On Friday, April 7, Trial Court Chief Justice Paula
M. Carey will host the opening ceremony of the Franklin County
Justice Center. In addition to Chief Justice Carey, speakers will
include Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Senate President Stanley
C. Rosenberg, Trial Court Administrator Harry Spence, Commissioner
of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Carol
Gladstone, Representative Stephen Kulik of the 1st Franklin
District, Representative Paul Mark of the 2nd Berkshire District,
Representative Susannah Whipps of the 2nd Franklin District,
Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, Franklin County
Bar Association Chair John Stobierski, and Greenfield District
Court First Justice William F. Mazanec. Franklin County Register of
Probate John F. Merrigan will deliver welcoming remarks.
The renovation of the Franklin County Justice
Center began in 2014. The new courthouse incorporates the historic
1932 façade of the original building with a 104,000 square foot,
three-story addition. The Justice Center's six courtrooms include
updated technological capabilities to allow for hearings to be
conducted by video conference and newly installed recording
equipment for court proceedings. The courthouse will also offer
WiFi for visitors. The expanded building houses five court
departments: Juvenile, Superior, District, Housing, and Probate and
Family Courts, as well as the Law Library, Court Service Center,
and Registry of Deeds.
WHERE:
Franklin County Justice Center
43 Hope Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
WHEN:
Friday, April 7, 2017
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey has announced the
promulgation of revised child support guidelines to be effective on
September 15, based on a comprehensive review by the 2016-17 Child
Support Guidelines Task Force. The task force that conducted the
review, which is required every four years, was chaired by Probate
and Family Court Chief Justice Angela M. Ordoñez.
The child support guidelines are used by Trial Court judges in
setting orders for child support, in deciding whether to approve
agreements for child support, and in deciding cases that are before
the court to modify existing orders.
"I am very appreciative of the work that this Task Force did in
reviewing every facet of the child support guidelines," said Trial
Court Chief Justice Carey. "The 2017 guidelines include substantive
changes, as well as formatting changes. The 2017 guidelines include
commentary that explains the reasoning of the Task Force and
provides direction as to how the Task Force believes the guidelines
should be interpreted and applied. I believe that the commentary
will assist litigants, attorneys, court staff and judges in using
the guidelines."
"These guidelines are responsive to the feedback that the Task
Force received regarding the costs of health care and child care,
as well as child support orders for children between the ages of 18
and 23, and post-secondary educational expenses," said Trial Court
Chief Justice Carey.
The task force recommended a number of clarifications and
changes. Some are minor, while others represent new or modified
provisions. The most significant include:
- Increasing the minimum support order to $25 per week
- Removing the parenting time/child support calculation that was
inserted into the 2013 guidelines
- Including a capped adjustment in the child support calculation
for child care and health care costs
- Addressing child support for children between the ages of 18
and 23
- Including provisions related to parental contribution to
post-secondary educational expenses
Extensive information about all of the provisions of the child
support guidelines can be found in the commentary that is included
in the guidelines. Additional information on the quadrennial review
of the child support guidelines can be found on the court website
here.
In addition to Probate and Family Court Chief Justice Ordoñez,
the 2016-17 task force included: Rachel B. Biscardi, Esq.; Jennifer
Clapp, Esq.; Associate Justice Kevin R. Connelly; Hon. Shawn Dooley
for the Ninth Norfolk District; Jonathan E. Fields, Esq.; Fern
Frolin, Esq.; Ruth J. Liberman; Linda Medonis, Esq.; Dolores E.
O'Neill, Esq.; Arron Pridgeon; James J. Richards, Esq.; and
Michelle A. Yee, Esq. The economic consultants for this task force
were Mark Sarro, Ph.D. and R. Mark Rogers. The task force was
supported by Project Manager Denise M. Fitzgerald, Esq.; Christine
Yurgelun, Esq.; and Robert Dunphy, Jr., Esq.