Opinion ID: 2443972
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Challenge to the Child Support Credit Awarded to Wallace for a Cash Payment Made Before Georgiana's Birth

Text: Upson also contends that under D.C.Code § 16-916.01(v)(3), Magistrate Judge Diaz erroneously granted, and Associate Judge McKenna erroneously upheld, a $10,000 credit to Wallace based on a payment he made to Upson prior to Georgiana's birth. We review this issue of law de novo. United States v. Scott, 987 A.2d 1180, 1188 (D.C.2010). Pursuant to § 16-916.01(v)(3), the court may credit voluntary payments or contributions to the child's expenses by the parent with the legal duty to pay support to a retroactive award of child support if such payments were made in a period not to exceed the 24 months preceding the filing of the petition or request for child support[.] D.C.Code § 16-916.01(v)(1) & (3). Wallace made a payment of $10,000 to Upson during her pregnancy with Georgiana, a time period that falls within the twenty-four-month time frame prior to Upson's August 16, 2004 request for support. [20] Under the plain language of § 16-916.01(v), we are satisfied that the rulings on this point by the trial court were correct. Accordingly, Upson's claim is rejected.