Trial Court Issues New Child Support Guidelines Effective August 1st

Press release here. Excerpt:

'Chief Justice of the Trial Court Robert A. Mulligan today announced the promulgation of revised Child Support Guidelines to be effective on August 1, 2013, based on a comprehensive review by the Child Support Guidelines Task Force he appointed in 2012. The Task Force that conducted the review, which is required every four years, was chaired by Probate and Family Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey.

The Child Support Guidelines are used by Trial Court judges in setting temporary, permanent or final orders for current child support, in deciding whether to approve agreements for child support, and in deciding cases that are before the court to modify existing orders.

“The Task Force has worked diligently to develop guidelines that account for the economic realities facing families,” said Chief Justice Mulligan. “I greatly appreciate their commitment to ensuring the well-being of children across the state.”

“These guidelines provide Trial Court judges with tools to determine child support in a way that is transparent and economically sound,” said Chief Justice Carey, who also chaired the Task Force four years ago. “This Task Force has invested tremendous energy in analyzing the data and producing guidelines based on the current economic climate for families raising children in Massachusetts.”'