Chelmsford Child Custody Lawyer
At the Law Office of John K. Leslie, P.C., we use 29 years of legal experience to help parents manage child support matters to their child's greatest benefit. We serve our clients by taking their needs into account and giving them practical advice based on in-depth knowledge of Massachusetts laws. Whether you are seeking support in a nontraditional family situation, determining child support, or seeking a modification or enforcement of child support after a divorce, we can help.
Judges in the state of Massachusetts use a series of guidelines to calculate the amount of child support owed by a noncustodial parent after a divorce or in a nonmarital situation. The vast majority of child support orders follow the Massachusetts guidelines, but departure from the guidelines sometimes happens if a child has special needs. Under the guidelines, many things can affect the amount of child support owed or paid:
- Your income
- Income of the other parent
- Number of children
- Ages of the children
- Health-care costs
- Day-care costs
Massachusetts child support guidelines are not meant to apply to families where the total gross income of both parents is more than $135,000 or where the income of the noncustodial parent is more than $100,000. In these cases, judges look at the facts involved to determine the right amount of child support.
In these high-income cases, it is especially important to seek representation from a well-qualified attorney like John K. Leslie. An experienced attorney knows the factors that judges take into account when considering child support, and can structure an effective argument to which judges will respond.
A well-qualified lawyer who knows the tax consequences of child support awards can also be critical to your success. John K. Leslie has in-depth knowledge of the law, developed over the course of nearly three decades of legal experience. Taking into account the tax consequences of alimony awards and property division as they might effect the money available for child support and other financial circumstances, he helps maximize the tax benefit to both parents, making more money available for the family to help support your child's needs.
Contact the Law Office of John K. Leslie, P.C.
To talk with us about your child support concerns, contact our Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts, law office at 978-934-9100. In many cases, an initial 30-minute consultation is offered at no charge. We accept most major credit cards.
