Alimony With Child Support In Massachusetts
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Massachusetts Alimony Requirements One of the most notable alterations is the provision generally specifying that alimony orders terminate when the payor reaches “full retirement age.” The age of retirement is based on Social Security guidelines, currently set between age 66 and 67.
Under California law, for the most part, a new spouse's income is not used in the calculation for child support. It may only be considered when not doing so would cause extreme and severe hardship to the child involved. Usually, the calculation is made strictly using the parents' gross income.
To qualify for alimony support, the receiving spouse must prove financial hardship and make a case for monetary assistance, whether temporary or long-term.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court took a novel approach and determined that the alimony law and the child support guidelines allow the court to consider awarding both alimony and child support based on the same income.
Child support is never deductible and isn't considered income. Additionally, if a divorce or separation instrument provides for alimony and child support, and the payer spouse pays less than the total required, the payments apply to child support first. Only the remaining amount is considered alimony.
After a divorce, it's common for one spouse to make payments to the other as part of the divorce agreement. These payments can be alimony, child support or a mix of both.
If your original divorce didn't award alimony, and didn't mention alimony in any way, you can file a complaint for alimony for the first time at any time after your divorce. To request alimony, you'll need to file: Complaint for Alimony. This is a form you write yourself, not a form you get from the court.
