Dewdney and Dewdney (Child support)

This matter concerned a dispute between Mrs Dewdney and Mr Dewdney regarding the calculation of child support arrears. The decision was made by R Ellis SM in the context of a review of a decision by the Child Support Agency.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was to determine the correct amount of child support arrears owed by Mr Dewdney for the period between 5 October 2019 and 5 November 2019. This involved assessing contributions made to a joint account by both parties during that period and comparing them against Mr Dewdney's assessed child support liability.

The Tribunal considered evidence regarding Mrs Dewdney's transfers into the joint account and Mr Dewdney's withdrawals from it. While Mrs Dewdney explained her withdrawal of funds prior to the arrears period as her entitlement from a joint account when the parties were still together, the Tribunal accepted this explanation and directed any disputes regarding funds prior to the arrears period to be resolved in property settlement. The Tribunal found that Mrs Dewdney applied for arrears to be collected for a period not exceeding three months, which was therefore granted. After accounting for agreed expenses and Mrs Dewdney's contributions, the Tribunal determined Mr Dewdney's contribution from his own funds during the arrears period was $1,036.83. The Tribunal accepted the Child Support Agency's calculation of Mr Dewdney's child support liability for the period as $2,841.12.

The Tribunal ordered that the amount of child support owed by Mr Dewdney in the arrears period from 5 October 2019 to 5 November 2019 was $1,804.29.