Following a summary judgment that awarded custody and prospective child support to the mother, a focused trial was held to determine her claims for retroactive child support and section 7 expenses from 2012 to 2017.
Applying the D.B.S. framework, the court found the father engaged in blameworthy conduct by underpaying support, but noted the mother's delay and ambivalence in pursuing her claims, as well as the father's financial hardship.
Balancing these factors, the court ordered retroactive child support and section 7 expenses starting January 1, 2016, resulting in $8,276 in additional arrears.
To mitigate hardship, the father was permitted to pay the total arrears at a rate of $150 per month.
