Massachusetts Child Support Modification Attorneys

Assisting Clients in Plymouth, Bristol, Middlesex & Norfolk Counties

Child support payments are meant to cover the cost of raising a child, including their food, housing, clothing, and any special needs they might have. A family court determines which parent will make these payments based on multiple factors. These considerations may include the income of both parents, the age of the child, the costs of health insurance, day care, the amount of time the child spends with each parent, and other factors.

The judge in a divorce case takes into account the income of both parties when considering financial support for a minor. When one parent has substantial income, the amount they may owe could be high, even if they share physical custody of the child. What income is included within a calculation is also an issue that needs to be determined to obtain the final support amount. If anything has changed from when you entered into your most recent child support judgment, you could be eligible to have your child support order modified. In these cases, our extraordinary team can use their firsthand experience to help you seek an alteration to your child support duties.

Additionally, if you have primary custody over your child and are seeking a change in your prior order, our Massachusetts child support modifications lawyers can help as well. Because our practice has over 35 years of exclusive family law experience, we can carefully evaluate your financial situation and explain your legal options.

The Child Support Modification Process in Massachusetts

The process of child support alteration starts well before an attorney files a petition with the court. Sometimes, the party seeking the change may ask the other parent to agree voluntarily. If the parties both agree to a modification, the process can be fairly straightforward. Both sides would need to file a joint petition requesting their desired change and file the appropriate documentation, which the Court can grant administratively without you having to appear in court.

When both parents cannot come to an agreement, however, the party requesting the modification must file a complaint for modification on their own or through the Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement Division.

Additionally, it is usually important to move quickly. If a parent is in a position where they cannot afford their support payments, they could continue to accrue these payments at that amount until they file and serve their complaint and then get into court on a motion for temporary orders. Our child support attorneys in Massachusetts can help a parent through this modification process regardless of whether the other party agrees or not.