Massachusetts child support arrears forgiveness

ESTIMATE — based on the rules Massachusetts published, checked October 2026. Only the agency can approve a reduction, and approvals are discretionary.

What can be reduced

Interest + penalties owed to the Commonwealth (Commissioner waiver if in Commonwealth's best interest / maximizes collection); offers in settlement < full state-owed arrears; equitable adjustment of Commonwealth arrears

Who may be eligible to apply

• Obligors where liability or collectability is in serious doubt, or with no present/future ability to pay full state arrears

Where to apply

DOR Child Support Enforcement

The split still decides it

State-owed (assigned) arrears are the state's to compromise. Family-owed arrears can only be reduced by the other parent's voluntary, documented agreement — no agency can force it. Tennessee is the verified inversion: family-owed arrears are the compromisable slice there with court approval, and state-owed cannot be forgiven. If you do not know your split, the first move is a written request to the agency for the split as separate lines.

Interest and limits

Interest: no verified interest rate is published for this state on this site, so the calculator shows principal only unless you enter a rate from your own judgment or order — labeled as your figure.

What no one can do: a judge cannot erase arrears that already accrued for hardship, job loss, or incarceration when no modification was filed at the time (Bradley Amendment, 42 U.S.C. §666(a)(9)(C)). Arrears are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

Federal lines: arrears over $2,500 can be certified for passport denial or revocation; only the state agency can request a release, and release practice is set by the state.

Run the arrears decoder for Massachusetts

Source: 830 CMR 119A.6.2, via OCSS list · Rules checked October 2026.