In Re Marriage of Ford

This appeal involves the question whether a support order in a decree of dissolution of marriage awarding custody of a child to the wife and requiring the husband to make periodic child support payments may be modified to require the husband to pay the cost of unanticipated medical and hospital care rendered on behalf of the child prior to the filing of a motion for modification of the support order.

The pertinent facts may be summarized as follows:

The interlocutory decree of dissolution of marriage awarded custody of the couple’s children to the wife (respondent) and ordered the husband (appellant) to make the following periodic child support payments: “Respondent [husband] be, and he is hereby directed to pay petitioner [wife] for the support and maintenance of the minor children of the parties the sum of $22.50 per week for each child, or a total of $90.00 per week, payable on the Friday of each and every week, commencing May 8, 1970, and continuing until further order of this Court.” On August 7, 1970, a final decree was entered continuing in force all of the orders contained in the interlocutory decree.

In January 1971 respondent filed an order to show cause for…