Opinion ID: 2498717
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Child Support Matter

Text: Respondent and his ex-wife have a minor son. Following the dissolution of Respondent's marriage in 2007, the Arapahoe County Court entered temporary orders in November 2007, requiring Respondent to pay $190.67 for monthly child support to the Family Support Registry. [5] The court then entered permanent orders in September 2008 and specifically ordered Respondent to make a monthly payment of child support in the amount of $194.29. [6] The court also found that Respondent was $623.97 in arrears for child support. It is undisputed that Respondent made no child support payments for the period of October 2008 to May 2009. [7] After May 2009, Respondent made the following payments: (1) $1,100.00 in June 2009; (2) $362.60 in August 2009; (3) $366.00 in November 2009; and (4) $90.00 in December 2009. [8] The Family Support Registry's documentation shows that Respondent made only three payments in 2010 totaling $905.00, leaving him $1,270.48 in arrears. [9] Indeed, Respondent made no child support payments in January 2010, April 2010, and from June 2010 until January 2011. [10] In February 2011, Respondent made a payment of $4,654.61, bringing his balance current and eliminating any arrearages. [11] The People assert that in failing to comply with the court's permanent child support orders, Respondent violated Colo. RPC 3.4(c), which provides that a lawyer shall not knowingly disobey an obligation under the rules of a tribunal. Respondent knew he was obligated to pay child support but argues that he had a good faith basis for not complying with the court's order, namely that his monthly expenses exceeded his income and that he filed for bankruptcy in the fall of 2008. Respondent testified that his monthly income is $3,500.00 to $4,500.00 and his monthly expenses are $3,400.00, not including his child support obligation. Although Respondent filed a motion to modify the due date of his child support obligation, he never filed a motion to modify the amount of child support based on his financial situation. [12] Respondent also contests the validity of the court's child support order, [13] contending that he did not make payments from October 2008 to May 2009 because he had appealed the order and believed it was stayed pending appeal. The Hearing Board finds clear and convincing evidence that Respondent was aware of his child support obligations and knowingly disregarded these obligations by failing to make any child support payments from October 2008 to May 2009, and in July 2009, September 2009, October 2009, January 2010, and April 2010. [14] Although Respondent states that he was financially unable to make the payments, his financial affidavit demonstrates otherwise. [15] In addition, Respondent's argument that he believed the child support order to be stayed from October 2008 to May 2009 pending appeal is without merit, as he did not appeal the order until October 2009. [16] Accordingly, Respondent violated Colo. RPC 3.4(c); [17] however, we note that as of February 2011 Respondent was current on his court-ordered child support payments.