Opinion ID: 2164776
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Mother's alleged waiver of support.

Text: Appellant's last point is that the mother here has voluntarily assumed the burden of support and therefore may not recover against the father. Jason was born on September 13, 1976, and the action in paternity was filed on November 24, 1976. In his answers to interrogatories dated March 21, 1977, defendant stated: The plaintiff has called me at least once a week since August, 1976, which calls continue at the present, requesting Child support or me to assist her in paying off her debts or money for other purposes. It is clear from this record that the plaintiff had not relinquished her rights of recovery against the father. Defendant relies upon Addy v. Addy, 240 Iowa 255, 261, 36 N.W.2d 352, 356 (1949), which stated the rule to be that a divorced wife who voluntarily supports a child cannot, in the absence of an express or implied promise to pay therefor, recover from the husband for past support. Defendant has two problems here. First, although there is evidence that plaintiff did furnish the sole support for Jason prior to the time she was able to obtain payment from defendant for a portion of it, there is no evidence she ever assumed such burden on a permanent basis or waived her rights against him; the contrary was true. The record shows she was looking to him for contribution of support even before the child was born. Second, the legal principle of Addy, as set out above, has been overruled in the recent case of Brown v. Brown, 269 N.W.2d 819, 821-22 (Iowa 1978), which held it was contrary to the weight of authority in other jurisdictions. We said, at page 822: Parents have a mutual duty to support their children. Their ability to meet this duty varies with their economic circumstances. . . . Further, nothing in the mutuality of the statutory obligation forecloses a right of contribution between the parents when one has performed a duty the other should in justice and equity have helped with. We conclude therefore that the trial court applied correct principles of law, and that the judgment was based upon substantial evidence. The case is therefore affirmed. AFFIRMED.