What does child support not cover in Massachusetts?
Asked by: Reed Morissette | Last update: January 29, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (42 votes)
In Massachusetts, basic child support covers daily needs (food, housing, clothing) but not typically major extras like private school, cars, car insurance, extracurriculars, cell phones, or college costs, though these can sometimes be added as separate "extraordinary expenses" or shared costs. Uninsured medical expenses (co-pays, prescriptions) are also handled separately, often split between parents after one parent covers the first $250 annually.
What is child support supposed to cover in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts child support is money that one parent pays to the other parent. It is meant to be used for basic needs such as shelter, food, clothing, and insured health expenses. Massachusetts child support laws state that both parents have a financial duty to support their child.
What does child support not pay for?
One of the most common expenses that isn't covered by traditional child support calculations is health insurance. Most child support orders do, however, include a requirement that each parent pay a certain amount toward a child's medical expenses.
What is the new child support law in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts updated its Child Support Guidelines, effective December 1, 2025, increasing the maximum combined parental income to $450,000 for guideline calculations, recalibrating minimum support for low-income parents (e.g., $15/week for payors earning up to $301/week), and adjusting income percentages, while also broadening included income sources to cover modern earnings like digital assets. These changes aim to reflect economic shifts, ensure fairness for low-income families, and update definitions of income, with higher-income cases still handled by courts using the guideline as a baseline.
How much child support will I pay if I make $1000 a week?
If you make $1,000 a week, your child support could range roughly from $150 to $250+ per week for one child, but it heavily depends on your state's laws, combined parental income, custody, and other factors like insurance costs, with most states using income shares models. For instance, in some states, it might be around $150-$170 (like Indiana or Georgia estimates) for one child, while others might see higher amounts.
How is Child Support Determined in Massachusetts?
What is the biggest mistake in custody battle?
The biggest mistake in a custody battle is losing sight of the child's best interests by letting anger, revenge, or adult conflicts drive decisions, which courts view negatively, but other major errors include badmouthing the other parent, failing to co-parent, poor communication, violating court orders, and excessive social media use, all damaging your case and your child's well-being.
What is the highest child support you can pay?
Yes, child support often has caps, but they vary by state and type, with some states setting high income thresholds where guidelines stop and courts decide based on the child's needs, while federal law caps wage garnishments at 50-60% of disposable income, ensuring a minimum living standard.
What looks bad in a child support case?
In child support cases, negative factors that look bad to a judge include lying, bad-mouthing the other parent, interfering with visitation, substance abuse, criminal activity, inconsistent income, and failing to follow court orders, all of which suggest a parent isn't prioritizing the child's best interest or showing respect for the court. Actions like posting negativity on social media, making threats, or involving children in disputes are also detrimental.
Does child support cover school supplies in Massachusetts?
EDUCATION IN CHILD SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS
Another expense child support can cover is the cost of education. The cost of transportation to school and school supplies are generally considered a daily part of the child's needs which should be covered under child support.
Who is most likely to win a custody battle?
While mothers historically won significantly more custody, modern statistics show a shift, though mothers still often receive primary custody, with fathers gaining more shared time, but outcomes vary greatly by state and case, with courts focusing on the "best interest of the child" over gender, though subconscious biases can linger. Mothers are awarded sole custody more often, but fathers now make up a larger percentage of custodial parents, with some studies showing fathers getting around 35% of total parenting time nationwide.
Are haircuts covered in child support?
Examples of what is covered
Childcare expenses. Educational expenses like school fees and textbooks. Transportation expenses such as gas and car maintenance. Personal care expenses such as hygiene products and haircuts.
Can child support be used for utilities?
Basic Needs
Housing: Child support can go toward rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, and utilities. Food: Child support can help cover groceries and nutritional needs.
How does child support work if the mother has no job?
If a mother has no job, child support still applies, with courts often "imputing" income based on her skills or minimum wage to ensure fair support, or ordering low minimum payments if truly destitute, while looking favorably on good-faith job-seeking efforts; both parents are responsible, so a judge might also assess the father for support, considering the custodial parent's lack of income as a factor.
What can you spend child support on?
The purpose of child support is to provide for the child's basic needs, including but not limited to food, shelter, clothing, and education. California law recognizes that both parents have a legal and moral obligation to support their children financially.
How to not pay child support in MA?
Child support ends if a child stops living with a parent receiving the support or when they are no long financially dependent. It can also end if both parents agree that one shouldn't have to pay it any longer.
How long does a father have to pay child support in Massachusetts?
A parent is generally obligated to support his/her child until s/he turns 18. However, child support can be extended if the young adult is living with a parent, and: s/he is younger than 21 and is primarily dependent upon that parent; or.
What expenses affect MA child support?
TMany deductions and additions affect the final child support amount, including things like childcare costs, the cost of health insurance, and more. However, only costs directly related to the child(ren) are considered, so expenses like groceries or homeowner's insurance would not be considered.
What is the average child support payment in Massachusetts?
In some instances, courts may also consider including income above the $7,692 in the calculation at a lower rate on a case-by-case basis. The average amount of child support received in Massachusetts in 2022 was 7,266. This number was among the highest in the country.
Is daycare cost included in child support?
California Family Code Section 4062(a)(1) states that childcare costs must actually be incurred to be ordered. This means that if a parent is not paying for childcare, those costs cannot be included in a child support add-on. This is in addition to the base child support payment.
What not to say at a child support hearing?
At a child support hearing, avoid lying, exaggerating, bad-mouthing the other parent, making threats, showing anger, criticizing the child, or discussing the case on social media; instead, stay calm, stick to verifiable facts, focus on your child's best interests, and maintain respect for the court and other parties to build credibility. Don't give more information than asked for, and be truthful about finances and expenses, as inaccuracies can backfire.
What is the highest child support payment ever?
If you love baseball then you've probably heard of Alex Rodriguez. He was once one of the highest-paid New York Yankee players. The court ordered Rodriguez to pay $115,000 per month to his ex-wife Cynthia in child support.
What hurts you in a custody battle?
Things that can hurt you in a custody battle include badmouthing the other parent, involving children in the dispute, violating court orders, substance abuse, making threats or threats on social media, and failing to co-parent effectively, as these actions suggest immaturity, instability, or an inability to prioritize the child's best interests, which judges look for. Actions like hiding information, unilateral decisions, or aggression also significantly damage your case.
What percent do they take out of your check for child support?
The amount that can be withheld from your wages is limited by the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Here are the limits: 50% of disposable income if an obligated parent has a second family. 60% if there is no second family.
Why do rich people pay so much in child support?
The courts recognize that the child of a wealthy individual may require more than the basic necessities to maintain their accustomed lifestyle.
Do you have to pay child support after 10 kids?
Yes, you generally have a legal obligation to pay child support for each child you father or mother, regardless of how many you have (even 10), as each child is entitled to financial support; however, courts consider existing support orders for other children, which can reduce the amount for subsequent children but doesn't eliminate it, ensuring support is fair across all kids while allowing the parent to still meet basic needs.