Join Verrill Partner Rachel Deering as she chairs MCLE New England’s panel, Practical Approaches to Calculating Child Support, on Thursday, July 16.

Issues of support arise in every divorce or domestic relations matter involving minor or unemancipated children. Family law practitioners regularly rely on the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, which was revised effective December 1, 2025. Although the updated Guidelines provide important guidance regarding their application, many areas continue to require interpretation. As a result, disputes frequently arise regarding income determinations, allowable deductions, and credits for childcare, among other issues. The ongoing interplay of alimony in the post-Cavanagh framework further complicates support analysis and requires practitioners to consider multiple approaches to child support calculations and the related tax consequences.

This program brings together an experienced faculty to discuss practical approaches to calculating child support under the revised Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, including considerations of health and dental insurance, childcare, and college or educational expenses. The panel also addresses effective advocacy strategies under a variety of factual scenarios, including Cavanagh analyses, from the perspectives of both payors and recipients, with attention to tax implications. The program concludes with a judicial perspective on best practices for presenting support calculations and common pitfalls to avoid.