Resolving Child Support and Spousal Support Issues
Support issues are likely to figure in any divorce with one or both of the following characteristics — minor children or income disparities between the divorcing spouses. If you need advice about your rights, responsibilities or legal options with respect to either child support or alimony, contact a knowledgeable divorce lawyer at the Boston law firm of Thomas McKean.
Child support obligations are determined on the basis of the gross income of the noncustodial parent according to a formula provided in the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines. While these guidelines are not especially flexible, your particular circumstances might indicate that the amount of child support should be increased or decreased to allow for special needs or hardships.
Whether you're the primary custodial parent who will be receiving child support payments or the noncustodial parent who will be making them, our law firm can give you dependable advice about the likelihood that your situation can convince the judge to make adjustments in the child support obligation.
The Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines also cover the rights and obligations of unmarried parents after paternity has been established. We advise and represent single fathers and mothers in child support and paternity cases in much the same way that we work with divorcing parents.
Spousal support or alimony issues allow the parties and the court much more leeway in defining the amount and other terms of the obligation. Though generally based on the financially weaker spouse's need and prospects for eventual self-sufficiency, the conduct of the spouses during the marriage can affect the relative strength of an alimony claim in divorce. Infidelity, drug abuse, or family violence alleged and proved against the offending spouse can result in a spousal maintenance award sufficient to maintain the previous standard of living.
In most cases, however, spousal support is negotiated and settled at the same time as the property division issues. Both are largely independent of child support, which is less subject to dispute or compromise. For the advice of a divorce attorney who can guide you through all the considerations and procedures related to spousal support or child support, contact the Boston law firm of Thomas McKean.
