Opinion ID: 2623324
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Background of the Wrights' Dissolution

Text: In April 1988 Superior Court Judge Mary Greene signed the decree of dissolution of the marriage of Mark and Tracy Wright. Prior to the dissolution, Mark and Tracy had entered into a joint custody agreement in which they agreed that Mark would have primary physical custody of the parties' four children and Tracy would pay child support. The terms of the child support payments required that Tracy pay $10 per month per child or thirty-three percent of her net income if her annual income rose above $12,000. [1] On June 6, 1988 the parties agreed to a modification of their dissolution decree based on Mark's imminent loss of employment with the Army and a pending move away from Alaska. On June 7 the superior court granted the request to modify the decree of dissolution. The modification granted primary physical custody of the children to Tracy. The dissolution decree appears to have incorporated the parties' custody agreement: Section 7 of the agreement, entitled Other relief states that [a]mendment to the decree affords same conditions (to mother) of this document as she assumed physical custody on 10 July 1988. Reading the modification order and the dissolution decree together with the parties' custody agreement, it appears that the modification required Mark to pay child support in accordance with the parties' original child custody agreement. On June 7, 1988, the day after Tracy agreed to the modification of the dissolution decree, she applied for public assistance and assigned her rights to child support to the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED). Mark was notified that his children were receiving public assistance and that the state would seek reimbursement from him. He was also advised that agreements between the parties to waive past or future child support would have no legal effect while the children received public assistance unless... specifically adopted as an administrative order by [CSED]. On October 13, 1988 the state sought modification of the child support agreement. The state notes that although that motion was titled Motion for Retroactive Modification of Child Support, it was actually a motion to set a specific dollar amount for Mark's child support obligation. [2] Mark was served with this motion but he did not file a response. The court entered an order on November 1 setting Mark's monthly support for the four children at $1,188, effective June 7, 1988. This amount was based on CSED's calculation of thirty-six percent of Mark's adjusted annual income of $39,601, as required by the version of Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 90.3 in effect in 1988. Mark did not appeal the order even though his impending release from the military resulted in a lower adjusted annual income than that used by CSED to calculate the child support obligation. However, following the entry of the order modifying child support, Mark did contact CSED on two occasions about the error in the support calculation. CSED informed Mark that once a court order had been entered, CSED could not initiate an action for reconsideration of support for twelve months. Mark was told that such an administrative action would require him to submit his financial information to CSED. CSED also informed Mark that if he wanted the matter considered sooner he would have to motion the court for a new hearing to have the amount reconsidered. On December 28, 1988 Mark filed a motion to modify his child support obligation. However, due to defects in the motion and the lack of service on either CSED or Tracy, the court rejected the motion and informed him what was required before the court could consider the motion. Mark did not follow up on the court's suggestions. Sometime after his discharge from the Army in December 1988, Mark moved to Ohio to attend college. In October 1992 Mark filed another motion to modify child support, which was also defective. The superior court again informed Mark of the defects and what he needed to do to have the motion properly before the court. The superior court also suggested that he contact an attorney if he had any questions. Again, Mark did not act on the court's suggestions. On October 2, 1992 Tracy wrote a notarized letter (directed to To Whom It May Concern) stating that she released CSED from its obligation to collect child support because she had forgiven any arrearage or support owed. It is unclear who received this letter, although it appears that CSED may have received notice of it. In 1996 CSED undertook a review of the child support order at Tracy's request. Notice of the review was sent to both Tracy and Mark. An order modifying child support was entered on January 30, 1997, effective May 1, 1996, which reduced Mark's child support obligation to $391 per month for four children, or $358 for three children. [3] In December 1997 Mark, through counsel, filed a motion to modify child support, seeking to reduce his obligation to $50 per month. Litigation over numerous issues related to child support and custody ensued over the next year and a half, but Mark did not, during that time, file a motion regarding the arrears accrued under the 1988 order. A trial on custody was held in February 1999. The trial court found that it was in the best interest of the three remaining children to be in the sole legal custody of Tracy, with reasonable visitation awarded to Mark. The court concluded that child support was to be set in accordance with Rule 90.3, but it did not set the amount of support at that time.