Who reviews the Child Support Guidelines?
What has happened and what is going on during this Child Support Guidelines review?
What happened at the 2002 Child Support Guidelines review?
How can I be involved to protect the rights of my children to receive adequate child support?
Are child support orders in Massachusetts too high?
Where can I get a copy of the complete Child Support Guidelines?
What is the Child Support Guidelines review?
Federal law
requires that each state review its child support guidelines at least
once every four years "to ensure that their application results in the
determination of appropriate child support award amounts." The
last review was completed in 2002. A four-year review was
started in 2005. New Guidelines, with one small change, were
issued in February 2006. A more comprehensive Child Support
Guidelines review will take place during 2006 - 2007.Who reviews the Child Support Guidelines?
The Massachusetts
court system has a Chief Justice of Administration and Management (or
CJAM). At the last Child Support Guidelines review, about four years
ago, the CJAM appointed a committee which conducted several public
hearings around the state. The committee made recommendations to the
CJAM, and the CJAM made some changes in the Guidelines. See "What happened last time there was a Child Support Guidelines review?" What has happened and what is going to happen during this Child Support Guidelines review?
There were
five public hearings about the Child Support Guidelines, in September,
2005. Some people and organizations testified in person, and some
submitted written testimony. People continue to send letters to
the review committee. In February, 2006, the Chief Justice for
Administration and Management (CJAM) announced that new Child Support
Guidelines would be issued, effective February 15, 2006, with one
change: The Child Support Guidelines do apply to an agreement between
the parents concerning child support. The CJAM also announced
that he would be conducting a comprehensive review of the Guidelines,
and that he would convening "a Task Force comprised of parties
interested in participating in this important project" led by a
Probate and Family Court judge and an attorney. The CJAM said
that other stakeholders in the project would be identified and that the
the review would be an open process to be completed in 12 to 18 months.What happened at the 2002 Child Support Guidelines review?
At the last Child Support Guidelines review, parents who pay child support, many from so-called "Fathers' Rights Groups", participated and testified at public hearings. They sought a reduction in their child support responsibilities. As a result, the Basic Order amounts were reduced.
At the last review, working custodial parents who earned more than $15,000 per year advocated for an increase in the Custodial Parent Disregard . As a result, the Custodial Parent Disregard was increased from $15,000 to $20,000.
YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF YOUR CHILDREN TO RECEIVE ADEQUATE CHILD SUPPORT!!
How can I be involved to protect the rights of my children to receive adequate child support?
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Stay tuned to announcements at this website to keep up-to-date about the Child Support Guidelines Review.
Are child support orders in Massachusetts too high?
No. They are probably too low. According to information furnished by the Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement Division, the average child support order is between $57 and $75 per week, depending on family size. Most child support orders in Massachusetts are for children living in families with low incomes. About two-thirds of the over 106,000 child support orders in the Commonwealth are under $100 per week.
