Court Opinion

ID: 9723141
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 10:03:32.506369+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:45.112938
License: Public Domain

Michael J. Kelly, J.
(concurring in part and dissenting in part). I disagree with the majority’s adoption of a rule precluding the trial court from allowing credit against child support obligations for past voluntary overpayments of child support. Certainly circumstances could arise where equitable considerations would require that the noncustodial parent be credited for support given to the child beyond the actual support obligations. This principle has been recognized by the jurisdictions that the majority relies upon to devise its rule that credit should never be given. See Isler v Isler, 425 NE2d 667 (Ind App, 1981); Strum v Strum, 22 Ill App 3d 147; 317 NE2d 59 (1974). The more reasonable approach would be to leave it to the trial court’s discretion whether to award the noncustodial parent credit for overpayments of child support. See In re Marriage of Peet, 84 Cal App 3d 974; 149 Cal Rptr 108 (1978); Jones v Jones, 462 So 2d 375 (Ala Civ App, 1984). I believe that such matters should be left to the sound discretion of the trial court, to be determined from the facts and circumstances of each case. Jones, supra; Peet, supra.