Dahl and Dahl (Child support)

The matter of *Dahl and Dahl* concerned a dispute over child support payments, brought before the court for review. The central issue revolved around whether payments made by one parent to a third party constituted a valid discharge of their child support obligations, effectively acting in lieu of direct child support payments. The court was tasked with determining the intention of both parents in relation to these third-party payments.

The court was required to consider the legal framework governing child support payments, particularly in circumstances where payments are not made directly to the other parent or through the Child Support Agency. Specifically, the court had to assess whether the parties' conduct and expressed intentions demonstrated an agreement or understanding that these third-party payments were intended to satisfy the child support debt. This involved an examination of the nature of the payments and their purpose within the context of the parents' overall financial arrangements for the child.

In its reasoning, the court applied principles relating to the intention of the parties in contractual or quasi-contractual arrangements, adapted to the specific context of child support legislation. The court found that the payments made to the third party were indeed intended by both parents to be in lieu of child support. Consequently, the court set aside the previous decision and substituted its own orders, reflecting this finding.