| While it is not part of the MA state guidelines, there is what was
described as an understanding the CP will continue to maintain a home for
the time the child is at school - and will therefore need to continue to
receive child support. In my case negotiations then switched to 'just
what part of the child support was not necessary' and that didn't add up
to much of a reduction. This is the ONLY time I ever heard what child
support might actually provide for the child - mostly household and
joint personal expenses. Of course you are also expected to contribute
half to the cost of college, i.e. you get to pay twice.
I just wish I could get that money tree to grow faster.
Martin
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| This is how I interpret the guidelines in Massachusetts, based on
our decree:
Support continues until the childs 23 birthday if they are attending
college (regardless of whether they're still in college past the 23
birthday). So if they are through with college before 23, support could
end between 21-23, couldn't it?
It's assumed that the custodial parent still provides them with a place
to live while not in school (break, summer, etc), or perhaps the
college is local so in reality they could be living at home. Otherwise,
it's 21 providing the child is still living with the custodial parent.
(If not living with the custodial parent, and not attending college,
support can end at 18).
Paying for the college is a separate issue. In our decree this is
listed separately, stating that each parent will pay half of college
costs "as they are able" (on top of the support that is being payed,
which is totally separate).
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