As experienced family lawyers, we are here to support and guide our clients through every step of the divorce, child custody, and child support process so our clients’ can focus on their families, and not on their divorce or child-related matter.
What Is Child Support?
Child support is a payment from one parent to the other parent to pay for the expenses of raising a child. Child support typically consists of fixed, regular payments.
In addition to child support, parents may also be ordered to share other reasonable child-related expenses, such as extracurricular activities, lessons, tutoring, as well as other expenses.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Massachusetts?
Child support payments are calculated using the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines, which are updated every four years. A link to the 2021 Child Support Guidelines Worksheet is below:
https://courtforms.jud.state.ma.us/publicforms/PFC0001_2021
The Child Support Guidelines provide for a presumptive child support order. However, there are several factors that can be taken into consideration in deviating from the child support amount calculated using the formula set out in the worksheet.