Massachusetts § 8 Lack of custody as defence; duty to support child

Massachusetts Statutes

§ 8 — Lack of custody as defence; duty to support child

Massachusetts § 8

Part IVCRIMES, PUNISHMENTS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES

Title ICRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS

Ch. 273DESERTION, NON–SUPPORT AND ILLEGITIMACY

This text of Massachusetts § 8 (Lack of custody as defence; duty to support child) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 273, § 8 (2026).

Text

Section 8. In proceedings under sections one or fifteen against a parent, relative to any minor child, it shall not of itself be a defence that the defendant has ceased to have custody or the right to custody of such child on his own acquiescence or by judicial action. The legal duty of the parent or parents to support a minor child shall continue notwithstanding the absence of a court decree ordering them or either of them to pay for the support of said child and notwithstanding any court decree granting custody of such child to another.

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Section 8. In proceedings under sections one or fifteen against a parent, relative to any minor child, it shall not of itself be a defence that the defendant has ceased to have custody or the right to custody of such child on his own acquiescence or by judicial action. The legal duty of the parent or parents to support a minor child shall continue notwithstanding the absence of a court decree ordering them or either of them to pay for the support of said child and notwithstanding any court decree granting custody of such child to another.

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Massachusetts § 8, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/ma/273/8.