Beck v. Beck

Richard Beck (plaintiff) and Kimberly Beck (defendant) divorced in 2001, with Kimberly getting custody of their two children and Richard ordered to pay $608.45 per month in child support. Both had other children living with them, including a child Richard had after the divorce, for whom he separately paid $300 per month. In 2004, updated guidelines set Richard's support obligation at $816.17, but the circuit court reduced it to $700 based on Richard's obligation to a half-sibling in his household, while ruling that his fourth (post-divorce) child was irrelevant because deviations are only allowed for pre-existing child-support obligations. Kimberly appealed.