Easton Child Support Lawyer

Easton Child Support Attorney

One of the most important legal problems parents face when they divorce is figuring out child support. Knowing the details and requirements can help make this process go smoother for parents with the help of an Easton child support lawyer.

What Is Child Support?

Child support laws in Massachusetts require the parent who doesn’t have custody of the children to help pay for their upbringing. This financial duty usually comes in the form of regular payments.

These payments cover basic living costs and ensure the child is safe and healthy. Child support is a legal requirement that ensures children are cared for in a way that fits their needs according to their parents’ abilities.

Calculating How Much Child Support to Pay

The Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines are the main tool used to figure out child support payments in Massachusetts. These guidelines tell you how to figure out the right amount of child support. These rules apply when one parent has direct custody of the child.

The guidelines put substantial weight on the noncustodial parent’s gross income and the number of children who are part of the support order. The parent’s income is the most important factor in figuring out the total payment, though other factors may also be taken into account.

How to Figure Out Child Support: Key Factors

Child support in Easton and throughout Massachusetts is based on a number of important factors. These factors ensure the support order takes into account both the child’s needs and the parents’ ability to pay. Some of these factors include:

• The noncustodial parent’s gross income
• Number of children
• Childcare/daycare costs
• Health insurance and medical expenses
• The age of the children
• The child’s specific needs
• Other child support orders (if the noncustodial parent is already paying child support from a previous relationship)

Methods of Payment

Parental child support payments can be made between parents. Parents can handle the payments on their own if they agree to doing so privately. The courts do not necessarily have to be involved.

However, the parent who is getting the money can always ask for an income assignment. In this case, the paying parent’s employer takes the money straight out of their paycheck and sends it to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR). The DOR then sends the money to the parent who has custody.

There are many benefits to income assignment, such as letting the DOR help with collection and punishment if payments aren’t made on time. If a parent is not getting regular payments because of a private agreement, they can always ask for the agreement to be changed to an income assignment.

Changing Child Support

If your life changes, you may need to change your child support order. A significant change in circumstances, like losing your job, getting a pay raise or deduction, or a health issue, could necessitate a change to the order. Also, if the amount suggested by the Child Support Guidelines is different from the present support order, the parents may try to change the order to reflect the new amount.

What Happens If You Miss Payments?

If the parent who doesn’t have custody of the child doesn’t pay child support, the parent who does have custody can file a contempt of court charge. This will lead to a hearing where the parent who owes money has to explain why payments were late and address the court’s worries. One benefit of an income assignment is that it lets the DOR help enforce child support decisions and collect back payments.

It is important to keep in mind that visitation rights are not the same as child support responsibilities. The court does not look favorably when parents do not let their children visit the other parent as a way to get them to pay child support. Child support and visitation are two separate legal problems.

When Does Child Support Stop?

Most child support stops when the child turns 18. If the child lives with and depends on the receiving parent, support may continue until the child is 21. If the child is in a college program, support may continue until the child is 23. Child support may continue into adulthood if the child has special needs, disabilities, cannot live independently, or is under a guardianship.

FAQs

Contact Farias Family Law, P.C.

If you are in need of assistance in a child support dispute, Farias Family Law, P.C. can help. Contact us today for an assessment.