Title: Fischer v. Division of Child Support Enforcement/Fisher
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 11, 2001
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: August 20, 2001

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
ROBERT T. FISCHER,
Petitioner Below-
Appellant,
v.
DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT
ENFORCEMENT/VICKIE L.
FISCHER,
Respondent Below-
Appellee.
§
§
§  No. 11, 2001
§
§  Court Below—Family Court
§  of the State of Delaware,
§  in and for New Castle County
§  File No. 98-07925
§  Petition No. 00-27379
§
§
§
§
Submitted: August 6, 2001
  Decided:
August 20, 2001
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, WALSH, and HOLLAND, Justices.
O R D E R
This 20th day of August 2001, upon consideration of the Family
Court’s report following remand, it appears to the Court that:
(1)
The appellant, Robert Fischer (Father), filed this appeal from a
decision of the Family Court affirming a Commissioner’s order.  The
Commissioner dismissed Father’s petition to modify child support on
procedural grounds because it was filed within two and a half years of the
original child support order.  After considering the appeal on the basis of the
parties’ briefs, this Court remanded the matter to the Family Court for
reconsideration of its ruling on Father’s petition to modify child support in
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light of the Family Court’s rulings, rendered during separate property
division proceedings, concerning Father’s insufficient income and inability
to meet his support obligations.
(2)
In its report following remand, the Family Court notes that, as
of September 5, 2001, Father “will be entitled to a review and modification
of his child support obligation, as two and one-half years will have elapsed
since the entry of the Order he seeks to modify.” The Family Court thus
recommends that this appeal be remanded to the Family Court so that a
hearing may be scheduled at which Father’s petition to modify child support
may be considered on its merits.
(3)
We agree that this matter should be remanded to permit the
Family Court to conduct a hearing on the merits of Father’s petition to
modify child support.  In determining whether modification of Father’s child
support obligation is appropriate, the Family Court is directed to consider its
prior findings made during the course of the property division proceedings
that Father’s income was “insufficient” to support himself and meet his child
support obligations.  If modification of Father’s child support obligation is
appropriate, the Family Court also is directed to consider whether the
modification should be retroactive.
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NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that this matter is
REMANDED to the Family Court for further proceedings consistent with
this order.  Jurisdiction is not retained.
BY THE COURT:
     s/Joseph T. Walsh       
Justice