What Age Does Child Support in Massachusetts End-At Age 18?

STONEHAM, Mass. - Aug. 2, 2014 - PRLog -- The most recent Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines in Massachusetts were enacted on August 1, 2013, and apply to all child support orders and judgments enacted after that date (there is a rebuttable presumption that they apply to support orders enacted prior to that date). The goals of the guidelines are to assist judges in determining the amount of support that should be paid relative to both parents incomes.

One of the most common questions payers of child support have is “when does my obligation end?” Most people assume that when there child turns 18, he/she becomes an adult which in turn ends their obligation, but quite often this is not always the case.  Under the new guidelines, judges are given great discretion in this area and may order support to continue past the 18th birthday. Massachusetts Law states that “the court may make appropriate orders of maintenance, support and education of any child who has attained age eighteen but who has not attained age twenty-one and who is domiciled in the home of a parent, and is principally dependent upon said parent for maintenance.”  Simply stated, if Junior graduates high school, doesn’t go to college and still lives at home, there is a good chance your still paying until he is 21.  This statute also applies if your child attends college or other post secondary education, still lives at home, and is dependent upon the custodial parent, except it can extend support up to age 23.  This can include educational costs, at the judges discretion.

To learn more about Massachusetts Child Support and the articles in this series, visit www.montvalelegalcounsel.com

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Attorney Christopher Ware