Norfolk Child Support Lawyer

Norfolk Child Support Attorney

Understanding how child support amounts are calculated and whether they can be modified is crucial if you live in Norfolk, MA, where the cost of living is higher than in many other counties in the state. The right Norfolk child support lawyer can provide specific answers and tailored solutions for your child support case.

At Farias Family Law, P.C., our divorce lawyers and child custody attorneys offer personalized support to Norfolk families involved in child support disputes, as well as related matters such as alimony and paternity. We assist you in petitioning for child support payments, and we can guide you through successfully requesting a modification of an existing Massachusetts child support order. Our firm offers knowledgeable representation to help you achieve a fair and effective resolution.

Who Is Eligible for Child Support in Norfolk, MA?

In Massachusetts, parents of children under the age of 18 and, in limited cases, children aged 18–23 are typically eligible for child support payments if they are the child’s custodial parent.

Child support plays an integral role in ensuring that parents, particularly non-custodial legal parents, meet their financial responsibilities after a divorce or toward a child born outside of a marriage.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Massachusetts

Child support is calculated based on the latest Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines.

Justices at Massachusetts Trial Courts consider various factors when determining support amounts. These include:

• Actual Income: Gross income from any source, excluding income from public assistance programs or SSI
• Attributable Income: Income that either parent is capable of earning but does not earn, based on voluntary unemployment, for instance
• A child’s healthcare costs, including medical insurance and routine out-of-pocket expenses
• Current custody and parenting time arrangements
• Whether the parents have other child support obligations
• Reasonable childcare costs, especially when the custodial parent is retraining or obtaining an education that can help them acquire gainful employment

Courts may also consider each parent’s ability to pay for child support when determining the total amount. If the calculated child support amount is more than 40% of the payor’s income, this is considered a hardship that may require a recalculation or modification of an existing support order.

The Massachusetts child support guidelines also state that the income used in calculating child support is limited to a combined annual gross income of $400,000. If combined income exceeds this amount, it is within the court’s discretion to include any income above the threshold at a lower calculation rate.

Your child support case may be filed at the Norfolk Family and Probate Court, located at 35 Shawmut Rd in Canton.

Benefits of Working With a Norfolk Child Custody Lawyer

Working with a Norfolk child custody lawyer helps ensure that the process of determining a child support amount is fair and accurate.

For parents who are worried about increasing costs, this is especially critical. The average out-of-pocket health care expenses for a Massachusetts family reached $2,680 per month in 2022, while health insurance premiums increased by 7% nationally in 2023. The cost of child care in Massachusetts is estimated to be $29,650 annually for one child.

Working with a skilled attorney can allow you to secure a support amount that accounts for the higher cost of living in the state.

Parents who worry that their child support order is excessive can also benefit from the assistance of a seasoned family law attorney. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you challenge an unreasonable support request or seek a child support modification, especially if the original calculations were based on outdated guidelines or inflated income figures. If you are already contributing significantly to your child’s expenses or paying substantial alimony to a former spouse, it may be difficult to make your child support payments.

FAQs

Q: How Do I Fight Child Support in Norfolk, Massachusetts?

A: Fighting child support in Norfolk, Massachusetts, is not straightforward. Parents are required to provide financial support for their minor children, regardless of whether they were born within or outside of marriage.

A parent may be able to contest a specific child support amount if they can show that the order leads to financial hardship. It may also be possible to show that child support was calculated based on outdated guidelines or inaccurate income information.

Q: Should I Hire a Child Support Lawyer?

A: You are highly advised to hire a child support lawyer if you are seeking child support or do not agree with the terms of an existing child support order. Working with an attorney can help remove the emotion from the process and prioritize an outcome that is in your child’s interest. An attorney can help you negotiate the terms of a child support order with the other parent and plead your case in front of a judge.

Q: How Much Does a Child Support Lawyer Cost in Massachusetts?

A: The price of a child custody attorney varies based on their location and years of practice, as well as the complexity of a child support case. If you are working with an attorney to negotiate with the other party or represent you during a child support hearing, you may incur higher costs than if the attorney were only assisting you in filing a child support order or modification petition.

You can discuss representation costs during an initial assessment.

Q: What Is the Average Child Support Payment in Massachusetts?

A: The average child support payment in Massachusetts is difficult to determine since child support amounts are calculated based on numerous factors, including income and cost of living, which can vary significantly from one family to another and from one city or town to the next.

Current guidelines set a minimum of $12 per week for child support for those earning below $210 per week. Courts also work to ensure that payments do not exceed 40% of a parent’s gross income.

Contact a Compassionate Norfolk Child Support Lawyer

Taking care of your parental obligations should not leave you in a financial black hole. It is critical that you advocate for a fair child support agreement that considers your parental responsibilities, your cost of living, and the other parent’s financial capabilities. A court’s child support determination is based on the child’s best interest, not the parent’s. Having a child support attorney on your side can help ensure your concerns are factored in.

The legal team at Farias Family Law, P.C., fights on your behalf in a child support case. Even if you are a high-income earner who can afford child support payments, it’s beneficial to have an attorney on your side who can make certain this amount makes sense long-term for your financial stability and that of your children. Call us today to schedule an assessment of your case.