We have represented clients in regard to obtaining current and back child support and we have represented individuals in regard to defending claims being brought against them in regard to unpaid child support, including by local or state agencies. In many instances, this involves providing representation at contempt of Court proceedings and matters relating thereto.
We represented a former spouse who believed her ex-husband may not have complied with child support terms and conditions set forth in their Marital Settlement Agreement and Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. Our client was entitled to receive a base amount of child support per month for a number of years. However, our client was also entitled to receive increased child support automatically based on the income of her former husband. The former husband had an executive position at Anheuser-Busch Companies. After we filed pleadings in Court, through the discovery process, we asked for copies of tax returns from the former husband. After we received the tax returns, we discovered that there had been substantial stock options received from Anheuser-Busch Companies. Although the stock options were not cashed, these property rights were included as income on the tax returns of the former husband. We then made the argument to the Court that if the stock options were reported as income on the tax returns that necessarily meant the stock options should be treated as income and, therefore, our client was entitled to recover back child support because she should have received a portion of this substantial additional income as part of the child support formula agreed to by the parties when the Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage was entered. Our client received a $75,000 back child support award in regard to this issue.
