I’m Carolan Hardy, Esq., an experienced Quincy child support mediator. I can help you understand Massachusetts child support laws and how support is calculated.
Although child support can be negotiated during divorce or child custody mediation, it is still governed by Massachusetts child support guidelines. It is calculated based on the income of both parents, as well as who has custody and the amount of time each parent spends with the child. The support guidelines specify what types of income are included when arriving at gross income, which is used to calculate child support.
There is a child support worksheet that needs to be completed and file with your documents. After we discuss your parenting schedule, I can complete and review the child support worksheet. The worksheet considers who is paying for health insurance, dental and vision insurance (if there is any), daycare and other expenses, and whether a parent is paying for any other children.
Child Support with Shared Custody
If a parent has physical (or primary) custody, child support guidelines provide for that parent to receive child support. If the parents have shared custody, then child support is calculated for each parent as if that parent were the primary parent. Let’s say one parent would receive $500 as the primary parent and the other would receive $300 as the primary parent. The difference in these two amounts – $200 – would then be paid to the lower-income parent.
Deviating from the Child Support Statute
When arriving at a child support order, the family court judge will also consider whether either party has filed a request for a deviation and completed a deviation worksheet. For example, if a parent lives a great distance and spends money for airfare, hotel or other things in order to spend time parenting, that parent may want to ask for a deviation from the typical child support order.
Modification of Child Support
Child support orders can change if someone has an increase or a decrease in salary, a new job or a loss of job, or a child is emancipated. As situations change, you need to file a modification with the Court to ask for a modification of your child support order. We can work together to make the modification.
Learn more about child support and how I can assist with your child support order or modification. Contact Divorce and Family Mediation Services or call 617-750-9709 to schedule a free initial consultation from my offices in Quincy and Hingham.