Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services (URESA) ex rel. Cowick v. Ledford

The Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (the Department) timely appeals from (1) the trial court’s ratification of a general master’s report which effectively ordered the Department to return all monies paid by appellee Wayne Ledford toward his child support arrearage, and (2) a subsequent order requiring the Department to pay Ledford’s attorney’s fees. We reverse in part, affirm in part, and remand for further proceedings.

The instant case arose when Ledford’s former wife Deanna Cowick filed a URESA action for child support in April 1982. The parties had been divorced in Surrey…