Marriage of C.C. and T.D. CA4/1

I. INTRODUCTION

T.D. (Father) owed C.C. (Mother) child support arrears (unpaid support and interest) dating back to 1994, which, with interest, grew to more than $245,000. When Mother requested in 2024 that the family court increase Father’s monthly arrears payment from $150 to $1,000, Father requested equitable relief to set aside arrears for a period decades earlier (1994 to 2000) during which Father claims Mother concealed the children from him. The family court denied Father’s request and granted Mother’s. On appeal, Father contends the family court misapplied case law and equitable principles in denying his motion and lacked evidentiary support to grant Mother’s request to increase his arrears payment. For reasons we will explain, we conclude Father’s claims lack merit. Accordingly, we affirm the family court’s orders.

II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Father and Mother married in 1981 and had four children together — sons born in August 1983 and October 1985, and twin daughters born in December 1987. Mother filed for divorce in 1992. In January 1994, Mother moved to establish child support arrears owed by Father. As of March 1994, arrears totaled $7,737.50. Father…