Child Support
In a landmark decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Cavanagh v. Cavanagh issued several new rulings on the treatment of alimony and child support in divorce, which have changed the way Probate and Family Court judges and attorneys address these issues. Pre-Cavanagh, courts typically only ordered a spouse to pay alimony and child support […]
Your divorce decree may include child custody, visitation, spousal, or child support orders. Intentionally refusing to comply with one or more of these orders is an act of contempt of court. One way to enforce a court order after a violation has occurred is by filing a complaint for contempt asking the court to enforce […]
One of the issues that arises when you are getting a divorce is child support. Child support is a parent’s court-ordered payment to help with the costs of raising a child. In Massachusetts, child support obligations normally last until the child turns 21 years old but can continue until he or she turns 23 or graduates from college, whichever occurs first.[1]The […]
When parents are divorcing, child support and alimony are often at the forefront of the discussions. While it is true that current income is a factor that can determine alimony and child support, current income isn’t the only determining factor. Imputation of Income or Attribution of Income may enter into the discussions. Here’s some information […]
Paying for college is an issue that regularly concerns parents, and many begin planning for it when their children are young through savings accounts, 529 accounts, and other means. For divorcing parents, however, paying for college poses other challenges. Who pays for the college expenses when the parents are divorced? How will college savings accounts […]
On May 18, 2018 the court announced that a new child support guidelines worksheet will be effective as of June 15, 2018. While the base Guidelines themselves have not changed, the language will be updated to reflect the changes to the worksheet. The new guidelines are expected to be released by the court on May […]
New child support guidelines in Massachusetts went into effect on September 15, 2017. The new child support guidelines are based on a comprehensive review by the Child Support Guidelines Task Force, which is required to review the guidelines every four years. According to a Mass.gov press release: The Task Force recommended a number of clarifications […]