STANT v. TWINE/ADES

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NOTICE: THIS DECISION DOES NOT CREATE LEGAL PRECEDENT AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY APPLICABLE RULES. See Ariz. R. Supreme Court 111(c); ARCAP 28(c); Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31.24 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF ARIZONA DIVISION ONE ) ) ) KIMO KALALAHUA STANT, ) ) Petitioner/Appellee, ) ) v. ) ) MARGARET TWINE, ) ) Respondent/Appellant. ______________________________________ ) ) ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC ) SECURITY, ) ) Intervenor/Appellee. ______________________________________ ) In re the Marriage of: DIVISION ONE FILED: 06/18/2013 RUTH A. WILLINGHAM, CLERK BY: GH 1 CA-CV 12-0609 DEPARTMENT E MEMORANDUM DECISION (Not for Publication - Rule 28, Arizona Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure) Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County Cause No. FC2005-000279 The Honorable Mina E. Mendez, Commissioner AFFIRMED IN PART AND REMANDED IN PART WITH INSTRUCTIONS Knapp & Roberts, P.C. By David L. Abney Attorneys for Petitioner/Appellee Scottsdale The Cavanagh Law Firm, P.A. By Christina S. Hamilton Attorneys for Respondent/Appellant Phoenix N O R R I S, Judge ¶1 Margaret Twine ( Mother ) appeals the family court s order modifying the child support payments of Kimo Kalalahua Stant ( Father ). abused its On appeal, Mother argues the family court discretion in, first, finding a substantial and continuing change in circumstances justifying a modification of Father s child support obligation; second, failing to give her a credit for daycare expenses in calculating child support; third, deviating from the Arizona Child Support Guidelines; and fourth, failing disagree to family determine with court arrearages. Father s Mother s should Thus, first have we child three support arguments, determined affirm the arrearages. Father s family but agree child court s We the support order, but remand for the family court to determine the amount Father owes in child support arrearages. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND ¶2 In June 2005, Father and Mother, the parents of two minor children, divorced. In its dissolution order, the family court attributed Father a monthly income of $2,420 and ordered him to pay $620 per month in child support. ¶3 In August custody and support. 2010, Father petitioned to modify child After an April 2011 evidentiary hearing ( 2011 hearing ), the family court attributed $3,600 in income per month to Father and $2,200 per month to Mother. 2 The court also gave Mother a $700 credit for daycare expenses. Accordingly, the court ordered Father to pay $478.90 in child support and $100 in arrearages per month. ¶4 In December 2011, Father petitioned to modify child support, asserting his spouse had suffered an injury that adversely affected their jointly-owned window cleaning business and his Mother s earning motion evidentiary capacity. to dismiss hearing After the the family petition, ( modification it court held hearing ). a denied two-day Based on the evidence presented at the modification hearing, the family court found Father had met his burden of showing a substantial and continuing change in circumstances to modify child support. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. ( A.R.S. ) § 25-327(A) (2007) (substantial and continuing change modification). in circumstances is prerequisite for The court attributed a monthly income of $2,800 to Father, but did not adjust Mother s monthly income it had previously attributed to her in the 2011 hearing. It declined, however, to credit Mother with the $700 in daycare expenses it had previously credited to her. Although, based on these adjustments, Father s child support obligation would have been $42.14 per month under the Arizona Child Support Guidelines, A.R.S. § 25 320 App. (Supp. 2012) 3 ( Guidelines ), the court deviated from this amount and reduced his child support payment to zero, as we discuss in more detail below. DISCUSSION I. Motion to Dismiss ¶5 Mother granted her modify child continuing first motion argues to support change in dismiss failed family because to circumstances under A.R.S. § 25-327(A). ¶6 the should Father s state to court a have petition substantial warrant a to and modification We disagree. In his modification petition, Father alleged that as a result of his spouse s debilitating injury, their community business had fallen behind in terms of billing, invoicing, [and] payments, which adversely affected his ability to pay child support. Because Father s petition set forth facts that, if proven, would entitle him to modification of child support, the family court properly denied Mother s motion to dismiss. See Ariz. R. Fam. L.P. 32(B)(6) (motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim); Ariz. R. Fam. L.P. 1, cmt. 1 ( Wherever the language in [the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure] is substantially the same as the language in other statewide rules, the case law interpreting that language will apply to these rules. ); Rowland v. Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc., 210 Ariz. 530, 534, ¶ 15, 115 P.3d 124, 128 (App. 2005) (dismissal for failure 4 to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) of Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure is proper only when plaintiff cannot prove facts justifying relief) (citations omitted). II. Substantial and Continuing Change in Circumstances ¶7 Mother next argues the evidence does not support the family court s finding that a substantial and continuing change in circumstances existed. Whether changed circumstances existed to warrant a modification of child support is within the sound discretion of the [family] court. Cummings v. Cummings, 182 Ariz. 383, 387, 897 P.2d 685, 689 (App. 1994). We will not disturb the family court s modification of child support absent an abuse of discretion. Little v. Little, 193 Ariz. 518, 520, ¶ 5, 975 P.2d 108, 110 (1999). when the record, viewed in An abuse of discretion occurs the light most favorable to upholding the [family] court s decision, is devoid of competent evidence to support the decision. Id. (citations omitted). Based on our review of the record, the family court did not abuse its discretion in finding a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. ¶8 At the modification hearing, Father s spouse testified that in June 2011, she permanently severed the median and radial nerves in her right hand, leaving her with no feeling in that hand, and the injury limited [her] 5 in everything she did, including driving, child care, and bookkeeping for the window cleaning business she and Father owned. She explained that because she could no longer work in the same capacity after her injury, Father had to make up for her diminished ability to work and learn how to do the invoicing. Father also testified that since his spouse s injury, he could not work or bill as many hours as before. evidence supporting spouse s injury had earning capacity. testimony family court s the This significantly and constituted finding competent that adversely Father s affected his Accordingly, the family court did not abuse its discretion in finding a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that warranted a modification of Father s child support obligation. ¶9 On appeal, Mother raises various factual challenges to the family court s finding of changed circumstances. a comparison ( AFI ) of failed Father s to affidavits demonstrate a of financial change in his She argues information financial condition between the 2011 hearing and the modification hearing. She also asserts Father did not show lost contracts resulting from his spouse s injury, did not present adequate financial records, and must have had undisclosed financial resources. All of these arguments essentially attack the credibility of Father and his spouse. As a reviewing court, we, however, do not 6 reweigh conflicting evidence and defer to the family court s determination of credibility. In re Estate of Pouser, 193 Ariz. 574, 704, 579, ¶ 13, 975 P.2d 709 (1999); Gutierrez v. Gutierrez, 193 Ariz. 343, 347-48, ¶ 13, 972 P.2d 676, 680-81 (App. 1998). ¶10 Here, the family court found Father and his spouse s testimony credible and, based on their testimony and the exhibits presented at the modification hearing, found Father s income from the family business had in fact decreased, and he was unable to pay the expenses on an ongoing basis, bounced a number of checks, and, as a consequence, substantial insufficient funds fees. had incurred Given this evidence, the family court did not abuse its discretion in concluding Father s financial situation had worsened because of his spouse s Mother suggests the family catastrophic injury. ¶11 Further, although court ignored the Guidelines and improperly used the lack of income of Father s spouse as Guidelines, however, considering the earning capacity. a did effect basis not of to modify preclude Father s the child support, family spouse s court injury on the from his While a court may not treat income of a new spouse as income of that parent, see Guidelines § 5(F), it has broad discretion to consider the financial resources and needs 7 of a parent. spouse s A.R.S. serious financial properly injury in 25-320(D) injury resources considered § and the needs, and whether Father s Father s thus, impact a 2012). affected substantially economic determining (Supp. of the family Father s substantial and court spouse s continuing change in circumstances existed, and nothing in the Guidelines or the statutes precluded the court from doing so. 1 III. Daycare Expenses ¶12 Mother argues the family court could not take away the $700 daycare expenses it had previously attributed to her because those modification expenses petition. were not the basis She also contends for because Father s Father acknowledged he was not contesting daycare expenses, she had no notice those hearing. expenses would be an issue at the modification Further, she argues the Guidelines required the child care credit be imputed if the court attributed income to her. As discussed, we disagree with each argument. ¶13 First, while Father did not argue Mother s daycare expenses, or more precisely, lack of such expenses, served as a 1 Mother also argues the modified child support order was a horizontal appeal because it failed to indicate what had actually changed from the 2011 hearing. The family court explained in detail the substantial and continuing change in circumstances that warranted a modification of Father s child support obligation, as discussed in Part II. Thus, we reject this argument. 8 threshold matter for modification, he correctly argued that if the family court found it should modify his child support obligation, it would then need to re-evaluate all of the factors that a court must consider support obligation. in determining See infra ¶ 15. a parent s child Under the Guidelines, a child support order must be based on the financial resources of each parent elements of and a a court child shall support make order. findings Guidelines showing all §§ 1(A), 22. Therefore, in modifying a child support order, a court is not bound by the child support determinations made in prior proceedings, but should consider the changes in the parties financial needs and resources. ¶14 Here, in rejecting Mother s argument that it was required to accept the income and daycare expenses attributed to her in the 2011 hearing, the family court explained: the basis of [Father s] modification is a change in circumstances based on his spouse having suffered an injury and his ability to work a certain number of hours has decreased . . . [But] a modification isn t limited to the issue of what caused the substantial and continuing change of circumstances. You still have to look at what other factors go into the [child support] worksheet. 9 In light of the purpose and design of the Guidelines, we agree with the family circumstances court warranted - once it determined modification, it was a change required to in re- evaluate all the factors that go into determining the modified child support, which would include Mother s daycare expenses. ¶15 Second, Mother had adequate notice her daycare expenses would be an issue in the calculation of child support if the court circumstances found a that substantial would justify and continuing modifying child change in support. Although perhaps Father could have been clearer, nevertheless, as noted above, at the modification hearing he argued that if the family everything reconsider court found [became] Mother s fair a change game, previously in circumstances, meaning attributed the court daycare Specifically, Father stated Your Honor, can I stipulate the $2000 [income attributed to Mother] is appropriate [?] What I stipulated is we are not going to use her income as the basis for our substantial and continuing change in circumstances. That was my stipulation. We are not addressing her income as the basis [for modification]. But as I said, and I ve said repeatedly every time you find a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, all factors are in play. 10 then could expenses. Father also argued in his opening statement Mother was incurring no daycare expenses at all. Under these circumstances, Mother had sufficient notice that Father intended to ask the court to re-evaluate her attributed daycare expenses at the modification hearing if it found a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. ¶16 Finally, attributing child care expenses is within the family court s discretion. See Guidelines § 5(E) ( If income is attributed to the parent receiving child support, appropriate childcare expense may also be attributed. ). Under the Guidelines, a court may add [c]hildcare expenses that would be appropriate to the parents financial abilities. § 9(B)(1). Guidelines Here, Mother s AFI showed zero childcare costs. And, at the modification hearing, Mother testified she did not work, did not use a nanny or babysitter, and her children were of school-age. Because the evidence supported the court s finding Mother was not incurring daycare expenses, and including daycare and other childcare costs is discretionary, the family court did not abuse its discretion in excluding daycare expenses in calculating Father s modified child support obligation. 11 V. Deviation from the Guidelines ¶17 by Mother argues the family court abused its discretion reducing Father s child support from $42.14, the amount determined using the Guidelines, to zero, without a request by Father, and failing to make the required findings to justify the deviation. ¶18 We disagree. The Guidelines require a court to deviate from the Guidelines amount when, after considering the factors specified in A.R.S. § 25-320, application of the Guidelines would be inappropriate or unjust in the individual case, the deviation is not contrary to the child(ren) s best interests, and the court makes written findings stating why it deviated and what the child support obligation would have been with and without the deviation. Guidelines §§ 20(A), 3 (court shall deviate when criteria are met); Mead v. Holzmann, 198 Ariz. 219, 223 n.5, ¶ 14, 8 P.3d 407, 411 n.5 (App. 2000) (although party did not request deviation, the Guidelines mandate deviation under former version of § 20 inappropriate or unjust ). when failure to do so would be Thus, the family court was entitled to deviate from the Guidelines without a request from Father. ¶19 Further, the family court made the findings required by the Guidelines. In its modification order, the family court 12 explained why the deviation was appropriate and in the children s best interests: The parties are [in] extremely high conflict; this conflict is greatly exacerbated by disputes over child support. The parties[ ] continued conflict is not in the children s best interests. In addition, the parties share equal parenting time. Both parties have sufficient financial resources to provide for the children when they are in each parent s care. ¶20 Given this explanation - which, based on our review is supported by the record - and because the family court had calculated Father s child support obligation without the deviation, see supra ¶ 4, the family court made all the required findings. discretion Therefore, in the reducing family Father s court child did not support abuse obligation its to zero. VI. Arrearages ¶21 Mother argues Father s child support the family court arrearages. should We have agree. decided At the modification hearing, the State provided a calculation showing Father owed $13,377 in arrearages as of April 12, 2012. Although the court ordered Father to pay half of the arrearages, it did not enter an order actually determining Father s child support arrearages. Therefore, on remand, we direct the family 13 court to enter an order determining Father s child support arrearages. VII. Costs and Attorneys Fees ¶22 Mother challenges the family court s refusal to award her costs and attorneys fees. We will not disturb the family court s award of fees absent an abuse of discretion. See A.R.S. § 25-324 (Supp. 2012) (court may award fees and costs after considering parties financial resources and reasonableness of positions taken throughout the case); MacMillan v. Schwartz, 226 Ariz. 584, 592, ¶ 36, 250 P.3d 1213, 1221 (App. 2011). Because, at the time of the modification hearing, Father had extremely limited financial resources and had asserted reasonable grounds for modification, the family court did not abuse its discretion in denying Mother s request for costs and fees. CONCLUSION ¶23 court s For the order foregoing modifying reasons, Father s child we affirm support the family payments and remand for the family court to determine Father s child support arrearages. Finally, Father and Mother have each requested an award of attorneys fees under A.R.S. § 25-324. In the exercise of our discretion and based on the record before us concerning the parties financial resources and the reasonableness of their positions on appeal, we deny their competing requests for fees 14 under this statute. award of costs We grant, however, Father s request for an on appeal under A.R.S. § 12-341 (2003), contingent upon his compliance with Rule 21 of the Arizona Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure. /s/ PATRICIA K. NORRIS, Presiding Judge CONCURRING: /s/ MICHAEL J. BROWN, Judge /s/ JOHN C. GEMMILL, Judge 15

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