Opinion ID: 1461936
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the 1998 child support order

Text: [¶ 12] Longo argues that because the 1998 child support order was an interim order issued in response to Goodwin's motion to modify, once Goodwin's motion was withdrawn, the interim child support order became a nullity and the parties are now governed by the 1996 child support order. The 1998 child support order, however, was issued in response to his agreement that the child support amount be modified to $363 per month. The parties are bound by the terms of that order at least until it is superseded by another order, is terminated by operation of law, [5] or expires of its own terms. [6] [¶ 13] The fact that a post-judgment child support order is termed an interim order does not mean that it is automatically void when the party who sought the post-judgment modification withdraws the motion. Interim orders are effective until a final order is issued. R. Fam. Div. M. Dist. Ct. III(G)(1). [¶ 14] When Longo suggested to the court that the amount of child support was contested, as he did in his motion to set aside the withdrawal, the court held a hearing on his request to declare the 1998 child support order void. The court denied his request. Because the record is sparse and the hearing was not recorded, we do not know the basis of the court's denial. [7] Longo has not requested factual findings, and we assume that the court made all necessary findings to support its decision. See Sewall v. Snook, 687 A.2d 234, 236 (Me.1996). The court was obviously aware of the judicial admission by Longo, and it properly could have based its decision on that fact. We conclude that the trial court did not exceed the bounds of its discretion in refusing to set aside the 1998 child support order. [¶ 15] The court, however, did not convert the interim order to a final order. Because the Family Division Rules anticipate that a final order shall be issued, R. Fam. Div. M. Dist. Ct. III(C), we remand the matter to the District Court so that the Family Division may issue a final order. The 1998 child support remains in full force and effect until it is superseded by a final order or otherwise modified. The entry is: Judgment affirmed. Case remanded to the District Court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.