When parents separate or divorce, one of the most important responsibilities to address is financial support for their children. In Massachusetts, child support is designed to ensure that children have what they need—regardless of which parent they live with most of the time. 

At Poppy Legal Group, we help parents understand how child support works, what their rights and obligations are, and how to pursue a fair and sustainable arrangement that puts the child’s needs first. 

What Is Child Support? 

Child support is a court-ordered financial contribution from one parent to the other to help cover a child’s basic needs. This can include: 

• Food, clothing, and shelter 

• Health insurance and medical costs 

• Childcare or daycare expenses 

• Educational expenses 

• Extracurricular activities or other reasonable costs 

In Massachusetts, courts take a variety of factors into account when determining support amounts. 

How Is Child Support Calculated in Massachusetts? 

Massachusetts uses a formula called the Child Support Guidelines to calculate how much should be paid. These guidelines take into account: 

• Both parents’ incomes 

• The number of children involved 

• The cost of health insurance, childcare, 

  and certain other expenses 

• The parenting schedule (whether one parent has primary physical custody or the time is shared) 

It’s important to understand that the formula is a starting point—courts can deviate from it in certain circumstances if following the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate.