My son is 18 can I file for child support in Massachusetts

Ten years ago, I made the mistake of letting my son go live with his father so I could finish school, as we had agreed. Within months, he filed for custody and put me on child support.

Since then, I have been fighting to get my son back. Unfortunately, the courts allowed his father to move to Japan with him because he was stationed there. I have been paying child support ever since.

I even pleaded with the court to allow my son to come live with me because he was failing in school, but they denied my request and said his father seemed to be doing a good job—even though my son failed every single school year while in his care.

Three years ago, we returned to court so his father could get permission to take him overseas. At that time, my son was in 10th grade. Since then, he has had to repeat 11th grade and failed both years.

My son turned 18 this past December. As soon as he turned 18—actually, even before his birthday—his father sent him to live with other family members, essentially allowing him to drop out of high school. I promised my son I would come get him back, but his father never did.

Now my son is living with me.

Can I file for child support against his father?