The Arkansas Court of Appeals has affirmed a ruling that orders Andre Enis to pay retroactive child support to Michaela Thompson for a three-year period prior to her filing for divorce. This decision impacts Enis, Thompson, and their child, MC, and clarifies how retroactive child support can be applied in divorce cases.

The court's ruling, delivered on October 28, 2026, comes from a dispute that began when Thompson filed for divorce on August 8, 2024, after separating from Enis in August 2018. The couple shares one child, MC, who was born in March 2019. Thompson has been the primary caretaker for MC since birth, while Enis lives in Oklahoma City.

The divorce proceedings began when Thompson sought primary custody of MC and requested child support. During the divorce hearing, Thompson's attorney argued for retroactive child support, citing Arkansas law that allows for such support to be awarded for up to three years before the filing of a complaint. Enis contested this, claiming that the law only applied to paternity actions, not divorce cases, and that any support should only be retroactive to the date of the divorce filing.

On April 18, 2025, the trial court ruled in favor of Thompson, awarding her primary custody and ordering Enis to pay child support retroactive to August 8, 2021, which is three years prior to the divorce complaint. The court calculated the total retroactive support owed to be $40,759, minus credits for previous payments and insurance costs, resulting in a final amount of $32,759.

Enis appealed the decision, arguing that the trial court had erred in its interpretation of the law. He claimed that the statute allowing for retroactive support did not apply to divorce cases and that the court had not followed precedent set in previous cases. The trial court, however, maintained that the law was applicable and that it had acted within its discretion.

In its ruling, the Arkansas Court of Appeals agreed with the trial court's interpretation. The court stated, "The language of Arkansas Code Annotated § 9-14-106(c)(1) clearly provides for retroactive support for up to three years from the date that the petition, complaint, or other initial pleading was filed." The court emphasized that the divorce decree constituted an initial support order, thus making the retroactive support applicable.

The ruling clarifies the application of Arkansas law regarding retroactive child support in divorce proceedings. It sets a precedent that such support can indeed be awarded retroactively, even in divorce cases, as long as it falls within the statutory limits.

This decision affects not only the parties involved but also establishes guidelines for future cases concerning child support in Arkansas. It reinforces the obligation of parents to support their children, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the divorce.

Looking ahead, Enis has the option to appeal the decision to a higher court, although details on whether he plans to do so were not available in the court filing. There are no related cases pending that could influence this ruling.