Attleboro, Massachusetts: Child Support and Alimony
Bristol County ∙ Norfolk County ∙ Plymouth County ∙ Barnstable County ∙ Worcester County
In Massachusetts, child support amounts are calculated according to a straightforward formula known as the child support guidelines. Child support amounts are determined based on the income of each parent, the costs of health insurance and child care for the children, and the percentage of time each parent has primary responsibility for the children.
Child support calculations are sometimes a relatively straightforward part of the divorce process. However, sometimes a parent has questions and concerns about child support that require assistance from a family law attorney with advanced experience with child support conflicts and the laws relating to child support.
- Do you suspect that the other parent is underemployed, that is, not earning up to his or her capacity? Do you suspect the other parent is underemployed for the specific purpose of avoiding paying child support?
- Do you suspect that the other parent is not being honest about how much he or she earns?
- Are you fighting about whether the noncustodial parent should pay the full child support amount because you live far apart and the noncustodial parent has significant travel expenses in order to spend time with the child?
- Are there special concerns about paying for private education, extra-curricular activities, college education or necessary medical care?
If any of those situations are true in your divorce case, then you should seek early advice from an experienced family law attorney.
At Volterra, Goldberg & Jacobs, Law Counsellors, Inc., we are frequently called upon to handle divorce cases in which child support is one of the most fought-over issues.
Our lawyers — each of whom has more than a decade of legal experience handling divorce cases — work with forensic accountants when necessary to make sure that the financial record for both parties is complete and accurate, so that a fair child support amount can be calculated.
Is alimony — also called spousal support — going to be an issue in your divorce? Unlike child support, there are no formal rules or guidelines for when alimony must be awarded in a divorce case. Because the judge has great discretion in whether or not to award alimony, it is important to retain a divorce lawyer who understands all the nuances of divorce law and knows how to create a strong argument to advise the court on why alimony should or should not be awarded.
For answers to your questions about child support or alimony in a divorce case, contact Volterra, Goldberg & Jacobs to schedule a confidential consultation. Call (508) 455-3241 or contact us via e-mail.
