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Are Child Support and Parenting Time or Visitation Connected?

Produced by Attorney Jeff Wolf for MassLegalHelp
Reviewed August 2015

As a general rule, there is no connection between paying child support and parenting time or visitation rights. The court orders parenting time or visitation when it is in the best interest of the child.

Paying child support does not automatically entitle the person paying support to have parenting time or visitation with the child. Failure to pay child support will not automatically stop parenting time or visitation.

The duty to pay child support is based on the Child Support Guidelines and has little connection with parenting time or visitation.

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