Opinion ID: 1111331
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: was the chancellor manifestly in error in failing to increase child support to $500.00 per month?

Text: Clark relies on Adams v. Adams, 467 So.2d 211 (Miss. 1985), to support her position that child support should have been raised to $500.00 per month. Adams lists ten changes in circumstances supportive of modification of child support: (1) increased needs caused by advanced age and maturity of the child; (2) increase in expenses; (3) inflation; (4) relative financial condition and earning capacity of the parties; (5) the health and special medical needs of the child, both physical and psychological; (6) the health and special medical needs of the parents, both physical and psychological; (7) the necessary living expenses of the father; (8) the estimated amount of income taxes the respective parties must pay on their incomes; (9) free use of a residence, furnishings, and automobile; and (10) any other facts and circumstances that bear on the support subject shown by the evidence. Adams, 467 So.2d at 215. Clark argues that the itemized list of Laura's monthly expenses clearly indicates increased needs and expenses. Second, Clark argues that Myrick's financial condition and earning capacity in 1985 had improved such that his 1985 gross income was more than double her 1985 gross income. Clark arrives at this conclusion by taking one particular two week paycheck record which included 80 hours of regular time and 110 hours of overtime pay for a total of $1258.98 gross pay, and multiplying that by 26 weeks for a total gross pay of $33,000.00 per year. Clark also argues that Laura's medical needs, resulting from her weight and psychological problems are an additional expense. This need not be considered in an argument for increased child support in this case as, under the 1983 agreed decree, Myrick agreed to pay all of Laura's medical expenses and nothing in the chancery court's 1985 order changes that nor has there been any suggestion that Myrick does not pay all of Laura's medical bills. Last Clark argues that under Section 93-13-1, Mississippi Code Annotated (1972), which charges both parents with the child's welfare, Myrick should be required to pay a minimum of $435.00 per month in child support. Clark arrives at this total by deleting the disputed housing cost and dividing the balance of the monthly expenses equally between both parents. Myrick attacks the credibility of Clark's list of Laura's monthly expenses, specifically the housing, telephone, electric and transportation costs. Myrick also points out that there was no proof offered at trial of any increase in his earnings since the time of the 1983 decree. The 1985 paycheck relied upon by Clark includes substantial overtime which is not guaranteed. The trial testimony was to the effect that Halliburton, Myrick's employer, intended to make additional layoffs if things did not pick up in the oil business. Myrick also argues that Clark has not demonstrated an increase in expenses because no comparison was made between the child's 1983 expenses and the child's expenses in 1985. While the chancellor found that Laura had started school and this was a change in circumstance that in itself proves nothing except that Laura had started school. The record clearly shows that prior to Laura's entry into the school system she was a student in a day care center. It was incumbent upon Clark to show an increase in expenses due to this change in circumstances and the record is silent on that point. We do not know what it cost to send Laura to the day care center and cannot compare it with what it cost now to send her to the private school.