[No. 52543-3-I. Division One. August 23, 2004.]
In the Matter of the Marriage of TERRI L. RUSCH , Respondent , and ROBERT J. RUSCH , JR ., Appellant .
[1] Divorce - Child Support - Modification - Review - Standard of Review. An order modifying a parent's child support obligation is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Discretion is abused if the order is manifestly unreasonable, is based on untenable grounds, or is based on an erroneous view of the law.
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[2] Divorce - Child Support - Statutory Provisions - Purposes. The legislature enacted the child support statute (chapter 26.19 RCW) to ensure that child support orders are adequate to meet the basic needs of children and to provide additional support commensurate with the income, resources, and standard of living of the parents.
[3] Divorce - Child Support - Child Support Schedule - Income Exceeding Schedule - Higher Support Obligation - Findings - Necessity. Under RCW 26.19.020 and .065(3), a child support obligation above the maximum established by the economic table set forth in RCW 26.19.020 when the parents' combined net monthly income exceeds the top amount of $7,000 must be supported by written findings of fact explaining why additional support is necessary. Extrapolation from the child support schedule when the parents' net monthly income exceeds the top amount is not automatic and must be justified. Cursory findings are insufficient, as is the statement "good grounds exist to use the extrapolated amount."
[4] Divorce - Child Support - Child Support Schedule - Income Exceeding Schedule - Higher Support Obligation - Extrapolated Obligation - Necessity. The child support statute (chapter 26.19 RCW) does not expressly invite a trial court to calculate a child support obligation by extrapolation from the child support schedule set forth in RCW 26.19.020 when the parents' combined net monthly income exceeds the top amount listed in the table of $7,000.
[5] Divorce - Child Support - Child Support Schedule - Income Exceeding Schedule - Higher Support Obligation - Necessity - Factors. Factors considered in determining the necessity for setting a child support obligation above the maximum established by the economic table set forth in RCW 26.19.020 when the parents' combined net monthly income exceeds the top amount of $7,000 include the standard of living of each parent and any special medical, educational, or financial needs of the children.
[6] Divorce - Child Support - Modification - Findings of Fact - Failure To Complete Mandatory Form - Harmless Error. A trial court's failure to completely fill out the mandatory worksheets in support of a child support modification order is harmless error if specific findings and other evidence in the record support the order.
[7] Divorce - Child Support - Modification - Changed Circumstances - Burden of Proof. A party seeking modification of a child support obligation has the burden of showing that a substantial change of circumstances has occurred since the last time a decree addressing child support was entered.[8] Divorce - Child Support - Modification - Scope. Once a trial court concludes that there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the last time a decree addressing child support was
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entered and the court opens a proceeding to modify the decree, the court may look at all aspects of the support order.
[9] Divorce - Child Support - Modification - Changed Circumstances - Question of Law or Fact - Discretion of Court. Whether a substantial change in circumstances has occurred since the last time a decree addressing child support was entered is a question of fact within the trial court's discretion.
[10] Divorce - Child Support - Child Support Schedule - Deviation - Discretion of Court. Whether to deviate from the basic child support obligation as determined from the economic table set forth in RCW 26.19.020 is discretionary with the trial court.
[11] Divorce - Child Support - Child Support Schedule - Standard Worksheet - Gross Income - Deductions - Business Expenses - Documentation - Adequacy. For purposes of calculating a child support obligation, a business expense must be adequately documented before it may be taken as an offset against gross income. An offset may not be taken in the amount of a business expense allowance absent documentation of actual expenses incurred from which it may be determined whether the allowance is taxable income or a nontaxable reimbursement. Absent evidence that the allowance is a nontaxable reimbursement, it may not be offset against income as a business expense.
[12] Divorce - Child Support - Child Support Schedule - Deviation - Residential Credit to Noncustodial Parent - Discretion of Court. Whether to deviate from the basic child support obligation as determined from the economic table set forth in RCW 26.19.02 based on the amount of residential time the child spends with the obligor parent is discretionary with the trial court, as limited by the proviso in RCW 26.19.075 (1)(d) that a deviation may not be made if the deviation will result in insufficient funds in the household receiving the support.
[13] Divorce - Attorney Fees - Discretion of Court - Need and Ability To Pay. A decision to award attorney fees under RCW 26.09.140 is discretionary with a court, so long as the court takes into account the needs of the spouse seeking the fees and the ability of the other spouse to pay.
[14] Divorce - Attorney Fees - On Appeal - Factors - Merits - Ability To Pay. In deciding whether to award attorney fees on appeal under RAP 18.1 in proceedings related to a divorce decree, the court considers the parties' relative abilities to pay and the arguable merits of the issues raised on appeal.
Nature of Action: Petition for modification of a child support obligation imposed in conjunction with a divorce decree.
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Superior Court: The Superior Court for King County, No. 02-3-00361-7, Helen L. Halpert, J., on May 23, 2003, entered a judgment modifying the petitioner's support obligation.
Court of Appeals: Holding that the trial court erroneously failed to enter findings of fact in support of an extrapolated child support obligation where the parties' combined monthly income exceeded the top amount of the child support schedule, the court reverses the judgment and remands the case for further proceedings.
Gregory D. Esau ; Bradley K. Crosta (of Crosta & Bateman ); and Kenneth G. Christensen , for appellant .
Kathryn Jenkins , for respondent .
¶1 PER CURIAM - Robert Rusch appeals a commissioner's order modifying his child support obligation. He argues that the commissioner improperly extrapolated the child support table to calculate the child support obligation. Because the trial court failed to enter findings of fact concerning the basis of using an extrapolated child support obligation, we reverse and remand for the trial court to consider whether a factual basis exists for the use of an extrapolated obligation, and if it so decides, to enter findings that support setting child support at a level exceeding the standard calculation.
I
¶2 A court dissolved Robert and Terri Rusch's marriage in April 2002. At the time of dissolution, Robert and Terri had been married for 10 years and had two young children. Through mediation they agreed to a parenting plan and
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child support agreement. The parenting plan provided for residential time split roughly evenly between the parents.1
¶3 Robert and Terri's combined income exceeded $7,000, the highest figure listed on the economic table.2 Robert agreed to pay $2,000 per month in child support for their two children. The child support worksheet submitted by the parties at dissolution listed the total child support obligation as $767 per child - the maximum amount listed on the child support schedule.
¶4 Shortly after the dissolution, Robert's employer reduced his salary by nearly one-third. Robert attempted to informally negotiate and reduce his child support payments. After this failed, Robert petitioned the court for a modification due to a substantial change in circumstances. The commissioner heard the modification petition in a trial by affidavit.
¶5 The new child support worksheet signed by the commissioner listed the basic child support obligation at $1,260.05 per child. The court denied his request to factor in child support obligations for postsecondary education for other children, and declined to take residential placement into account. Robert also unsuccessfully requested that the court reduce his income listed on the worksheet because some of the salary he received was reimbursement for travel expenses.
¶6 The court determined that Robert's net monthly income was $8,381.35. The court ordered that he pay 69 percent of the total monthly support obligation, based on his percentage of the combined total earning. This reduced his monthly obligation from $2,000 to $1,701.86. Robert appeals the court's calculation.
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II
[1]¶7 We review an order modifying child support for abuse of discretion.3 A court abuses its discretion if its decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds.4 A court also necessarily abuses its discretion if its decision is based on an erroneous view of the law.5
[2]¶8 Robert first argues that the court erred by failing to enter specific findings of fact when the court ordered a child support payment exceeding the economic table's maximum amount. The legislature enacted the child support schedule statute to insure that child support orders were adequate to meet a child's basic needs.6 The legislature also intended "to provide additional child support commensurate with the parents' income, resources, and standard of living."7
¶9 When ordering child support, the trial court determines the "standard calculation" child support level from the economic table.8 RCW 26.19.020 sets forth the economic table from which basic child support obligations for dependent children are determined. The amount of support is based upon the combined net income of both parents. Each parent's respective obligation for the basic child support amount is based on their proportionate share of the combined net income.9
[3-5]¶10 The table provides standard calculation figures only up to the parties' combined monthly income of $7,000. When combined incomes exceed $7,000, RCW
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26.19.065(3) provides that a court may set support at the advisory amount listed in the table for incomes between $5,000 and $7,000, or it may exceed the advisory amount upon written findings of fact:
The economic table is advisory but not presumptive for combined monthly net incomes that exceed five thousand dollars. When combined monthly net income exceeds seven thousand dollars, the court may set support at an advisory amount of support set for combined monthly net incomes between five thousand and seven thousand dollars or the court may exceed the advisory amount of support set for combined monthly net incomes of seven thousand dollars upon written findings of fact.[10]
When determining a child support obligation for parents whose combined net monthly income exceeds the statutory economic table, a trial court is not limited to the maximum amount of support provided at the high end of the table.11 Instead, the court may "exceed" the table amounts, but only upon written findings of fact.12
¶11 Terri relies on In re Marriage of Clarke ,13 for the proposition that "the statute expressly invites the court to extrapolate from the existing schedule when the parents' income exceeds amounts calculated in the schedule."14 The Clarke court also explained that an absence of specific findings to support the extrapolated amount is not fatal.15 Both propositions are questionable. First, the statute does not expressly invite the court to exceed the statutory amount. Second, the statute specifically requires that when exceeding the statutory amount, the court must enter written findings of fact.
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¶12 The findings must explain why additional support is necessary. Contrary to Clarke , cursory findings are not sufficient. Factors that the court should consider include the standard of living of each parent, and special medical, educational, or financial needs of the children. Under the reasoning in Clarke , if a noncustodial parent's net monthly income was $50,000 per month, then any level of support below 45 percent of that figure would not require specific findings. Extrapolation programs do not base calculations on economic data. Instead, they merely extend the numbers on the table out to the appropriate income level and provide a child support number. Therefore, the figures provided by the extrapolation program are not based on the child's specific, articulable needs. They merely continue the economic table past the $7,000 mark. Had the legislature intended this result, the legislature would not have capped the table at $7,000.
¶13 Using an extrapolated amount also implies a presumption that the extrapolated amount is the correct amount. This forces the challenging party to bring forth evidence challenging that number and places the burden on the obligor to show why the extrapolated amount is not appropriate.16 Using an extrapolated figure without more presumes that the extrapolated amount is a right of the requesting party, regardless of need. But if the children do not have a need for child support exceeding the statutory maximum, the court cannot award child support exceeding the advisory number.
¶14 Because the trial court did not enter any findings to support an extrapolated amount of child support, we remand for specific findings supporting an extrapolated amount. We note that adding "good grounds exist to use the extrapolated amount," as the trial court did in Clarke , is not sufficient.17
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¶15 Robert argues that the trial court failed to properly complete support worksheets because the court omitted several assets and obligations. Specifically, he challenges the omission of party assets, a postsecondary child support obligation Robert owed to children from a prior marriage, and omission of business expenses from the worksheet.
[6]¶16 While Robert is correct that the worksheets are mandatory and must be completed, we may nevertheless look to the record to determine if the record supports the trial court's decision. And Robert is not claiming errors; rather he is arguing that the trial court failed to completely fill out the worksheets. Because specific findings and other evidence support the trial court's findings, the trial court's failure to complete worksheets is not reversible error.
[7-9]¶17 To succeed on a motion to modify child support, the moving party must show a substantial change of circumstances since the entry of the dissolution decree.18 Once the trial court concludes that there has been a substantial change and opens a modification proceeding, the court may look to all aspects of the support order. Whether a substantial change of circumstances has occurred is a question of fact within the trial judge's discretion.19
¶18 Robert argues that by failing to account for homes in the child support worksheet, the court committed reversible error. The net worth of each party was roughly the same - $229,000 for Terri and $234,000 for Robert. There was no evidence that either party had suffered a substantial change in assets. Although the court did not fully fill out the worksheet with this information, evidence before the court showed substantially similar assets.20
[10]¶19 Robert claims that the court erred by not considering a separate child support obligation to provide for postsecondary education. RCW 26.19.075 provides that
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a court may deviate from the standard calculation when a parent owes a duty of support to children from another relationship. The decision to deviate is discretionary. Contrary to Robert's claim, the court did consider the separate child support obligations, and denied the request for a downward deviation. In doing so, the court found that no downward deviation was justified "because the children of this relationship have the need for this level of support." The court's decision was not an abuse of discretion under the circumstances. We note that the request may be renewed on remand.
[11]¶20 Robert argues that the trial court improperly refused to include his business expenses as an offset to his income. RCW 26.19.071 requires a trial court to deduct normal business expenses and self-employment taxes for self-employed persons.21
¶21 On his pay earnings statements presented to the commissioner, Robert's earnings are broken down into several categories - "regular earnings," "draw," "travel," "holiday," and "leave." Under the portion denoted "travel," he receives $288.46 per week. There is no notation explaining what this covers.
¶22 Robert supplied the court with his 2001 federal income tax return. But he did not provide pay stubs or a W-2 for this tax year, nor did he itemize any travel deductions for this year. Accordingly, we cannot determine whether the $288.46 per week was taxable income or a nontaxable reimbursement for business expenses incurred. If it is not taxable income, then the commissioner should have deducted this from his income. Absent evidence that this was a nontaxable reimbursement, he cannot claim this as a downward adjustment.
¶23 The trial court specifically found that Robert was not entitled to a deduction for normal business expenses because he did not report business expenses on his federal
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income tax returns. Although Robert did not provide adequate documentation supporting this as a deduction, the trial court's conclusion is incorrect because if the employer was reimbursing him, then he could not claim the deduction on his tax return. When expenses are included as a reimbursement on an employee's paycheck, it is proper to exclude this portion because this payment is an offset for expenses. To the extent that he was reimbursed for expenses, that income should be deducted from his monthly income. On remand the trial court must clarify whether Robert's business expenses are income and adjust his income accordingly.
[12]¶24 Robert next argues that the commissioner erred by failing to account for residential time when calculating his support obligations. The decision to deviate from the standard calculation based on residential time is discretionary. And the statute provides that the court cannot deviate if the deviation will result in insufficient funds in the household receiving the support.22 Here, the court denied his request because a reduction in support for the children would result in insufficient funds. Accordingly, the court did not err by refusing to apportion child support based on residential time.
[13]¶25 Robert challenges the trial court's decision awarding attorney fees to Terri. He argues that the court did not enter specific findings outlining the parties' ability to pay, merely stating its conclusion without considering the underlying law. RCW 26.09.140 governs cost and attor
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ney fee awards in domestic relations proceedings, such as child support modifications:
The court from time to time after considering the financial resources of both parties may order a party to pay a reasonable amount for the cost to the other party of maintaining or defending any proceeding under this chapter and for reasonable attorney's fees or other professional fees in connection therewith, including sums for legal services rendered and costs incurred prior to the commencement of the proceeding or enforcement or modification proceedings after entry of judgment.[23]
In considering the financial resources of both parties, the court balances the needs of the requesting party against the other party's ability to pay.24 An award under this provision is discretionary,25 and neither spouse is entitled to attorney fees as a matter of right.26
¶26 The court looked to Terri's liquid assets and concluded that based on her current unemployment, Robert could afford to pay a portion of her attorney fees. Moreover, the commissioner required him to reimburse her at a rate of $100 per month until he had paid the $2,500. Under the circumstances, the trial court did not err in awarding Terri fees.
[14]¶27 Robert seeks costs and attorney fees on appeal under RAP 18.1. Determining whether a fee award is appropriate requires the court to consider the parties' relative ability to pay.27 We also examine the arguable merit of the issues raised on appeal.28 Considering these factors, we decline to award attorney fees to either party on appeal.
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¶28 Reversed and remanded.
ELLINGTON , A.C.J ., and APPELWICK , J ., concur .