Can a grandparent be responsible for paying child support?

In Massachusetts, there are certain situations in which a grandparent may be liable for payment of child support. Generally, grandparents must have had a substantial role in the child’s life for them to be found liable for paying this support. The Massachusetts court considers the grandparent’s financial resources and inability to pay before imposing any child support order. The grandparent must provide material or financial assistance to a child for at least 12 months within the previous 24 months before a child support order is issued. Typically, the grandparent has to have been an active part of the child’s life, caring for medical needs, providing support, and/or paying for educational or recreational activities for a set period of time. Additionally, the grandparent must have a certain level of financial capacity to pay for the child’s needs. If the grandparent meets the above criteria, then they may be responsible for paying support. Depending on the situation, the court may order the grandparent to pay their proportionate share of the child’s expenses. It is important to note that this type of order is only issued in extreme cases, when the grandparent has shown that they are able to, and are willing to, provide support.

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Can a grandparent be responsible for paying child support?

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