The respondent brought a motion to file an amended answer over three-and-a-half years after filing the original answer, seeking to change final orders that had been in place for nearly three years.
The respondent sought joint custody with shared residency, substantially increased access, termination of child support obligations, and dismissal of the applicant's spousal support claim.
The court dismissed the motion, finding that an amended answer should not be accepted in proceedings to amend final orders, and that accepting it would disadvantage the applicant and restart the entire litigation.
The court held that the proper forum for such requests is a motion to change, not an amended answer under the Family Law Rules.
