A question that is often asked of our Law Office is whether a
party can seek a credit for child support he or she had been ordered to pay,
but for a time period during which they had assumed primary custody and financial
support of the child or children for whom the support order was established. The general rule is found in Massachusetts
General Laws, chapter 119A, section 13(a), which states that a retroactive
child support modification of this kind cannot be granted by a Judge, except
for any period during which there is a pending complaint for modification. In
other words, if one assumes custody and financial responsibility of a child, it
is his or her burden to file a Complaint for Modification and request a change
to the child support order. Otherwise, a court cannot grant a retroactive credit
for any support paid prior to the date of filing of the Complaint.
On November 22, 2016, the Appeals Court held that there is a
very specific and limited exception to this rule. In Rosen v. Rosen, the Court held that a judge can grant and apply a credit to offset a child support arrearage (amount
owed) during a period of time when there was no pending complaint for modification
if the following circumstances are met:
“[T]he support payor must demonstrate that (1) the support
recipient agreed (a) to transfer custody of the child to the payor for an
extended period of time not contemplated in the original custody order, and (b)
to accept the payor’s direct support of the child as an alternative method of
satisfying the payor’s child support obligation; (2) the custody transfer was
not the result of duress, coercion, or undue influence exerted by the payor
against either the recipient or the child; (3) the payor provided the child
with adequate support and maintenance while the child was principally domiciled
in the payor’s home; (4) the recipient was relieved of supporting the child
during the period in question; (5) the alternative support arrangement was not
contrary to the child’s best interests; and (6) granting a credit to the payor
for his or her direct support of the child would not result in injustice or
undue hardship to the recipient.”
While it is always best to seek relief directly from the
Court via a Complaint for Modification if there are any changes to the custody
or support agreement, the holding in Rosen
v. Rosen provides much needed relief for those parents who assume responsibility
for their child during extraordinary circumstances. It also encourages parties
to put the best interests of their children first, without fear that they will
be found in contempt for failure to continue paying child support to a parent
who has voluntarily transferred custody of a child.
If you have questions regarding your custody or support
order, contact our Law Office today to schedule a consultation.
(c)2016 by Law Office of Leila J. Wons, P.C. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. In accordance with rules established by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, this blog must be labeled "advertising."