As a loving parent, you have a commitment to provide a stable environment for your minor children. Even if you file for divorce, this parental duty will still exist through your child custody and child support orders.
By working on a most suitable custody arrangement with your spouse, the Massachusetts court can proceed to determine your child support amount and establish your child support order.
FAQ 1: I am a non-custodial parent. How can I pay for my child support?
If your child support is a court order, your payments will be processed by your employer through income withholding. In this procedure, they will deduct your child support costs from your paycheck and forward it to the state’s Department of Revenue (DOR).
The DOR will then send your child support payments to your ex-spouse or the “custodial parent.” If you are not paying child support by income withholding, you can send your payments online, by phone, by mail or by paying in cash through any MoneyGram locations near you.
FAQ 2: Will I acquire a penalty for my late support payments?
If your child support order was issued in the state, the DOR may charge interest and penalty on your late support payments. These will cost you:
- A monthly interest rate of 0.5%
- A monthly penalty rate of 0.5%
This can happen if you owe your ex-spouse more than $500 in past-due support, charged on the last day of each month. It is important to note that these charges are for any support that was due in that specific month for which you did not pay.
FAQ 3: When can I update my child support order?
In Massachusetts, either parent can file a modification request for their child support costs. However, there must be a notable change in circumstances since your order was last issued. Five common reasons for this may include:
- A substantial change in your or your ex-spouse’s income
- A higher expense related to your child’s educational or medical costs
- A disability that affects your financial resources
- An involuntary job loss
- A change in your custody order and parenting time arrangement
Keep in mind that your request must contain substantial proof of your reasoning and be in alignment with your child’s best interests.
By taking the time to learn about the state’s child support processes, you can ease the burden of uncertainty from your mind and move forward with the action that you are trying to pursue on behalf of your child and your personal situation.