Back Child Support

The Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) was enacted to promote New York's public policy concern that both parents contribute to their children's support -- and in response to federal law that mandatory support guidelines be in effect as a predicate to eligibility for federal funding. &gt;i&gt;Panossian v. Panossian</i>, 201 A.D.2d 983 (4th Dept., 1994); <i>Rakoszynski v. Rakoszynski</i>, 174 Misc.2d 509 (1997). It is settled law that agreements that contract away the obligation to pay child support are void as against public policy and, thus, unenforceable. <i>Strenge v. Bearman</i>, 228 A.D.2d 664 (1996). Although seemingly straightforward, the narrowly defined statutory scheme regarding the retroactivity of child support has been indirectly, yet, significantly broadened as a result of recent judicial authority involving unrelated issues.