Child Support

In Massachusetts there are child support laws to make sure that parents who do not live together share the cost of raising their children. Massachusetts expects parents who do not live with their children to meet their share of the cost by paying child support.  Sometimes a child lives part-time with one parent and part-time with the other parent. In these cases, the parent who lives with the child for less time usually pays child support to the other parent. The parent paying child support usually also pays for the child's health insurance.

Child support helps pay for your child's:

• Housing,
• Health insurance and/or medical costs, including birth-related costs,
• Child care costs,
• Education costs, and
• Food and clothing.