How is child support calculated in Massachusetts?

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Massachusetts   child support   is governed by   G.L. c. 208 § 28   (divorce),   c. 209C § 9   (paternity), and the   Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines   issued by the   Chief Justice of the Trial Court   (current version effective   October 4, 2021  ).    1. Income Shares Methodology   1. Determine each parent's   weekly gross income   (wages, self-employment, bonuses, overtime over 30 hours, pension, Social Security, royalties, etc.). 2.   Combine   weekly gross incomes. 3. Use the   guideline worksheet   to compute the basic order — the formula uses both percentages and minimum/maximum tables based on combined available income. 4. Apply credits for   child care  ,   health/dental/vision insurance  , and prior child support obligations. 5. Apply parenting time adjustments.    2. Parenting Time Adjustment   -   Less than 33% parenting time  : standard guideline. -   33-50% parenting time  : court runs the calculation   two ways   — once with each parent as recipient — and orders the difference. -   Approximately equal time  : similar two-calculation approach.    3. Combined Income Cap   The 2021 guidelines cap at   $400,000/year combined gross income  . Above the cap, the judge has discretion; courts often apply the same percentages as a   starting point   but may deviate.    4. Minimum Order   A presumptive   $25/week minimum   applies to obligors with very low incomes.    5. Duration (G.L. c. 208 § 28)   Massachusetts has the   broadest age range   in the country: - Until age   18   as the standard endpoint. - Until age   21   if the child lives   principally with a parent   and is   principally dependent   on that parent for support. - Until age   23   if the child is   principally dependent   and   enrolled in an undergraduate educational program   (no graduate school support).    6. Modification (G.L. c. 208 § 28)   A complaint to modify may be filed if: - The current order is   inconsistent   with the amount that would result from applying the current Guidelines, OR - There is a   material and substantial change   in circumstances, OR - Health insurance previously available is no longer available.  The 2021 amendment   eliminated the prior "substantial change" requirement   and made guideline inconsistency alone sufficient.    7. Deviation (Guideline IV)   Permitted with written findings — extraordinary travel costs, disability, extraordinary medical, and other case-specific factors.  This is legal information, not legal advice.