order during a divorce or other family law civil court proceeding. Child support obligations are typically required until the child turns 18, but may continue on until the child turns 20, if he or she is still in high school. A majority of child support cases are initiated by completing an Application for Full Child Support Services submitted to the Department of Revenue.
Those eligible for child support services
In Massachusetts, each parent or the child’s guardian can apply for child support services including:
- Enforcing an existing child support order to collect ordered support;
- Establishing paternity;
- Creating a child support order;
- Modifying a child support order;
- Enforcing overdue owed support.
Calculation guidelines of child support
The state of Massachusetts uses support guidelines enacted by the legislature. The judges uses a child support formula using mathematical code. The most important factors a judge uses in determining child support include:
- Each parent’s income;
- Expense of daycare;
- Medical insurance cost;
- Benefits the child is already receiving;
- The child’s living arrangement.
Consulting with an attorney experienced in proceedings will help ensure the fairness of each parent’s responsibility to support their child.
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