Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts
amount of child support
I think my son is paying to much in child support. He earns gross $340/week. Monthly bills $600. My atty. had a meeting with the childs mother and her atty. and agreed on $100/week we were not at the meeting because my lawyer forgot to inform us on the meeting does this sound like a fair amount. No judge ever looked at the financial statements because our lawyer had agreed on this amount and paperwork was signed for that amount.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: amount of child support
To find out what your son should be paying in child
support you should complete the Massachusetts
Child Support Guidelines. The form for this
calculation is available (free) at your nearest
Registry of Probate office in the Probate and
Family Court. To get a completely accurate number
you will also need to know what the child's
mother is making if she is employed, especialy if
she is making more than $15,000 per year. The
formula is somewhat complicated but don't let that
discourage you. Remember that the support order
is based in your son's gross income, not his take-
home pay. Also, Massachusetts has the second
highest child support guidelines in the United
States. Good luck to you.
Bill St. James