In the Interest of A.J.B. and A.K.B., Children--Appeal from 237th District Court of Lubbock County
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NO. 07-08-0362-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL B
JUNE 2, 2009
______________________________
In the Interest of A.J.B. and A.K.B., Children
_________________________________
FROM THE 237th DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;
NO. 93-543,112; HON. JAY GIBSON, PRESIDING
_______________________________
Memorandum Opinion
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Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and HANCOCK, JJ.
Mark David Bural appeals from a judgment awarding the Office of the Attorney
General $86,301.96, a sum representing the amount of child support he failed to pay.
Through one issue, he asserts that because he continued to live with the mother of his
children for nine years after the divorce and provided some physical and economic
assistance, he should be allowed an offset. We disagree and affirm the judgment.
Normally, a trial court cannot reduce or modify the amount of child support
arrearage. TEX . FAM . CODE ANN . §157.262(a) (Vernon 2008). There are exceptions, such
as when the obligee voluntarily relinquished actual possession and control of the child to
the obligor for a time in excess of that specified in the custody/possession order. Id.
§157.008(a) & (b). Additionally, the sum owed may be subject to a counterclaim or offset.
Id. §157.262(f). Regarding the former, no one contends that the obligee (i.e. the children’s
mother) voluntarily relinquished possession or control of the children to Bural as required
by the statute. So, it is of no benefit to Bural here.
As for the latter, Bural cites us to no evidence of the amount allegedly comprising
his offset. This is problematic because the evidence of record illustrated that the obligee
supported the children. And, according to authority, where the obligor was not the sole
source of support, it is encumbent upon him to provide some evidence of the amount of
support actually paid. Pedregon v. Sanchez, 234 S.W.3d 90, 95-96 (Tex. App.–El Paso
2007, no pet.); compare Hall v. Hall, No. 09-06-206-CV, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 5883 at *6-7
(Tex. App.–Beaumont July 26, 2007, no pet.) (holding that the father was entitled to an
offset for the time that he continued to live with his former spouse because the record
showed a voluntary relinquishment of custody in excess of any court-ordered periods and
he provided the court with documentation of the sums he paid to support the child). Simply
put, without an amount to offset, there can be no offset.
We further note that an offset or setoff is an affirmative defense. Brown v. American
Transfer & Storage Co., 601 S.W.2d 931, 936 (Tex. 1980). As such, the party asserting
it has the burden of pleading the matter. Id. Our review of the record uncovered no
pleading of Bural wherein he raised it. Thus, the affirmative defense was waived.
Accordingly, the issue is overruled and the judgment is affirmed.
Brian Quinn
Chief Justice
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