Child Support and Out-of-State Issues

Whether one parent is living just over the Massachusetts border in New Hampshire but still commutes to Boston every day, or whether the one parent is living on the West Coast while the children live with the other on the South Shore, issues of state jurisdiction may come into play when seeking to modify a Massachusetts child support agreement.

Changing Circumstances, Modifying Orders

In Massachusetts, child support is governed either by temporary orders or by final judgments. Temporary orders govern the terms of child support while there is still open legal action in process to establish a final judgment.

The term “final judgment” is something of a misnomer. “Final” does not mean that the judgment can never be altered again. A child support final judgment may be modified in the future. This can be done with the agreement of both parents, or one parent may file a complaint for modification if certain conditions are met.
The conditions under which one parent can file a complaint for modification to a child support final judgment include:

  • Changes to the gross income of either or both parents
  • Unavailability of previously ordered health coverage, either because of job loss or unduly burdensome cost increases
  • New availability of health care coverage through a parent
  • Any other material and substantial changes in circumstances

What to Do When One Parent Lives in a Different State

When one parent lives out of state, modifying and enforcing a child support judgment presents some logistical challenges, but there are clear channels for inter-state cooperation in upholding child support agreements. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts cooperates with other states, under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), to enforce child support orders.

If one parent lives outside Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts-resident parent needs to file a complaint for modification or a complaint for contempt against the parent living outside the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts resident can file the complaint in family court as usual and hire a constable or other agent in the other parent’s state to serve the paperwork.

If the out-of-state parent is not paying court-ordered child support, the Massachusetts parent may also contact the Customer Service Bureau at the Department of Revenue for help in arranging that overdue child support be deducted from the noncompliant parent’s paycheck.

If a parent moves outside of Massachusetts but receives child support through a Massachusetts child support judgment, the judgment remains valid until a court modifies it.

If you are a Massachusetts resident receiving child support from an out-of-state ex-spouse and need help modifying or enforcing the order across state lines, call me today to discuss your family’s situation (508) 752-2727.