Legal Question in Family Law in Michigan

Retroactive child support

Long story short: child came to live with me from March - November 05, then returned home. Ex asked for custody change etc. in December, Consent Order sent by Washtenaw FOC in January. I signed, she didn't. Now she's hired an attorney 8 months later claiming they never issued a consent order and there was ''a dispute'' over support amount (never made known to me). She's asking the judge to make an order to make me pay from Nov. 05 to current though FOC notified her by mail, and me, in March 06 that she had failed to sign and therefore there would be no change to the order.

Do I need an attorney and is it likely I will be hit for 10 months of back child support? Child will turn 18 in November, she pulled him out of high school in Feb. (without consulting me, and we have joint legal custody) due to his experimenting with drugs. He *may* finally be finishing his last semester of h.s. this fall. Am I obligated to pay until he graduates? Divorce agreement says until he's 18, graduates high school, or whichever is later but if she pulls him out without consulting me AGAIN, do I keep being on the hook until he finally graduates?


Asked on 8/07/06, 4:10 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
William Stern William Stern, P.C.

Re: Retroactive child support

While you can't lower your support retroacrtively, I bet your judgment says that your support is lowered by 50% when the child stays with you overnight more than 6 consecutive nights. This should lower your obligation a lot. It's always better to use a lawyer. If cost is a big factor, give me a call as I know a local Ann Arbor lawyer who should take care of you relatively inexpensively. William S. Stern

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Answered on 8/07/06, 9:08 pm


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