How child support is determined
Child support is based on both parents’ income. The court uses the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines to make child support orders.
The judge will use the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines Worksheet that you fill out to help determine the amount of child support that will be paid. A written decision from the judge about child support will be mailed to you.
How child support is paid
Child support is usually ordered to be paid through the Department of Revenue (DOR). The amount that is ordered is taken out of the non-custodial parent's pay by the employer and sent directly to DOR. This is called a wage assignment. DOR sends the child support it receives to the custodial parent (the parent the child lives with most of the time). DOR keeps a record of all payments it receives from the non-custodial parent and sends to the custodial parent.