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Family Law Blog
Family Law Blog
Family Law Blog
8/4/21: Suspension of Probate and Family Court Standing Order 2-16: Parent Education Program Attendance
By Solen G. Moriarty, Esq.
The Probate and Family Court Department of the Trial Court of Massachusetts has issued a suspension of the mandatory parent education for divorcing parents. Previously, all divorcing parents with minor children were mandated to attend an in-person parent education course designed to educate adults about the many issues children face when their family situation changes. A divorcing parent of minor children were required to pay $80.00 for the program and attend several hours of in-person education prior to the granting of a divorce in Massachusetts. Chief Justice John Casey has issued a suspension of the above parent education requirement, stating that since he became Chief Justice in 2018, the Court has been gathering information about the program and assessing its viability in its current form. Justice Casey states in a Memorandum to the public that the internal assessment revealed several key issues to be worked on. Justice Carey cites five findings that led to the suspension of the parent education program, including: 1. Most States do not Require All Divorcing Parents to Attend a Parent Education Program 2. No Reliable Data Exists that the Massachusetts Parent Education Program is Effective at Producing Desired Goals 3. Management of the Numerous Parent Education Providers and Programs in Massachusetts is an Administrative Burden for the Probate and Family Court 4. Massachusetts Parent Education Providers Fail to Adhere to Several Guidelines Requirements 5. Massachusetts Treats Divorcing vs. Never Married Parents Differently Parents in divorce cases filed as of July 12, 2021, will not be required to submit a parent education certificate. Parents in divorce cases filed until July 11, 2021, will be required to submit a parent education certificate before September 1, 2021. All court-approved parent education programs must complete their programs by August 31, 2021. No new programs may be offered under the auspices of Probate and Family Court Standing Order 2-16 or its temporary amendment on or after September 1, 2021.
8/5/21: New Child Support Guidelines Issued
By Solen G. Moriarty, Esq.
In Massachusetts, every four years a task force made up of attorneys and economists is charged with reviewing the current Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines and offering and recommending changes to the Court. Child Support Guidelines are used by the trial court judges in setting orders for child support and deciding whether to modify current child support orders. The Commonwealth’s Child Support Guidelines Task Force is chosen every four years by the Massachusetts Trial Court Department under a 1998 federal law that requires states to update their child support guidelines every four years. Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey has announced the promulgation of revised child support guidelines, effective October 4, 2021, based on a comprehensive review by the task force. The task force has recommended several changes to the current guidelines that will surely affect existing and future child support awards.