Pro Bono: Child Support Guidelines for Massachusetts

Brattle advised the 2021 Massachusetts Trial Court Task Force throughout its review of the state’s Child Support Guidelines. We were hired through a request for proposal (RFP) process with a limited fixed budget, and most of our work was done on a pro bono basis. This was the fourth guidelines review with which our experts have assisted the Massachusetts Trial Court. Brattle provided objective information and advice to the Task Force on a wide range of economic issues underlying the guidelines.

This included analyzing current economic data and information on child costs; explaining economic and financial concepts relating to household budgeting and child costs; advising the Task Force on potential revisions to the guidelines; and helping to implement revisions in an interactive form now used by Massachusetts residents as the state’s Guidelines Worksheet. Our work with the Task Force spanned more than a year and was summarized in a Brattle-authored economic report published on the state’s website.