Massachusetts Child Support Resources: Know Your Number
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Massachusetts sets child support with a written guideline, and the official worksheet is how the math gets shown to the judge. Both parents' income normally goes into the calculation, along with things like health insurance for the children and child care costs.
The official guideline materials for Massachusetts are linked below, together with the verified support documents and the financial paperwork the court usually asks both sides to file. Our own calculator can give you a working estimate before you fill in the official worksheet.
Official Massachusetts child support resources
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Massachusetts child support guideline resources (mass.gov): Official Massachusetts child support guideline materials, worksheets, or calculators. https://www.mass.gov/child-support-guidelines
Massachusetts financial affidavit and disclosure forms (mass.gov): The official source for the financial disclosure paperwork most Massachusetts family cases ask both sides to complete. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/financial-statement-forms-probate-and-family-court
Massachusetts family law forms (official index) (Massachusetts judicial branch): The official statewide collection of Massachusetts family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.mass.gov/lists/probate-and-family-court-forms-for-divorce
Massachusetts court self-help resources (Massachusetts courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Massachusetts family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.mass.gov/topics/family-law
eFileMA (Tyler Technologies): eFileMA is live in every Probate and Family Court division, 24 hours a day. E-filing is required for attorneys but optional for people without a lawyer, so you can always paper file instead. https://www.efilema.com/
Verified official Massachusetts support documents
These official documents are the worksheets and orders Massachusetts uses to set and record child support.
2017 Child Support Guidelines worksheet (Child Support), official document: https://www.mass.gov/doc/2017-child-support-guidelines-worksheet/download
Findings and Determinations for Child Support and Post-Secondary Education (CJD 305) (Child Support), official document: https://www.mass.gov/doc/findings-and-determinations-for-child-support-and-post-secondary-education-cjd-305/download
Instructions for completing the Child Support Guidelines worksheet (CJD-900) (Child Support), official document: https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-completing-the-child-support-guidelines-worksheet-cjd-900/download
Official link data for Massachusetts was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Massachusetts?
Through the state's written guideline, applied on the official worksheet. The guideline uses income and a defined list of add-ons rather than a judge's rough guess, so filling the worksheet in honestly is the single most useful thing you can do. Open the official Massachusetts guideline materials above for the exact method.
Can the court order a different amount than the guideline?
A judge can depart from the guideline in some situations, but the order normally has to explain why. Start from the guideline number and be ready to say plainly what makes your case different.
How much does it cost to file a family case in Massachusetts?
Divorce filing fee: ~$200-$215. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver or indigency application; every state has a process for requesting one.
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