Bridgewater Child Support Attorney

Experienced Child Support Lawyer Serving Families in Plymouth County, MA

Child support is a court-ordered payment made by one parent to the other parent to help cover the costs of raising a child. The amount of child support is determined by the court and is based on a number of factors, including the income of both parents, the number of children, and the child custody arrangement.

At Andrew H.P. Norton, A Professional Advocate, we understand that child support is a sensitive and important issue. Our child support lawyer in West Bridgewater can help you understand your rights and obligations and work to ensure that the child support order is fair and reasonable.

Call (508) 422-0815 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our child support attorney in Bridgewater.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts uses the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines to determine the amount of child support. The guidelines are based on the income of both parents, the number of children, and the child custody arrangement. The guidelines are a formula that calculates the amount of child support based on these factors.

Some of the factors that are considered when calculating child support include:

• The income of both parents
• The number of children
• The child custody arrangement
• The cost of health insurance
• The cost of child care
• The cost of education
• The cost of extracurricular activities

Child support is typically paid by the noncustodial parent to the custodial parent. The noncustodial parent is the parent who has the child less than 50% of the time. The custodial parent is the parent who has the child more than 50% of the time.

Child support is typically paid until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. Child support may also be extended if the child has special needs.

What Is the Child Support Payment Process?

Once the court has determined the amount of child support, the noncustodial parent will be required to make regular payments to the custodial parent. The child support order will specify the amount of the payments and the frequency of the payments.

Child support payments can be made directly to the custodial parent or through the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. If the noncustodial parent fails to make the required child support payments, the custodial parent can take legal action to enforce the child support order.

Can Child Support Be Modified?

Child support can be modified if there has been a material change in circumstances. For example, if the income of the noncustodial parent has increased or decreased significantly, the child support order may be modified. Child support may also be modified if the child’s needs have changed.

Our child support lawyer in West Bridgewater can help you petition the court for a child support modification. We can also help you if you are seeking to enforce a child support order.

What Is Child Support Enforcement?

Child support enforcement is the process of ensuring that the noncustodial parent makes the required child support payments. If the noncustodial parent fails to make the required payments, the custodial parent can take legal action to enforce the child support order.

Some of the ways that child support can be enforced include:

• Income withholding
• Wage garnishment
• Seizure of assets
• Liens on property
• Driver’s license suspension
• Passport denial
• Contempt of court

Our child support attorney in West Bridgewater can help you take legal action to enforce a child support order. We can also help you if you are seeking to modify a child support order.

What Is Child Support Contempt?

Child support contempt is the process of holding the noncustodial parent in contempt of court for failing to make the required child support payments. If the noncustodial parent is found in contempt, they may be subject to penalties, including fines, interest, and even jail time.

Our child support lawyer in West Bridgewater can help you take legal action to hold the noncustodial parent in contempt of court for failing to make the required child support payments.

What Is Child Support Mediation?

Child support mediation is a process in which the parents work together to reach an agreement on the amount of child support. The parents will meet with a neutral third party, known as a mediator, who will help them reach an agreement.

Our child support attorney in West Bridgewater can help you with child support mediation. We can also help you if you are seeking to modify a child support order.

What Is Child Support for Unmarried Parents?

Child support for unmarried parents is the same as child support for married parents. The noncustodial parent is required to make regular child support payments to the custodial parent to help cover the costs of raising the child.

Our child support lawyer in West Bridgewater can help you with child support for unmarried parents. We can also help you if you are seeking to modify a child support order.

Call (508) 422-0815 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our child support attorney in Bridgewater.