Atteberry and Atteberry (Child support)

The matter of *Atteberry and Atteberry* concerned a dispute regarding child support payments, brought before Judicial Officer Thomson M. The core of the disagreement revolved around whether a payment made by the liable parent for school fees constituted a "prescribed payment" for the purposes of child support, and whether this payment had been correctly credited. A key factual element was the finding that the liable parent regularly cared for the child.

The court was required to determine the legal characterisation of the payment made for school fees. Specifically, it needed to ascertain if such a payment qualified as a "prescribed payment" under the relevant legislation, thereby impacting the calculation and crediting of the liable parent's child support obligations. The court also had to consider the implications of the liable parent's regular care of the child in its assessment of the overall child support arrangement.

Judicial Officer Thomson M affirmed the decision under review, finding that the payment for school fees was indeed a prescribed payment and had been correctly credited. The reasoning applied focused on the legislative provisions governing prescribed payments and their application to the facts presented. The court's determination that the liable parent regularly cared for the child was a significant factor in its conclusion that the existing child support arrangements, including the crediting of the school fee payment, were appropriate.