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The Massachusetts Trial Courts released new Child Support guidelines which went into effect on October 4, 2021.  Massachusetts updated the child support guidelines to address a number of issues. To see how the new child support guidelines might affect your child support payments, use the updated child support worksheet.

One issue was lowering the cut-off for low-income payors.  The new child support guidelines changed the minimum payment from $25.00 per week to $12.00 a week for payors with income under $210.00.

The Courts also increased the income limits for calculations under the guidelines from $250,000 to $400,000.  These had not increased since 2009. Massachusetts Trial Courts did this to properly include income on high earners in child support calculations.

Massachusetts also changed the marginal rates for different income calculations. This change creates larger child support payments on the low end of the income table. It also decreases the additional child support created at the upper end of the income scale.  The trial court findings found that this should have a minimal effect on persons who fall on the higher end. The courts implemented this to help people with lower incomes get higher child support payments.

The calculations involving multiple children covered by the order was increased to provide more child support for larger families.

Finally, the child support guidelines changed the method of including medical insurance payments and child care expenses.

If you want additional information about how the new Massachusetts child support guidelines may affect you or a family member, please reach out to us at the Law Offices of Jacob D. Geller.