You are going through a divorce and you have children. You just want to make sure your kids have what they need going forward and the state of Massachusetts agrees with you, which is why there is a basic calculation for determining how much child support should be paid in any given divorce case. Did you know that the number received from that calculation is just the floor amount of what you may have to pay or what you may receive? Child support beyond this base amount is negotiable.
Child support is one of those things that you and your soon-to-be-ex may struggle to agree on. It happens in a lot of divorce cases. One of you may end up walking away feeling that you or your children have been cheated in a way if you simply accept what is being offered because you do not want to fight.
Like all other terms of divorce, child support, as previously stated, is negotiable. This means that you and your spouse have every opportunity to try to work out a support agreement that you feel is fair and meets the specific needs of your children. If negotiations are not getting you anywhere near an acceptable settlement on this matter, you can always take the issue to court. Legal counsel can be at your side helping you regardless of which way your case goes.
Some parents in Massachusetts find that the state-calculated base child support amount is sufficient for their family’s needs. Others, of course, may find it either too much or too little. If you are in the latter position, you can speak to your attorney about what you need to do to ensure the support order you end up with is fair, balanced and to the benefit of your children. To learn more about how legal counsel can assist with divorce and child support matters, please take a moment and visit our firm’s website.
