Child Support
 In Massachusetts, child support can be an obligation of either parent. In any divorce or paternity proceeding, the Court will order child support paid by the non-custodial parent, based on the parents' combined incomes. In 2009, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts established new Child Support Guidelines, which, under certain but not all circumstances, presumptively apply to determine a parent's child support obligation. The guideline's formula takes into consideration the custodial and non-custodial parent's combined incomes, child care costs, the number of children and the cost of health care, dental and vision insurance.
At KCL, we provide our clients with an understanding of child support and the role it plays in a divorce proceeding. We also provide extensive advice and zealous advocacy regarding the receipt or payment of child support, regardless of whether you are the mother or father, primary caregiver or household earner. Some issues that may arise in a dispute over child support include:
- The payment of temporary child support while divorce proceedings are pending;
- Child support in a paternity claim where the parents are not married;
- Special circumstances that may require deviation from the child support guidelines;
- Child support in high-income cases (where one or both parents earn in excess of the amounts provided for by the Child Support Guidelines);
- Attribution of income where the non-custodial parent unreasonably remains unemployed or underemployed;
- Enforcement of child support orders against a parent who fails to pay; and
- Modification of child support orders where circumstances have changed since the divorce.
Contact our attorneys today regarding your child support questions.
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