DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT/SMITH v. Neal

We affirm the Family Court’s holding that the State Division of Child Support Enforcement Division (“Division”) is not entitled to a de novo hearing reviewing an order entered by a Family Court Master because the Division did not request a hearing within the 15 days mandated by the statute.

The Family Court Master entered an Order for child support against Appellee, Terry Neal. Mr. Neal then timely requested a de novo hearing before a Family Court judge, but the Division, which had brought the petition for support on behalf of the mother of the child, did not also request a review. On the day…