Having concluded no changed circumstances justifying modification of the prior custody order had been shown, the trial court was without authority to modify the terms of the prior custody order. The terms of the prior custody order therefore remain in full force and effect. II Plaintiff next contends the trial court erred in deviating from the Guidelines in modifying child support without making sufficient findings of fact. The child support amounts provided in the Guidelines are presumptive. Deviation from the Guidelines upon a party's request is permissible, however, under proper circumstances, and will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of discretion.
Deviation is essentially a four-step process.
First, the trial court must determine the presumptive child support amount under the Guidelines. In this case, nowhere in its order does the trial court determine what the child support amount would be under the Guidelines. The trial court also failed to make findings as to Melissa's reasonable needs. Accordingly, we must remand for entry of a new child support order. If the trial court determines that deviation from the Guidelines is warranted, it must make appropriate findings of fact therein.