As a divorce lawyer, I often receive questions about college expenses and child support in Massachusetts. It is important to understand the laws and regulations surrounding these topics to ensure that both parents and children are protected.
In Massachusetts, child support is determined by the Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines take into account the income of both parents, the number of children, and other factors such as health insurance and child care costs. The guidelines are designed to ensure that children receive adequate financial support from both parents.
In Massachusetts, parents are not required by law to pay for their child's college expenses. However, if the parents have agreed to pay for college expenses in a divorce agreement or court order, they are legally obligated to do so.
If parents have agreed to pay for college expenses, it can affect the amount of child support that is paid. The Child Support Guidelines take into account the cost of college when determining child support payments. If one parent is paying for college expenses, their child support payments may be reduced to reflect this.
If parents cannot agree on who should pay for college expenses, the court may intervene. The court will consider a number of factors, including the financial resources of both parents, the child's academic record, and the child's own financial resources. The court may order one or both parents to pay for college expenses.
In Massachusetts, child support and college expenses are two separate issues. While parents are not required to pay for their child's college expenses, they may be legally obligated to do so if they have agreed to it in a divorce agreement or court order. If parents cannot agree on college expenses, the court may intervene. It is important to understand the laws and regulations surrounding these topics to ensure that both parents and children are protected.
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