FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and M A RKLE, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

June 6, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 38 0 . BOW MAN v . ROUSE.

M E R C I E R , J u dg e.

In t h i s act i o n reg ard i ng h er m i n o r d au g h t er, A l i sh a Bo wm an (“ M o t h er”)

co n ten d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt co m m i t t ed n u m ero u s erro rs in i t s d eci s i o n s t o m o d i fy t h e

ch i l d su p p o rt o b l ig at i o n s a n d paren t i n g ti m e s ch ed u l e o f J am i el Ro u s e (“ Fat h er”).

Sp eci fi cal l y

, M o t h er m ai n t ai n s t h at t h e t ri al c o u r t erred b y : (1 ) m o d i fy i n g Fat h er’ s

p aren t i n g t i m e d es p i t e t h e fact t h at h e had n o t fu l l y u ti l i zed t he t i m e h e h ad b een

g ran t ed i n a p rev i o u s p aren t i n g p l an ; (2 ) m o d i fy i n g Fat h er’ s o n g o i n g ch il d s u p p o rt

o b l i g at i o ns an d cal cu l at i n g p as t -d u e am o u n ts pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ) to

r e f l e c t F a t h er’ s lo ss o f i nco m e; (3 ) d en y i n g Mo t h er’ s m o t i o n t o h o l d Fat h er in

c o n t e m p t fo r fai l i n g t o p ay pas t -d u e ch i l d su p po rt at i t s fu l l o ri g i n al rat e; an d ( 4 )

r e j e c t i ng M ot her’ s arg u m en t t h at

, fo r p u rp o s es o f det erm i n in g p ro s pect i v e ch i l ds u p p ort

, i n co m e sh o u l d be im p u t ed t o F a t h er b ecau s e h e v ol u n t ari l y rem ai n ed

u n em p l o y ed

. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h b el ow, we affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i ng s

re g ard i n g t h e m od i fi cat i o n o f Fat h er’ s p aren t i n g t im e, t h e den ial o f M o t h er’ s

co n tem p t m o t i o n, an d t he d en i al o f M o t h er’ s req u es t t o i m p u t e i n co m e t o Fat h er t o

d et erm i n e pro s p ect iv e ch i l d su p p o rt o b l ig at i o n s

. W e al so fi n d th at

, al th o u g h t h e t ri al

co u rt p ro p erl y

fo u n d OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) ( 1 ) t o b e a p p l icab l e i n t h is cas e, t h e t ri al

co u rt em pl o y ed t h at s t at u t e i n co rrect l y i n i t s cal cu l at i o n o f arrearag es o wed by Fat h er.

As s u ch

, we m

u s t v acat e th e t ri al co u rt ’ s award as i t p e r t a i n s t o ch i ld s u p p o rt

arrearag es an d rem an d t h i s cas e fo r fu rt h er pro ceed i n gs n eces s ary fo r recal cu l at i o n

o f t h es e p as t -d u e am o u n t s.

A s r el ev an t back g ro u nd i n fo rm at io n

, th e reco rd sh o w s t h at

, in 2018, F a the r w a s

d et erm i n ed t o b e t h e l eg al p aren t o f t he co u pl e’ s ch i l d b as ed o n rel at ed l eg i t i m at i o n

an d p at ern i t y p et i t i o n s fi l ed b y t h e p art ies

. Th e l eg i t im at i o n / p at ern it y o rd er i n cl u d ed

b o t h a p aren t i n g p l an an d ch i l d s u p p o rt p ro v i s i o n s

, t h e l at t er o f wh i ch w as p rem i s ed

o n Fat h er’ s em

pl o y m en t at t he t i m e. Un d er t h is 2 0 1 8 p aren t in g p l an

, t h e p art i es s h are

jo i n t l eg al cu st o d y

, b u t M o t h er h as p ri m a r y p h y s i cal cu st od y an d fi n al d eci s i o n

m ak i n g au t h o ri t y fo r m o s t ci rcu m s t an ces

. W i th reg ard t o ch i l d s u p p o rt

, Fat h er was

req u i red t o p ay $ 1 ,1 9 1 p er m on t h

, b a s e d o n a m o nt hl y s al ary at t h e t i m e o f $ 7 ,6 9 2.

2In M ay 2 0 2 0

, Fat her was fu rl o u g h ed fro m h i s jo b

, an d h e i m m ed i at el y fi l ed a

req u es t fo r a d o wn ward m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d s u pp o rt t o refl ect h i s l o s s o f i n co m e.

In ad d it i o n

, Fat h er req u es t e d a m o d i fi cat i o n o f p aren t i ng t i m e. 1 Mo t h er w as s erv ed

wi t h t h e m o d i fi cat i o n act i o n on A u g u s t 1 1, 2 02 0

. M o t h er t hen fi l ed an an s wer an d

co u nt ercl ai m wh i ch i n cl ud ed d u el i n g req u es t s fo r m o d i fi cat i o n of ch i l d s u pp o rt an d

m o di fi cat i o n o f p aren t i n g t i m e. M o t h er al s o m o ved t h e t ri al co u rt t o fi n d F at h er in

co n tem p t fo r h i s fai lu re to p ay h i s ch i l d s up p o rt o b li g at i o n s at t h ei r fu l l rat e s i n ce t h e

t i m e o f h i s fu rl o u gh i n M ay 2 0 20

. Bo t h p art i es req u es t ed at t orn ey fees

. 2 By t h e t i m e

t h e m at t er reach ed t h e t ri al co u rt fo r co n s i d erat i o n, Fat her h ad b e e n i n v o l u n t ari l y

t erm i n at ed fro m

h i s jo b

.

Fo l l owi n g a heari n g at wh i ch b o t h p art i es t es t i fi ed

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered a

wri t ten o rd er i n wh i ch it : (1 ) m o d i fi ed Fat h er’ s p aren ti n g t im e t o ad d res s h i s

c om m uti n g d i ffi cu l t i es t o M o t h er’ s h o m e an d m i s u nd ers t an di n gs a bout his da

ughte r ’ s

s ch ed u l e fo r s u m

m er sch o o l ; (2 ) m o d ifi ed Fat h er’ s p ro s p ect i v e ch i ld s u p p o rt

1 Al t h ou g h Fat h er ori g i n al l y req u es ted a ch an g e i n cu s t od y an d a fi n d i n g o f

co n tem p t ag ai n s t M o t h er, h e l at er ab an d on ed t h o s e cl ai m s

.

2 M o t h er req u es t ed at t o rn ey fees p u rs u an t t o O CGA § § 1 9 -9 -3 an d 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a)

an d (b ), an d Fat h er req u es t ed at t o rn e y f e e s p u rs u an t t o OCGA § § 19 -9 -3 (g ) an d

1 9 -6 -5

.

3o b l i g at i o ns an d cal cu l at ed arr e arag es t o reco g n i ze an d refl ect h i s jo b lo s s an d

red u ct i o n i n in co m e; (3 ) d en ied M o th er’ s m o t i o n f o r co n t em

p t ; an d (4 ) d en i ed t h e

req u es t s fo r at t o rn ey fees fi l ed b y b o t h p art ies

. Th i s ap p eal i ni t i at ed b y M o t h er

fo l l o w ed

.

1

. M o t h e r fi rs t co n t en d s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred b y m o d i fy i n g Fat h er’ s

p aren t i n g t i m e, arg ui n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt h ad n o au t h o ri t y t o d o s o b ecau s e Fat h er

h ad n o t b een fu l l y u t i l i zi ng t he t i m e g ran t ed t o h i m i n t h e 2 0 1 8 paren t i ng p l an

. W e

d i s ag ree.

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (b ) p ro v i d es t h at

[i ] n a n y c a s e i n wh ich a ju d g m en t award i n g t h e cu s to d y o f a ch il d h as

b een en t ered

, o n t h e m o t i o n o f an y p art y or o n t h e m o t i o n o f t h e ju d g e,

t h at p ort io n o f t h e j u d gm e n t effect in g v i s i t at i o n ri g h t s b et ween th e

p art i es an d t h ei r ch i ld o r p a r e n t i n g t i m e m ay b e s u b ject to rev i ew an d

m o d i fi cat i o n or al t erat i o n w i t h o u t t h e n eces si t y o f an y s h o wi n g o f a

ch an g e i n an y m at eri al co n d i t i o n s an d ci rcu m s t an ces o f ei t h er p art y o r

t h e ch i l d

, p ro v i d ed t h at t h e rev i ew an d m o d i fi cat io n o r al t erat i o n sh al l

n o t b e h ad m o re o ft en th an o n ce i n each t wo -y ear peri o d fo l l o w i n g th e

d at e o f en t ry

o f t h e ju d g m en t

.

“ [I] f reas o n ab le ev id en ce ex i s t s i n t h e reco rd t o s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o

ch an ge v i s i t at i o n ri g ht s, t h en t h e d eci s i o n of t h at co u rt wi l l st an d

. . . ab s en t ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n .” Cr o s s v. Ives t er

, 31 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 60

, 7 6 6 (2 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 2 9 9 ) ( 2 0 1 2 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m it t ed ). “ Fu rt h er, i t i s th e ex p res s p o l icy of t h i s s t at e to

4en co urag e co n tact b et ween a ch i l d an d t he n o n -cu s t o di al

. . . p aren t

. OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3

(d ).” In t he In t er es t o

f R

. E. W

. , 2 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 86 1

, 8 6 2 (4 71 SE2 d 6 ) (1 9 9 6 ). See al s o

Gi l d a r v. Gi l d a r

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 0

, 7 3 1 -7 3 2 (7 1 0 SE2 d 9 1 3 ) (2 0 1 1) (ap p l y i n g ab u s e

o f d i s cret i o n s t an d ard t o t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s io n m ad e p urs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9-9 -3 (b )).

Here, t h ere was n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. Al t ho u g h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er

reco g n ized t h at Fat h e r h a d n o t u t i l i zed al l o f hi s p aren t i n g ti m e u n d er t h e 2 0 1 8

p aren t i n g pl an

, i t a l s o reco g n i zed t h at t h ere were cert ai n p ract i cal h i n d ran ces

p rev en ti n g Fat her fro m

d o i n g s o . Th e t ri al co u rt ex p l ai n ed :

It i s u n d is p u t ed th at t h e Fat h er fai l ed t o ex erci se al l av ai l ab l e paren t i n g

t i m e. Fi rs t

, t h e Fat h er ex erci s ed m o s t

, i f no t al l

, o f h i s week en d t i m e

wi t h t h e ch i l d s in ce 2 0 1 8

. Seco n d

, h e fi n d s i t d iffi cu l t t o acco m p l i s h

week d ay ti m e, wh i ch i s d es i g n at ed as th e seco n d an d fo u rt h Tu es d ay s

an d Th u rs d ay s fro m aft er d a yc are u n t i l 7 : 3 0 p.m

. Th e Fat h er t es t i fi ed

t h at ex erci s i ng week day t i m e was d i ffi cu l t du e t o i t was o n l y t wo h o u rs

,

t h e p art i es l iv i n g ab ou t 2 3 m i l es ap art (San d y Sp ri n g s an d Li t h o n ia), h i s

wo rk s ch ed u l e, an d t raffi c co n d it i on s (o n e way co u ld t ak e 4 5 m i n u t es ).

Th i rd

, t h e Fat h er fai l ed t o ex erci s e al l o f t h e h o l i d ay an d s u m m er

p aren t i n g t i m e d u e, i n p art

, t o t h e p art i es ’ d i ffi cu l ty i n co m m u n i cat i n g

an d t o t h e F a t her’ s m i si n t erp ret at i o n o f h i s ri g h t s u nd er t he Paren t i n g

Pl an

.

Fo r t h e s e r e a s o n s

, t h e t ri al co u rt m od i fi ed Fat h er’ s week d ay v is it at i o n t o i n cl u d e

o v ern i g h t s t ay s an d cl ari fi ed h i s s u m m er v i s i tat i o n s ch ed ul e t o p ro vi d e t wo

co n secu ti v e w eek s o f p aren t i ng t i m e. M ak i n g t h es e m o d i fi cat io n s w as n o t an ab u s e

5o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s w i d e d i s cret i o n

, as “ reas o n ab l e ev i d en ce ex i st s i n t h e reco r d t o

s u p p ort t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o ch an g e v i s i t at i o n ri g h t s .” Cr o s s , s u p ra.

No n et h el es s

, M ot h er arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt au t o m at i cal l y ab u s ed i t s

d i s c r e t i o n b y g ran t i n g Fat h er a d i fferen t p aren t i n g t i m e s ch ed u l e wh en h e h ad n ot

b een fu l ly u t i li zi n g t h e p ri o r s c h ed u l e. Bu t t he d et erm i n at i o n s o f v i s it at i o n an d

p aren t i n g ti m e are n ot gen eral l y s u b ject t o s u ch au t o m at i c co n si d erat i o ns

. To t h e

co n trary

, i t i s a m at t er of wi d e d i s cret i o n

, fo cu s ed o n wh at i s b es t fo r t h e ch i l d i n an y

g i v en s i t u at io n

. Gi l d

a r

, s u p ra, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 3 1 -7 3 2

. See al s o W i l l i a ms v.

W i l l ia ms

, 3 0 1 Ga. 2 1 8 (8 0 0 SE2 d 2 8 2 ) (2 0 1 7 ). Here, as s t at ed

, reas o n ab l e ev i d en ce

ex i s t s t o s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o m o d i fy p aren t i n g t i m e. As su ch

, t h at

d eci s i o n m

u s t s t an d b as ed u po n t h e req u i red d eferen ti al s t an d ard o f rev i ew. Id

.

Ad d it i on al l y

, t o t h e ex t en t t h at M o t h er n o w co n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt wh o l l y

fai l ed t o tak e i n t o acco u n t t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d i n as si g n i n g p aren t i n g t i m e,

t h e reco rd b el i es h er as sert i o n

. W h i l e t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t m ak e a s p eci fi c s t at em en t

ab o ut t h e ch il d ’ s b es t i n t eres t s i n t h o s e ex act wo rd s (an d M ot h er d i d n o t req u es t t h at

t h e tri al co u rt m ak e an y fi n d i ng s ), th e t ri al co u rt d i d i n d i c a t e i n it s ord er t h at t h e

ch i l d ’ s w el fare g u i ded i t s d eci s i o n reg ard i n g paren t i ng t i m e. Fo r ex am p l e, in

6co n si d eri n g t h e s u m m er s ch ed u l e, t h e t ri al co u rt i n d i cat ed t h at it was at t em p t i n g to

“ m ai n t ai n[] am

p l e co n s i s t en t co n t act wi t h each p aren t t o en s u re [a] s t ro n g an d h eal t hy

fam i l y rel at i o n s h i p [] .” An d

, at t h e co n cl us i o n o f th e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n s, t h e t ri al

co u rt s t at ed t h at i t s deci s i o n wo u l d b e p rem i s ed o n th e b es t i n teres t s o f t h e ch i l d

. So

,

d es p it e M o t h er’ s co n t en ti on

, t h e reco rd i n di cat es th at th e t ri al co u rt di d co n s i d er t h e

ch i l d ’s b es t i n teres t s i n reach i n g it s co n cl u si on

, an d i t s an al y s i s co m p o rt s wi t h t h e

g o al s o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (d ).

2

. In t wo rel at ed en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, M o t h er co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

erred b y cal cu l at i n g Fat h er’ s ch i l d s up p o rt arrearag es pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5

(j), t h ereb y reco g n i zi n g Fat h er’ s l o s s o f in co m e s t em m i n g fro m h i s fu rl o u g h an d

ev en tu al t erm i n at io n

. 3 W h il e w e d i s ag ree wi t h M o t h er’ s co n t en t io n t hat t h e t ri al co u rt

3 Th i s s t at u t e p ro v i d es :

(j) In v o l u n t ary

l o s s o f i n co m e.

(1 ) In t h e ev en t a p aren t s u ffers an i n v o lu n t ary t er m i n a t i o n o f

em p l o y m en t

, h as an ex t en d ed i n v o l u n t ary l o s s o f av erag e week l y h o u rs

, i s i n v o l v ed in an o rg an i zed s tri k e

, i n cu rs a l o s s o f h eal t h

, b eco m es

i n carcerat ed

, o r s i m i l ar i n v o lu n t ary ad v ers i ty res u lt i ng i n a l o s s o f

i n co m e o f 2 5 p erce n t o r m o re, t h en th e p ort i on o f ch i l d s up p o rt

at t ri bu tab l e to l o s t in co m e s h al l n o t accru e fro m t h e d at e o f t he s erv i ce

o f t h e p et i t io n fo r m o d i fi cat i o n

, p ro v i d ed t h at s erv i ce i s m ad e o n t h e

o t h er p aren t

. It s h al l n o t b e co ns i d ered an i n v ol u n t ary t erm i n at i o n o f

em p l o y m en t i f t he paren t h as l eft t h e e m p l o ye r w i t ho u t g oo d cau s e i n

co n n ect i o n wi t h t h e p aren t ’ s m o s t recen t wo rk

. (2 ) In t h e ev en t a m o d i fi cat i o n act io n i s fi led p u rs u an t t o t h i s s u b s ect i o n

,

7erred b y ap p l y in g t h i s s t at u t e a t a l l

, we d o fi n d t h at t h e t ri al co urt ap p l i ed t he s t at u t e

i n co rrect l y

i n s o m e res p ect s , as m o re fu ll y s et fo rt h b el o w.

Acco rd i ng to Fat h er’ s t ax ret u rn

, h e earn ed $ 7 8 ,1 4 3 i n 2 02 0

. Wh i l e Fat h er’ s

ret u rn d o es ap pear t o i n cl ud e a $ 27 ,6 7 9 s ev eran ce p ay m en t h e recei v ed in

i n s t al l m en t s o v er 1 6 week s fo l l o wi n g h i s t erm i n at io n

, i t d oes n o t i n cl u d e $ 1 7 ,1 0 0 o f

unem pl o y m en t ben efi t s h e co ll ect ed

. So

, Fat h er’ s fu l l 2 0 2 0 i n co m e was o v er $95, 000,

t h o u g h h e su ffe r e d e co n o m i c h ard s h i p d u ri n g t he peri o d o f h i s fu rl o u g h, wh en h e

rel i ed s o l el y o n u n em

p l o y m en t b en efi t s

.

By J an u ary 2 0 21

, Fat h er’ s sev eran ce pay m en t s en d ed

, an d Fat her rel i ed ag ai n

o n un em pl o y m en t b en efi t s t o t al i n g $ 5 5 8 p er week

. He al s o recei v ed a fi n al b o n u s o f

$ 5 ,9 0 1 o n M arch 1 7

, 2 02 1

. At t h e t i m e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co n s id ered Fat her’ s req u es t

fo r d o wn ward m o d ifi cat i o n o f o n g o i n g ch i l d s u p p o rt

, Fat h er rem ai n ed u n em p l o y ed

.

Bas ed o n t h es e n u m

b ers

, t he t ri al co u rt d et erm in ed t h at

, at t h e t i m e o f i t s o rd er, Fat h er

h ad a g ro s s m o n t h l y in co m e of $ 2 ,9 0 9 an d t h at Fat her’ s l o s s o f i n co m e ex ceed ed 2 5

t h e co urt sh al l m ak e ev ery effo rt t o ex p ed i t e h eari n g s u ch act i o n

. (3 ) Th e c o u rt m ay

, at i t s d i s cret io n

, p h as e i n t h e n ew ch il d s up p o rt

award o v er a p eri o d o f u p t o o n e y ear wi t h t h e p h as in g i n b ei n g l arg el y

ev en l y d i s t ri b u t ed wi t h at leas t an i n i t i al i m m e d i at e ad

ju s t m en t o f n o t

l es s t h an 2 5 p ercen t o f t h e d i fferen ce a n d at l eas t o n e i n t erm ed i at e

ad ju st m en t p ri o r t o t h e fi nal ad ju s t m en t at t h e en d o f t h e p h as e-i n p eri o d

.

8p ercen t

, as req ui red fo r t he ap p l i cat i o n o f OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) t o cal cu l at e arrearag es

.

Fo r th i s reas o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt m ad e a d own ward m o d ifi cat i o n o f Fat h er’ s o n g o i n g

ch i l d s u p p o rt o b l i g at io n t o $ 59 8 p er m o n t h , an d i t cal cu l at ed Fat h er’ s arrearag es to

refl ect h i s l o s s o f i n co m e.

(a) M o t h er i n i t i a l l y co n t en d s t h at

, becau s e Fat her d i d n o t s u ffi ci en t l y p l ead

OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ) i n h i s req ues t fo r m o d i fi cat i on

, s h e was no t g iv en su ffi ci en t

n o t i ce t h at i t wo u l d b e rai s ed an d t h e t ri al co urt t h erefo re erred b y co n si deri n g i t at

a l l

. Fat h er’ s p l ead i n g s

, h o w ev er, s et fo rt h t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i n g hi s l o s s o f

i n co m e in d et ai l an d i n c l u d e t h e fo l l o wi n g p ray ers fo r rel i ef: “ [t ] h at ch i l d s u p p o rt

s t op s acc r u i n g at t h e o ri g i n al rat e o n ce s erv ed u p on [M o t h er] ; an d [t ] h at t h e p ri o r

ch i l d s u p p o rt o rd er b e m o d i fi ed as d et erm i n ed in OCGA § 19 -6

- 1 5

. ” S o

, Fat h er’ s

fi li n g d es cri bes h i s s i tu at i o n

, ci t es t h e o v eral l g en eral s t at u t e i n v o l v ed

, an d g en eral l y

t rack s th e l an gu ag e o f th e s p eci fi c s u b d i v i s i o n o f t h at s tat u t e, w h i ch s t at es “ t h e

p o rt i on o f ch i l d s u p p o rt at t ri b ut ab l e t o l o s t i n co m e s h al l n o t accru e fro m t h e d at e o f

t h e s erv i ce o f t h e pet i t i o n fo r m o d i fi cat i o n

. . . o n t h e o t h er p aren t .” OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5

(j) (1 ). Th i s was a s uffi ci en t “ d em an d fo r ju d g m en t fo r t h e rel i ef [u n d er O CGA § 1 9

-

6 -1 5 (j) (1 )] t o wh ich [Fat h er] d eem [ed ] h i m s el f en t i t led ,” OCGA § 9-1 1 -8 (a) (2 ) (B),

an d pu t M o t h er o n n o t i ce o f Fat h er’ s cl ai m

. An d

, ev en a cu rs o ry rev i ew o f t h e h eari n g

9t ran s cri p t i n d icat es t h at i t d i d ju s t t h at

. M o t her was n o t s urp ri s ed b y o r u n p rep ared fo r

Fat h er’ s rel i an ce o n OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ). To t h e co n t rary

, s h e h ad accu m u l at ed

a s i g ni fi can t am o un t o f ev i den ce t o co u n t er Fat h er’ s cl ai m s, wh i ch sh e arg u ed an d

p l aced b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt

.

M o t her’ s rel i an ce o n B a g wel l v. Ba g wel l

, 2 9 0 Ga. 3 7 8 (7 2 1 SE2 d 8 4 7) (2 0 1 2 ),

d o es n ot al ter t h is res u l t

. In Ba g wel l

, t h e fat h er fi led a p et i ti o n fo r m o d ifi cat i o n o f h i s

ch i l d s u pp o rt o b l i g at io n b as ed o n red u ced i n co m e, b u t he w i ll fu l ly fai led t o res p o n d

t o th e m o t h er’ s d i s co v ery req u es t s

. As a res u l t, t he t ri al co u rt di s m i s s ed t h e fat h er’ s

p et i t i o n

. Al m o s t i m

m ed i at el y

, t h e fat her fi l ed a s eco n d s u cces s i ve p et i t i o n rai s i n g t h e

s am e cl ai m s

. Reco g ni z i n g t h at OCGA § 19 -6 -1 5 (k ) (2 ) p ro h ib i t s t h e fi l i n g o f a

p et i t i o n fo r m o d i fi cat i on of ch i l d su p po rt wi t h i n t wo y ears fro m t h e d a t e o f a fi n al

o rd er o n a p rev i o u s p et i t i on to m od i fy fi led b y t he s am e p aren t , o u r Su p rem e Co u rt

fo u n d t h at t h e fat h er’ s su c c e s s i v e p et i t i o n sh o ul d b e d is m i ss ed

, an d i t reject ed t h e

fat h er’ s co nt en t io n t h at he w as en t i t l ed t o p u rs u e t h e act i o n u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5

(j) (1 ), w h i ch h e h ad n o t i n v o k ed i n h i s s eco n d p et i t io n

. Ba g wel l , s u p ra at 3 7 9 -3 8 1.

M o reo v er, b ecau se t h e fat h er rai s ed id en t i cal cl ai m s i n b o t h h i s fi rs t an d s eco n d

p et i t i o n

, t h e l at t er was b arred b y res ju d i cat a. Id

. at 3 8 1

. In su m m at i o n, ou r Su p rem e

Co u rt fo u n d : “ Perm i t t i n g t h i s s u cces s i v e m o d i fi cat io n act i o n t o s u rv i v e i s t o reward

10a l i t i g an t fo r wh at h as been d et erm i n ed to b e t h e li t ig an t ’ s wi l fu l an d i nt en t i o n al

refu sal to co m

p l y wi th t h e o rd i n ary co u rt p ro ced u res an d p ro c e s s e s wh i ch t h e

l i ti g an t ’ s o wn s ui t h as set i n m o t i o n

, an d t h ereb y

, i s t a n t am o u n t t o ab u s e o f t h e

ju d i ci al s y st e m

. ” I d

. at 3 8 1 -3 8 2

. Th e fact s

, co n cern s

, an d ho l d i n g i n Ba g wel l

,

t h erefo re, are d i s t i n g u is h ab l e fro m t he p res en t ca s e, wh ich d o es i n cl u d e at l eas t a

g en eral

, b u t i d en t ifi ab le, r e f e r en ce t o t h e l an g u ag e o f O CGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ) an d

n ei t h er i m

p l ica t e s O C GA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (k ) (2 ) n or i nv o l v es an y at t em p t t o ab u s e t h e

ju d i ci al s y s t em

.

(b ) M o t h er n ex t co n t en d s t h at

, as a g en eral m at t er, a t ri al co u rt m ay n o t m o d i fy

ch i l d su p p o rt p ay m en t s ret ro act i v el y

. W h i l e i t is t ru e t h at a ch i l d s u p p o rt o bl i g at i o n

m ay n o t b e ret ro act i vel y m o di fi ed

, 4 OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ) al l o ws a t ri al co u rt to

t ak e i nt o acco u n t a part y ’ s l o s s o f i n c o m e wh i l e co n s i d eri n g t h e am o u n t o f

a r r ea r a ges t h at m ay b e d u e t o t h at l o s s

.

[W h en a] t ri al co u rt [i s ] ad d res s i n g b o t h a p et i t io n fo r m o d i fi cat io n an d

a p et i t i o n fo r co n t em

pt [as i t was in t h i s cas e]

, it [i s ] em p o w ered to n o t

o n l y ad d res s th e am o un t o f ch i l d s u pp o rt d u e go i ng fo rward

, b ut al so t o

cal cu l at e t h e am ou n t of ch i l d s u p p o rt arrearag e. Acco rd i n g ly

, th e

an al y s i s p res en t ed i n Mo r g a n v. Bu n zen d

a h l

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 8

, 34 0 (2 )

4 See OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 7 (e) (3 ) (“ An y p ay m en t o r in s t al l m en t of s u p p o rt u n d er

an y ch i l d s u pp o rt o rd er i s

, on an d aft e r t h e d at e d u e

. . . [n ] o t s u b ject t o ret ro act i v e

m o di fi cat i o n .”).

11(7 2 9 SE2 d 4 76 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ), p ert ai n i ng t o OCGA

§ 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ) i s co rrect ; t h e m od i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d s up p ort i s

p ro s pe c t i v e o n l y

, b ut if a q u es t i o n i s p res en ted o n a p et i t io n fo r

co n t em p t

, a n y a m o u n t o f arrearag es d u e th at wo u l d b e d ue un d er th e

p ri o r o rd er, b ut w ere at t ri b u tab l e t o l o st i n co m e, d o n o t accru e fro m th e

d at e o f s erv i ce o f t h e p et i t i o n

.

Fr i d a y v. Fr i d a y , 2 94 Ga. 6 8 7

, 6 9 1 (2 ) (7 55 SE2 d 7 0 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

(c) M ot h er fu rt h er co n t en d s t h at

, e v e n i f t h e tri al co urt i n t h i s cas e h ad t h e

au t h o ri t y t o co n s i d er OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ), i t s h o u l d n o t hav e b een ap p l i ed to

Fat h er becau s e h e h ad n ot su ffered a 2 5 p ercen t lo s s o f i n co m e at t h e t i m e t h at h i s

p et i t i o n fo r m o d ifi cat i o n was fi l ed

– h e w as o n l y an t i ci p at i n g a l o s s o f i n co m e d u e to

a fu rl o u g h

. Bu t n o th in g i n OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ) i n d i c a t e s t hat t h e l os s m u s t b e

m eas u red on l

y o n t h e d a t e wh en a p et i t i o n i s fi l ed

, an d

, at t h e t i m e t h e t ri al co u rt

co n s id ered t h e cas e, Fat h er h ad b een i n v o l u nt ari l y t erm i nat ed fro m h i s p ri o r

em pl o y m en t

. Th e s t at u t e req u i res a l os s o f i n co m e o f 2 5 p ercen t o r m o re b as ed o n an

i n v o l u n t ary term i n at i o n o f em p l o y m en t

, an e x t e n d ed i n v o l un t ary l o s s o f av erag e

week l y h o u r s

, an o rg an i zed s t ri k e, a l o ss o f heal t h

, i ncarcerat i o n

, o r s i m i l ar

i n v o l u n t ary ad v ers i ti es

. It d o es n o t t i e t h es e ad vers i t ies to an y s p eci fi c fi l in g d at e, an d

M o t h er’ s i nt erp ret at i o n o f t h e s t at u t e wo u l d req u i re t h at t he s t at u t e b e rewr i t t e n to

i n cl u d e an ad d i t i o n al t erm . Th i s Co u rt , h o wev er, d o es n o t h av e au t h o ri t y t o rewri t e

12s t at u tes

. See, e.g

., S ta t e v. Fi el d en

, 2 8 0 Ga. 44 4

, 44 8 (6 2 9 SE2 d 2 52 ) (2 0 0 6 ). As s u ch

,

M o t h er’ s co n t en t i o n i n t hi s reg ard i s u n t en ab l e.

(d ) As p rev i o us l y m en t i o n ed

, h o we v er, OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ) ex p l i ci t l y

s t at es t hat “ t he p o rt i o n o f c h i l d s u p p o rt at t ri b ut ab l e t o l o s t i n co m e s h al l n o t accru e

f r om t h e d a t e o f t h e s er vi ce o

f th e p et i t i on fo r mo d i

f i ca t i o n

, p ro v i d ed th at s erv i ce i s

m ad e o n t h e o t h er p aren t .” (em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ). It i s u n d i sp u ted t h a t t h e d at e o f

s erv i ce o f Fat h er’ s pet i t i o n o n Mo t h er was A u g us t 11

, 2 0 2 0

. Th erefo re, OCGA § 1 9

-

6 -1 5 (j) (1 ) co u l d no t b e ap p l i ed t o Fat her’ s arrearag es i n cu rred b efo re t h at d at e. As

Fat h er co n ced es

, t h e t ri al co u rt i n co rrect l y ap p li ed t h e s tat u te to t h e m o n t h s o f J u n e

an d Ju l y 2 0 2 0

. Fo r t h is reas on

, th e t ri al co u rt ’ s cal cu l at i o n o f arrearag es i s i n accu rat e,

an d i t s o rd er m

u s t b e v acat ed an d rem an d ed fo r recal cu l at i o n o f Fat h er’ s p as t -d u e

ch i l d s u p p o rt o b l i g at io n

, wi t h d i rect i o n t h at t he p ro v is io n s o f OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 )

m ay n o t b e ap p l i ed t o Fat her’ s arrearag es accu m u lat i n g p ri o r t o Au g u s t 1 1 , 2 0 2 0

. 5

3

. M o t h er n ex t m a i n t a i n s t h at th e tri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h er m o t i o n fo r

co n tem p t

, bu t her cl ai m i s larg el y p r em i sed o n th e co nt en t i o n t h at Fat h er o wed t h e

5 Fat h er co nced es th i s erro r. Fat h er al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt m ad e

cert ai n m at h em at i cal m i scal cu l at i o n s i n d et erm i n i n g Fat her’ s m o n th l y i n co m e fo r t h e

l as t si x t een week s of 2 0 2 0 fo r p u rp o s es o f cal cu l at i n g ar rearag es

. Fat her m ay rai s e

t h i s i s s u e wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt o n rem an d

.

13fu l l am o u n t o f ch i l d s u pp o rt req u i red b y t h e 2 0 1 8 o rd er. As we h av e fo un d ot h erwi s e,

t h i s co n ten t i o n h as n o t en ab l e b as i s

. A n d

, i n a n y ev en t

, “ [t ] o h ol d i n co n t em p t

, t h e

co u r t m u s t f i n d t h at t h ere w as a wi l fu l d i so b ed ien ce o f t h e co u rt ’ s d ecree o r

ju d g m en t .” Hi

gd o n v. Hi g d on

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 60

, 2 6 3 (1 ) (c) (7 3 9 SE2 d 4 98 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). “ Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n i n co n t em p t m at t ers

i s b ro ad

, an d it s d eci s i on wi l l b e u p h el d if th ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt i t .”

Tu r m a n v. Bo lema n

, 2 3 5 Ga. A p p

. 2 4 3

, 2 4 4 (5 1 0 SE2 d 5 3 2 ) (1 9 98 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Here, t h ere was ev i d en ce t o su p po rt t he d et erm i n at i o n t h at

Fat h er di d n o t wi l l fu l l y d i s o b e y h i s c h il d su p po rt o b li g at i on s

, as t h ere was p ro o f

p ro v id ed o f h i s fu rl ou g h an d i n v o l un t ary term i n at i o n fro m h is jo b

. Acco rd i ng l y

, t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n t h i s res p ect . Id

.

In a re la ted arg u m en t

, M o t h er co n ten d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y res t ri ct ed

h er p res en t at i o n o f ev i den ce t h at Fat her h ad t h e ab i li t y t o p ay pas t -d u e ch i l d s u p p o rt

,

i n cl u d i n g ev i d en ce o f “ ex t rav ag an t s p en d i n g an d p urch as es o f lu x u ry i t em s .” Bu t

M o t h er d i d

, i n fact

, m ak e arg u m en t s b as ed o n t h es e ex p en d i t u res at t h e h eari n g

, an d

t h e t ri al co u rt was aware of t he m

. In ad d i t io n

, M ot h er s u b m i t t ed ex h i b i t s wh i ch

14s h o wed t h es e p u rch as es

. So

, t o t h e e x t en t t h at M o t h er co n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt

i n h i b i t ed h er co nt em

p t act i o n , h er co n t en t i o n fai l s

. 6

4

. Fi nal l y

, M o t h er co n ten d s th at th e t ri al co u rt s h ou l d h av e i m pu t ed i n co m e to

Fat h er w h en co n s i d eri n g an y d o wn ward m o d i fi cat i o n o f h i s o n g o i ng ch i l d s u p p o rt

o b l i g at i o ns

. T o s up p o r t t h i s co n ten t i o n

, M o t h er arg u es t h at

, w i t h h i s s ev eran ce

p ack ag e, Fat h er earn ed m ore i n co m e i n 2 0 2 0 t h an h e d i d i n 2 0 1 8 an d t h at

, aft er h i s

i n v o l u n t ary

t erm i n at i o n, h e p u rp o s efu l l y rem ai n ed u n em p l o y ed

.

As a g en eral m at ter, “ [g ] ro s s i n co m e [fo r p u rp o s es o f cal cu l at i n g ch i l d s u p p o rt ]

m ay i ncl ud e i m

p u t ed i n co m e, i f ap p l i cab l e.” O CGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (b ) (1 ). Pu rs u an t to

OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (f) (4 ) (A):

i f a p aren t fai l s t o p ro d u ce rel i ab l e ev i d en ce o f i n co m e, s uch as tax

ret u rn s fo r pri o r y ears

, ch eck s t u b s

, or o t h er i n fo rm at i o n fo r d et erm i n i n g

cu rren t ab i l i ty t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt o r ab i l i t y t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt i n

p ri o r y ears

, an d th e co u rt o r t h e ju ry h as n o o t h er rel i ab l e ev i d en ce o f th e

p aren t ’ s i n co m e o r i nco m e p o t en t i al

, g ro s s i n co m e fo r t h e cu rren t y ear

m ay b e i m

p u t ed

. W h en i m

p u t i n g i n co m e, t h e co u rt or t h e ju ry s h al l tak e

i n t o acco u nt th e s p eci fi c ci rcu m s t an ces of t h e p a r en t t o t h e ex t en t

k n o wn

, i ncl u d in g s uch fact o rs as t h e p are n t ’s as s et s

, res id en ce,

em p l o y m en t an d earn i n g s h i s t o ry

, j o b s k i l ls

, ed u cat i o n al at t ai n m en t

, l i teracy

, ag e, h eal t h

, cri m i n al reco rd an d o t h er em p l oy m en t b arri ers

, an d

reco rd o f s eek i n g wo rk

, as wel l as t h e l o cal jo b m ark et

, t h e av ai l ab i l i t y

6 Th e tran s cri p t o f t he heari n g d o es i n di cat e t h at t h e tri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

, fo r

p u rp os es o f es t ab l i sh i ng Fat h er’ s i nco m e, t h es e p u rch as es w ere n o t rel ev an t

, an d h e

d i d n o t al l o w M o t h er t o q u es t i on Fat h er ab o u t t hem fo r t h i s reas o n

.

15o f em p l o y ers wi l l in g t o h i re t h e p aren t

, p rev ai l in g earn i n g s lev el i n th e

l o cal co m m u n i t y , an d o t h er rel ev an t b ack g ro u n d fact o rs i n t h e cas e.

M o t he r co n ten d s t h at Fat h er fai l ed t o pro v e t h at h e was act i v el y s eek i n g

em pl o y m en t

, th at h e m ad e a n u m b er o f p u rch as es o f n on -es s en t i al s, an d t h at h i s

i n co m e fl u ct uat ed du e to s ev eran ce p ay m en t s an d u n em p l o ym en t p ay m en t s

. Sh e

f u r the r c onten ds t h at t h es e “ i rreg u l ari t i es ” s u pp o rt an arg u m en t t hat Fat h er is wi l lf ully

u n em p l o y ed as “ co nt em

p l at ed b y OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (f) (4 ) (D).” Bu t Fat h er t es t i fi ed

t h at

, aft er h i s jo b l os s

, he was act i v el y l o o k i n g fo r n ew em pl o y m en t wh i le at t em

p t i n g

t o ho n or t h e no n -co m

p et e cl au se i n h i s s ep arat i o n ag reem en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt cred i t ed

t h i s t es t i m o n y i n i t s d eci s i o n n ot t o i m p u t e i n co m e. M o t h er’ s as s ert io n t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt s h o u l d h av e cred i t ed h er t es t i m o ny an d ev id en ce i n s t e a d d o es no t al t er t h e

o u t co m e o f t h i s cas e. It i s fu n d am en t al th at t h e d et erm i n at io n o f cred ib i l i ty i s wi t h in

t h e ex cl u s i v e p ro vi nce o f t h e t ri er o f fact

, s ee El l i s v. E l l i s

, 2 9 0 Ga. 6 1 6, 6 1 7 (1 ) (7 2 4

SE2 d 38 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ), an d t h e t ri al co u rt

, t he t ri e r o f fact i n th i s b en ch t ri al

, cred i t ed

Fat h er’ s tes t im o n y

. As s uch

, th ere was ev i d en ce s u pp o rt i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n

n o t to i m p u t e i n co m e, an d we fi n d n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n in t he tri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n

16t o m ak e a d o wn ward m o di fi cat i o n

. See, e.g

., Ma r l o we v. Ma r lo we

, 2 9 7 Ga. 1 1 6

, 1 1 8

-

1 2 0 (2 ) (7 7 2 SE2 d 6 47 ) (2 0 1 5 ). 7

Fo r al l o f t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h ab o v e, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g wi t h t h e

ex cep t i o n o f i ts cal cu l at i o n o f Fat h er’ s arrearag es

, w h i c h m us t b e v acat ed an d t h e

cas e rem an d ed fo r recal cu l at io n i n co m p li an ce wi th OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (j) (1 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n p a rt

, va ca t ed i n p ar t

, a n d ca se r ema n d

ed wi t h d i r ect i o n

.

Di l l a r d , P.J., a n d Ma r

kl e, J., co n cu r

.

7 W e n ot e t h at M o t h er co n t e n d s t h at Fat h er h as fo u nd a n ew jo b at th i s p o i nt

i n t i m e, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er i n t h i s m at t er req u i res Fat h er to “ p ro m pt l y u s e t h e

O n l i n e Ch i l d Su p p o rt Cal cu l at o r

. . . t o u p d at e [h i s ] g ro s s m o n th l y i n co m e.” No

e v i den ce o f t hi s, h o w ev er, i s cu rren t l y befo re t h is Co u rt

, an d

, t o t he ex t en t t h a t

M o t h er w i sh es t o rai se an y i s su es reg ard i n g Fat h er’ s i nco m e rel at i n g t o t h i s al l eg ed

n ew em p l o y m en t , s h e m

u s t p urs u e i t i n t h e t ri al co urt

.

17