Massachusetts has just completed a periodic revision of the Child Support Guidelines, which occurs every four (4) years, and the changes will become effective on September 15, 2017. While some of the changes are minor, the most significant changes include the following:
1. Increasing the minimum support order to $25 per week. The minimum child support order typically applies in families with extremely low income, and previously was $80/month.
2. Removing the parenting time/child support calculation that was inserted into the 2013 guidelines. The 2013 guidelines had implemented three basic parenting arrangements for purposes of calculating child support: one parent having primary custody with about 2/3 of the children’s time, joint custody with each parent having about 50% of the children’s time, and one parent having primary custody with more than 2/3 of the children’s time. The latter category was eliminated, as the Court–and many attorneys–found that that provision was escalating litigation and causing some parents to vie for more of the parenting time in order to enhance his/her support obligations.
4. Including a capped adjustment in the child support calculation for child care and health care costs. This revisions appears intended to more equitably spread the cost of day care and health care costs between the parents.
5. Addressing child support for children between the ages of 18 and 23, resulting in a 25% reductio in child support for children in this age group.
6. Including provisions related to parental contribution to post-secondary educational expenses, essentially capping parents’ obligations at the cost of U.Mass. Amherst except where the Court enters a specific finding that private college is affordable or that the family has saved for that purpose.
Attorney Sullivan is available to meet with you to evaluate whether and to what extent these revisions could might impact on your circumstances.
