Andrea (Messer) Schwager v. Timothy Scott Messer

**What Happened:** This case involved a divorced couple disputing child support payments. Andrea Schwager asked the court to modify the child support amount her ex-husband Timothy Scott Messer was required to pay. She argued that their incomes had changed significantly since their original divorce, which meant the child support should be adjusted to reflect their current financial situations. **What the Court Decided:** The trial court agreed that both parties' incomes had changed enough to justify modifying the child support amount. The court updated the father's child support obligation based on their current incomes and also ordered him to pay 65% of their child's private school tuition costs. Additionally, the mother was awarded partial attorney's fees and expert witness fees. When the father appealed this decision, the higher court upheld the original ruling completely. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This case demonstrates that child support obligations can be modified when there are significant changes in income after a divorce. Workers should understand that if their income substantially increases or decreases after divorce, either parent can request the court to adjust child support payments accordingly. This protects both parents and ensures child support reflects current financial realities rather than outdated income information.