in the Interest of C. W., a Child ( 2006 )

NO. 07-04-0543-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL B
JANUARY 17, 2006
______________________________
IN THE INTEREST OF C.W., A CHILD
_________________________________
FROM THE 223RD DISTRICT COURT OF GRAY COUNTY;
NO. 31,784; HONORABLE JOHN FORBIS, JUDGE
_______________________________
Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and HANCOCK, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant, Wendel Lee Winkleblack (Wendel), appeals that portion of a judgment
setting his child support obligation. We reverse and remand.
At a hearing on Wendel’s motion to modify conservatorship, Wendel was appointed
joint managing conservator with the right to determine the residence of one of two children
of the marriage of Wendel and appellee, Donna Faye Winkleblack (Donna). Based on
Wendel’s appointment as joint managing conservator of one of the children, which
constituted a substantial change of circumstance, the trial court modified Wendel’s child
support obligation. The trial court’s judgment found that application of the guidelines would
be unjust or inappropriate, that Wendel’s net monthly resources were $4,000, and that
Donna’s net monthly resources were $1,000. The judgment then set Wendel’s monthly
child support obligation at $850.1 Wendel’s appeal challenges that portion of the court’s
judgment that set his child support obligation at $850 per month.
By one issue, Wendel contends that the trial court abused its discretion by deviating
from the child support guidelines in setting his child support obligation. See TEX . FAM .
CODE ANN . §§ 154.121-.133 (Vernon 2002).2 Specifically, Wendel contends that the
evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support the court’s deviation from the
guidelines. See § 154.122.
The trial court’s determination of child support is reviewed under an abuse of
discretion standard. In re Striegler, 915 S.W.2d 629, 637 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 1996, writ
denied). In determining whether the trial court abused its discretion, the appropriate inquiry
is whether the court acted without reference to any guiding rules and principles. Downer
v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex. 1985). The mere fact that
the trial court decides an issue differently than the appellate court would have does not
demonstrate an abuse of discretion. Sw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Johnson, 389 S.W.2d 645, 648
1
The reporter’s record from the hearing indicates that Wendel’s prior child support
obligation under the divorce decree was $1,000 per month. The trial court indicated that
it was reducing that amount by $150 per month because “it’s going to take that much for
life to be for her (Donna) and for the little girl (the daughter continuing to reside with Donna)
anywhere close to the way it was at the time of the divorce.” Wendel presumes that the
$150 deduction was an off-set based upon the trial court’s determination of Donna’s child
support obligation to Wendel, however, nothing in the record indicates the purpose of this
$150 deduction.
2
Further citation to the Texas Family Code will be by reference to “§ ____.”
2
(Tex. 1965). Under the abuse of discretion standard, legal and factual sufficiency, although
not independent grounds for review, are relevant factors in assessing whether the lower
court abused its discretion. See In re A.D.H., 979 S.W.2d 445, 446 (Tex.App.–Beaumont
1998, no pet.). An abuse of discretion does not occur so long as there is some evidence
of a substantive and probative character to support the trial court's decision. Holley v.
Holley, 864 S.W.2d 703, 706 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, writ denied).
Determining the appropriate amount of child support by applying the Texas Family
Code guidelines is presumed to be reasonable and in the best interest of the child,
however, a court may determine that application of the guidelines would be unjust or
inappropriate. § 154.122. If evidence is admitted that rebuts the presumption, the trial
court may deviate from the guidelines. See § 154.123. In the present case, it is clear that
the trial court deviated from the amount of child support that would result from application
of the guidelines.3 Consequently, we must initially determine whether the trial court abused
its discretion in not applying the guidelines to determine Wendel’s child support.
Review of the record indicates that the only evidence admitted was a copy of
Wendel’s 2003 tax return, a copy of Wendel’s paycheck stub, a letter from Wendel’s
employer indicating that overtime may occasionally be available to Wendel but is not
3
The trial court recognized that it was setting child support “outside the guidelines
of the Attorney General. . . .” Further, the judgment includes a finding that application of
the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate. Finally, Wendel presented, both at the
hearing and in his appellate brief, calculations of the child support obligations that would
apply to both himself and Donna under the guidelines. While we do not necessarily agree
with his calculation of the respective child support obligations under the guidelines, we
agree with Wendel’s conclusion that the trial court deviated from application of the
guidelines.
3
guaranteed, and a copy of Donna’s 2003 Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) from
her tax return. After receiving this evidence, the trial court also heard Donna’s non-
evidentiary argument indicating that the child that remained in her home had some
extraordinary educational expenses.
Wendel contends that there was no evidence justifying the trial court’s finding that
application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate. We disagree. The trial court
had before it evidence that allowed the court to determine both Wendel’s and Donna’s net
monthly resources. The court indicated, on the record, that it was concerned about the
“great disparity in wage earning capacity” between the parties. Discretion is vested in the
court to determine that application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate. §
154.122(b). Further, the court, in determining if the guidelines would be unjust or
inappropriate, must consider the ability of the parents to contribute to the support of the
children and the amount of the obligee’s net resources. See § 154.123(b)(2),(5); Smith v.
Smith, 143 S.W.3d 206, 217 (Tex.App.–Waco 2004, no pet. h.). Thus, we conclude that
there was substantive and probative evidence upon which the trial court could conclude
that application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate. See Holley, 864 S.W.2d
at 706.
While we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding
application of the guidelines unjust or inappropriate, we conclude that the trial court abused
its discretion in setting Wendel’s child support obligation. When an appellant contends that
the trial court abused its discretion because the evidence was insufficient, we must first
determine whether the trial court had sufficient information upon which to exercise its
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discretion and, if so, must also determine if the court’s child support order was manifestly
unjust or unfair. See Newberry v. Bohn-Newberry, 146 S.W.3d 233, 235
(Tex.App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, no pet. h.). Even though a trial court has wide
discretion in setting child support obligations, the amount ordered must be supported by
evidence that the amount is commensurate with the child’s needs. Holmes v. Tibbs, 542
S.W.2d 487, 488 (Tex.App.–Corpus Christi 1976, no writ). In the present case, no
evidence was admitted to show that the needs of the child remaining with Donna required
support above what would result from application of the guidelines. Therefore, we conclude
that the trial court abused its discretion by setting Wendel’s child support obligation at $850
per month.
Further, section 154.130 requires a trial court that orders child support at variance
with the amount that would result if the guidelines were applied to make certain findings.
In the present case, the trial court failed to state in the child support order (1) the
percentage applied to the obligor’s net resources to obtain the child support ordered by the
court; (2) the amount child support would be if the percentage guidelines were applied to
the obligor’s net resources; and (3) the specific reasons that the amount of child support
ordered by the court varies from the amount that would result from application of the
guidelines. § 154.130(b)(3),(4),(5). Section 154.130 makes these findings mandatory and
failure to make these findings when required constitutes reversible error. See Hanna v.
Hanna, 813 S.W.2d 626, 628 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, no writ).
Having determined that the trial court abused its discretion, we reverse and remand
for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
5
Mackey K. Hancock
Justice
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