Best Divorce Lawyers in Medford, MA

A Closer Look at the Cavanagh v. Cavanagh Decision Last month, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts issued a child support and alimony ruling that could have far-reaching implications for divorcing couples in the state. In Cavanagh v. Cavanagh, the court laid out a new set of rules for determining both child support and alimony payments, which could significantly alter divorce proceedings going forward. Let’s take a closer look at what this decision means for couples getting divorced in Massachusetts. Blog Body: The Decision: Child Support & Alimony Payments At its core, the ruling establishes that when it comes to determining child support and alimony payments, courts must consider both parties' “actual income” rather than their “potential income.” This is an important distinction, as potential income refers to the amount of money a person has the capacity to earn—but may not actually be earning—while actual income reflects what they are currently taking home. In effect, this ruling shifts away from the traditional approach of calculating child support and alimony payments based on potential income. Instead, it requires courts to use actual income when making these determinations—a shift that could have significant implications for both high-earning individuals who are looking to minimize their financial obligations and those whose spouses are unemployed or underemployed yet possess extensive financial means.