Child Support

New child support guidelines go into effect in Massachusetts on September 15, 2017. The new guidelines make some important changes, including how medical and childcare expenses are considered, and provide additional clarity (maybe) regarding child support and paying for college tuition and expenses.  Also introduced in the 2017 guidelines is an offset to lower child…

Note:  This article originally appeared in the October/November 2015 issue of New England Woman Magazine. If you are considering a divorce, or already divorced, you may be wondering about returning to work, getting a new job or even just increasing your hours.  Divorce almost always involves some element of financial strain. Maintaining two households on the…

If you are due unpaid child support in Massachusetts, you should be familiar with the numerous options for collecting the money to help support your child or children. Administrative enforcement options are coordinated by the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR). If you are owed back child support, the best idea is to…

Although most people are somewhat familiar with child support and alimony, there is a third category of support that you may not be familiar with.  Unallocated family support doesn’t get much attention compared to the more common forms of support. It is a combination of child support and alimony, but receives the same tax treatment of alimony. Labelling payments unallocated family…

  Are child support and alimony taxable? Can you deduct your support payments? The cost of child support and alimony are important elements of many Massachusetts divorce cases.  When thinking about the types of support you might receive or pay, understanding the tax implications is crucial.   For higher-income families, some divorce agreements or even temporary orders may provide…

Attribution of income is a relatively common issue in Massachusetts child support cases, whether as part of your divorce or a post-divorce modification.  Besides child support cases, attribution of income can also be a factor in alimony cases.  Alimony is also known as spousal support. Attribution of income occurs when the court makes a finding that a person is…

Why do some divorcing parents handle the issues surrounding parenting in a respectful and thoughtful manner, while others adopt mean-spirited and inflexible positions?   As a Norfolk County Divorce Lawyer and Divorce Mediator, I have seen both extremes, but there is no simple answer to the question. High conflict over parenting during and after divorce is like a disease. …