Farr v. Farr

The instant appeal concerns an issue of first impression in the state. May an order modifying periodic payments for child support be made retroactive to the date a father’s income changed? We think not.

The parties were divorced July 2, 1973, with the judgment of divorce ordering defendant to pay $51 per week ($17 a week per child) for maintenance of the three minor children of the parties. At that time, defendant’s earnings were $125 a week which, according to the Muskegon County child support tables, then called for support of $51 per week. November 13, 1973 — some four months after the…