Massachusetts child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
Massachusetts guidelines effective December 1, 2025. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, Massachusetts's guideline amount is $1,473 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Massachusetts uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect December 1, 2025.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your Massachusetts guideline amount
Guideline child support
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Massachusetts child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $546 | $897 | $1,283 | $1,634 |
| 2 children | $763 | $1,257 | $1,798 | $2,288 |
| 3 children | $919 | $1,508 | $2,158 | $2,743 |
| 4 children | $1,010 | $1,664 | $2,379 | $3,020 |
| 5 children | $1,057 | $1,742 | $2,492 | $3,168 |
How Massachusetts calculates child support
Massachusetts uses an income shares formula: Table A gives the support for one child from the parents' combined weekly available income, adjusted for the number of children and for children aged 18 or older, and each parent is responsible for their share of income.
Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes. Support paid under other orders and the health insurance premium a parent pays are deducted to give available income. Everything is weekly and rounded to the dollar.
With about equal time (Box one) or a split arrangement (Box three), the worksheet works out what each parent owes toward the children living with the other, checks it against each parent's income, and the parent who owes more pays the difference.
A paying parent with available income of $391 a week or less pays the low-income amount from the shaded area of the chart, starting at the minimum order of $15 a week. Support of 40% or more of the paying parent's income is presumed to be a hardship the court may deviate for.
Work-related child care, up to $430 a week per child, is shared by income: the other parent's share is added to what they owe. Health insurance premiums are deducted from the income of the parent who pays them.
Support a parent actually pays under another order is deducted from that parent's gross income. Payments on arrears are not.
The formula runs to $8,654 of combined available income a week. Above that the amount at the cap is the minimum presumptive order and the court decides any more.
Every worksheet line is a whole dollar, and income shares are whole percents.
Parenting time in Massachusetts
With about equal time (Box one) or a split arrangement (Box three), the worksheet works out what each parent owes toward the children living with the other, checks it against each parent's income, and the parent who owes more pays the difference.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,473 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $1,473 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $1,473 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $1,473 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $494 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in Massachusetts
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $139 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $4,524 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
A paying parent with available income of $391 a week or less pays the low-income amount from the shaded area of the chart, starting at the minimum order of $15 a week. Support of 40% or more of the paying parent's income is presumed to be a hardship the court may deviate for.
The formula runs to $8,654 of combined available income a week. Above that the amount at the cap is the minimum presumptive order and the court decides any more.
Child support by number of children in Massachusetts
- 1 child$1,049 a month
- 2 children$1,473 a month
- 3 children$1,764 a month
- 4 children$1,941 a month
- 5 children$2,037 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: G.L. c. 208, § 28; G.L. c. 209C, § 9; G.L. c. 119A, § 13; Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines (2025)
- Massachusetts child support guidelines
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (CJD 304)
- Official Massachusetts child support calculator
- Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Child Support Services Division
- Changing a Massachusetts child support order
Guidelines effective December 1, 2025. Verified against the official Massachusetts sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts uses an income shares formula: Table A gives the support for one child from the parents' combined weekly available income, adjusted for the number of children and for children aged 18 or older, and each parent is responsible for their share of income. Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes. Support paid under other orders and the health insurance premium a parent pays are deducted to give available income. Everything is weekly and rounded to the dollar.
What is the child support for one child in Massachusetts on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, Massachusetts's guideline amount for one child is about $897 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Massachusetts?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $494 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). With about equal time (Box one) or a split arrangement (Box three), the worksheet works out what each parent owes toward the children living with the other, checks it against each parent's income, and the parent who owes more pays the difference.
What is the minimum child support in Massachusetts?
A paying parent with available income of $391 a week or less pays the low-income amount from the shaded area of the chart, starting at the minimum order of $15 a week. Support of 40% or more of the paying parent's income is presumed to be a hardship the court may deviate for.
When does child support end in Massachusetts?
Support is for children under 18. A court may order support up to 21 for a child who lives with and depends mainly on a parent, and up to 23 for a child who also is enrolled in an educational program, not beyond an undergraduate degree. Support for an adult child with a disability may be available in equity.