In re Dakota County

The district court ordered Father to pay monthly child support. Dakota County was a party to the proceeding because Mother had applied for non-public assistance child support services. Father later retired due to disability and began receiving Social Security benefits. As a result, Mother began receiving derivative Social Security benefits on behalf of the children. Father moved to modify his child support obligation. The child support magistrate granted Father’s motion in part and offset his prospective child support obligation by the derivative Social Security benefits received by Mother. Both parties sought review. The district court concluded Father was entitled to credit for the derivative Social Security benefits received by Mother at the time Mother began receiving derivative Social Security benefits but before Father served notice of the motion to modify. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that a modification of a child support order is retroactive to the date of service of the notice of motion to modify. View "In re Dakota County" on Justia Law