{"id":373941,"date":"2018-12-20T10:55:22","date_gmt":"2018-12-20T15:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-child-support-calculations.html"},"modified":"2025-02-21T12:34:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T17:34:13","slug":"massachusetts-child-support-calculations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/massachusetts-law\/massachusetts-child-support-calculations.html","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts Child Support Calculations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Massachusetts Child Support Calculations<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

In Massachusetts, both parents are equally responsible for supporting their children, regardless of marital status. One way a parent fulfills this duty is by making child support<\/a> payments.<\/p>\r\n

Massachusetts follows an "income shares" model to calculate the support obligation. This means the family courts consider both parents’ income when calculating the financial support a child would’ve had if their parents still lived together. (You can estimate the amount of child support by using the Massachusetts child support guidelines worksheets<\/a>.)<\/p>\r\n

Here, we’ll explain how the Massachusetts courts calculate child support obligations. We will also discuss the factors determining how much support the non-custodial parent<\/a> (NCP) must pay. If you still have questions about your child support case, see the FindLaw resources at the end of this page or contact a Massachusetts family law attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Factors the Courts Use to Determine Child Support Amount<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The courts usually enter the parents’ financial information into the state child support guidelines<\/a>. The court clerk then enters this into some software, and the child support calculator gives the amount of child support. But this number isn’t set until the judge approves it.<\/p>\r\n

Some of the factors that determine an NCP’s child support obligation include:<\/p>\r\n