Child custody and support in Massachusetts

Custody terms in Massachusetts

Legal and physical custody (sole or shared) and parenting time

Parenting class in Massachusetts

• Yes, in most cases.
• Under Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-23 (effective Feb. 12, 2024), parents in a divorce complaint involving custody or parenting time of minor children must take the online 'Two Families Now' co-parenting course unless waived.
• Joint 1A petitions are not on the required list: https://www.mass.gov/parent-education

Child support in Massachusetts

• Child support calculator: Official child support calculator or guidelines
• Child support agency: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Child Support Services

Good to know

Standing Order 3-23 (Feb. 12, 2024) made the online 'Two Families Now' co-parenting course mandatory in divorce (except 1A), custody, paternity and separate support cases with minor children. New Child Support Guidelines worksheet issued in 2025 (mass.gov).

Children in a Massachusetts divorce: what the process includes

1. Custody

   The court's orders use Massachusetts's term for custody: legal and physical custody (sole or shared) and parenting time.

2. Parenting class

   Yes, in most cases.

3. Child support

   The official calculator or guidelines: Official child support calculator or guidelines

4. The child support agency

   Massachusetts's child support agency: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Child Support Services

Questions about custody and child support in Massachusetts

More about divorce in Massachusetts

• All Massachusetts divorce laws
• Uncontested divorce in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts divorce forms and filing fees
• Alimony in Massachusetts
• Serving divorce papers in Massachusetts
• Divorce timeline estimator for Massachusetts
• Divorce checklist for Massachusetts
• How to file for divorce without a lawyer
• Served with divorce papers: what to do

Custody and support in nearby states