Beck v. Beck
Court of Special Appeals of Maryland
885 A.2d 887 (2005)
- Written by Brittany Frankel, JD
Facts
Richard Beck (plaintiff) and Kimberly Beck (defendant) were married in 1992. The Becks had two children during the marriage. Richard and Kimberly divorced in 2001. Kimberly was awarded legal custody and primary physical custody of the two children. Richard was awarded visitation and ordered to pay child support of $608.45 per month. Kimberly had another child from a previous relationship living in her home, as did Richard. Richard also had a fourth child, who was born after the divorce, for whom Richard paid $300 per month in child support. In 2004, the circuit court found that current guidelines required that Richard pay $816.17 per month. However, the court also found that downward deviation to $700 per month was appropriate due to Richard’s obligations to the eldest half-sibling. The court found that Richard’s obligations to his fourth child, who was born after the marriage, were irrelevant, because the child-support guidelines only allow for deviations for pre-existing child-support obligations. Kimberly appealed the circuit court's order.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Meredith, J.)
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