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Child Custody Laws in Massachusetts

Child Custody Laws in Massachusetts

MASSACHUSETTS CHILD CUSTODY LAWS & REGULATIONS UPDATE 2023

A DECADE OF CHANGE: AN OVERVIEW OF MASSACHUSETTS’S CHILD CUSTODY LAWS AND REGULATIONS TIMELINE (2013-2023)

Over the last ten years, Massachusetts’s child custody laws and regulations have evolved to prioritize the best interests of children involved in custody disputes. This article provides an overview of key changes in Massachusetts’s child custody laws and regulations from 2013 to 2023.

2013: Child’s Best Interests Standard

   – Adoption of the child’s best interests standard as the central consideration in custody determinations.

2014: Shared Custody Emphasis

   – Emphasis on shared custody arrangements to encourage active involvement of both parents.

2015: Parenting Plans Requirement

   – Introduction of mandatory parenting plans outlining custody, visitation, and support arrangements.

2016: Child’s Preferences Consideration

   – Consideration of the child’s preferences in custody determinations based on age and maturity.

2017: Grandparent Visitation Recognition

   – Recognition of grandparent visitation rights in custody proceedings.

2018: Domestic Violence Protections

   – Strengthened provisions to protect children from exposure to domestic violence.

2019: Mediation Promotion

   – Emphasis on mediation as a means to amicably resolve custody disputes.

2020: Virtual Visitation Acceptance

   – Acknowledgment of virtual visitation as a means for non-custodial parents to maintain contact.

2021: Military Deployment Consideration

   – Consider

ation of the impact of military deployment on custody arrangements.

2022: Child Support Alignment

   – Alignment of child custody and child support procedures for consistency.

2023: Relocation Guidelines

   – Introduction of guidelines for parents seeking to relocate with their child, emphasizing stability.

Massachusetts’s continuous efforts to adapt child custody laws reflect the state’s dedication to the well-being of children and families. Staying informed about these changes is crucial for parents and legal professionals navigating custody matters.


Guide to Child Custody Laws in Massachusetts

Massachusetts parents who are involved in custody disputes need good, current information.  Understanding the child custody laws in Massachusetts can help you better prepare to seek a custody order or write out a parenting plan.  This guide will explain the types of custody available in Massachusetts as well as explaining some of the state’s regulations surrounding custody issues.

Can Children Decide?

According to child custody laws in Massachusetts, judges must take a child’s wishes about his or her custody into account when the child is 12 or older.  However, the judge is not required to abide by these wishes if there is another reason that the child should not be with his or her preferred parent.

The overarching standard in Massachusetts, as in all other states, is the best interest of the child.  Because of this, child custody laws in Massachusetts allow judges to use many other factors other than a child’s wishes in making a custody determination.  The older a child is and the more well-reasoned their decision seems, the more likely a judge is to abide by a child’s stated preference.

Shared Custody Implementation Plans

Child custody laws in Massachusetts require that parents seeking shared custody provide a shared custody implementation plan to the court.  This allows the court to see that the parents have seriously thought about the implications of dividing their parenting responsibilities and understand what shared parenting will entail.

A shared custody implementation plan must include, according to child custody laws in Massachusetts, details of how a child’s education and healthcare decisions will be handled by the parents, procedures for resolving disputes, and when the child will reside with each parent.  This plan is likely to be accepted by the court, but may be rejected if it is not seen as in the best interest of the child.

Legal Custody

Two kinds of legal custody are specified under child custody laws in Massachusetts.  The first, sole legal custody, allows one parent to unilaterally make decisions about a child’s education, healthcare, and religion.  Shared legal custody, on the other hand, requires parents to cooperate and make these decisions together.

Physical Custody

Child custody laws in Massachusetts also provide for two forms of physical custody.  Sole physical custody means that one parent will reside with the child for the vast majority of the time.  Reasonable visitation for non-custodial parents is mandated by child custody laws in Massachusetts.  This visitation may be supervised by a friend, family member, or social worker if the court deems this appropriate.

Shared physical custody is also available, especially for parents who can develop a plan together that will split their custodial responsibilities.  Child custody laws in Massachusetts define shared physical custody as any arrangement that gives the child frequent and continuous contact with both parents.