Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Child Support Guideline Changes

New rules and procedures went into effect, starting on December 1, 1997. I am not aware of changes that are related to the status of the parent, the law in Massachusetts requires that the parents support the children, whether they were married or not. The parent who does not have custody supports the child(ren) by way of making child support payments, which are calculated and are rather mechanical, if you make more than $200 a week. The major changes related to the reporting of your income on your financial statement to the Court. In the realm of child support, there is now a minor adjustment for the payment of medical insurance, which can credit either the custodial parent or the non-custodial parent. This change is probably minor compared to the changes in circumstances (income increase on the part of the non-custodial parent, need on the part of the custodial parent, or age of the oldest child). If you go to the Court that heard your case for child support, and seek out the clerk, he or she will give you a "child support worksheet" if you ask politely for one. That worksheet is the manner in which child support is computed. If you are unsure as to how to complete the worksheet, you could consult the Department of Revenue for help -- but beware that if you end up owing more money, they can initiate a modification of your order, seeking an increase in your payments. You could also consult an attorney, who could help you evaluate the situation. If you ended up owing more child support, an attorney could not voluntarily disclose your obligation to the court, unless the custodial parent initiated an action to modify the amount of child support received.

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