Child Support Modification and Other Services for Those in Haverhill, Lawrence, and Other Areas of Massachusetts
The law requires that biological parents must financially support their children. That responsibility usually lasts until the child reaches the age of majority (18 or 21 depending on state law,) or becomes self–reliant. The obligation to provide child support consisting of regular payments usually arises when one parent has primary custody of the child. Child support may be entered during or after a divorce. Either parent may be ordered to pay support depending upon how custody is arranged. An unmarried mother may also file a petition for child support in family court and an order for support will be entered once paternity has been established.
The amount of child support is determined after the needs of the child and the parent's income are assessed through the use of state specific guidelines. The paying parent will be required to make regularly ordered payments. Failure to make court ordered child support payments risks exposing the paying parent to significant penalties. The family court and state specific Child Support Enforcement office have the power to suspend professional or business licenses, take away driver's and recreational licenses, require payment of future owed sums in advance or place non–paying parents in jail when child support obligations are overdue.
After a child support order has been finalized, both parents have the right to request modifications or changes. The Paying parents often face a difficult time when making a demand that support be reduced. Even if a paying parent's current income is not enough to meet their child support obligations, a court can impute a higher earning capacity to them and order child support based on that higher earning power. It is important to consult an experienced family law attorney to find out all of your options and to make sure your protected.
