A Boston-area judge has set a trial date in Bobby Brown’s child support case – blocking off time in June for a hearing on his motion to modify child support. Brown apparently filed his request several months ago, seeking to lower his child-support payments to ex-girlfriend Kim Ward for 20-year-old LaPrincia and 19-year-old Bobby Jr.

The singer-turned-reality-show-star has been paying $5,500 a month but now says he can’t afford those payments as he has no source of income. Presumably, Brown was paid something for his recent appearance on VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club”.

As in most states, Massachusetts requires Brown to prove he has had a material change in his circumstances in order to get his support payments modified. His 2006 divorce from singer Whitney Houston will not qualify as a material change in circumstances, especially in light of the fact that the split occurred almost four years ago.

His subsequently-born other children – including teenager Bobbi Kristina (his child with Houston) and a two-year-old son with his current girlfriend – are likewise not generally considered sufficient reason to lower child support payments for the older children.

Brown is apparently up-to-date on Ward’s child support. In an attempt to enforce the child support order, a warrant was issued for his arrest last August when he fell $45,000 behind, but he then paid up and remained current on his obligations to date. Brown was jailed in February 2007 for failing to pay $22,000 to Ward. He was also jailed for 90 days in 2004 for falling three months behind on payments. He was threatened with jail again in 2005 and 2006 before paying off arrearage.

Library Topics: child support, motion to modify child support, child support enforcement, Massachusetts family law

See Also:

• Arrest Warrant Issued for Bobby Brown over Unpaid Child Support