Opinion ID: 1584686
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: This case, involving the modification of a father's child support obligation, is appealed from the Chancery Court of Lee County, Mississippi. After a hearing on Neva Morris Stacy's (Stacy) complaint for modification of the final decree, the chancellor increased Joe Edd Morris' (Morris) child support obligation for their two children from $200.00 per month per child ($400.00 total) to $500.00 per month per child ($1,000.00 total). The chancellor also ordered Morris to pay to Stacy ten percent (10%) of his adjusted gross income, as defined under the Internal Revenue Code, exceeding $50,000.00. Following the denial of his motion to reconsider, Morris filed his appeal to this Court assigning as error the following: I. WILL THE PASSAGE OF 29 MONTHS, WITHOUT OTHER PROOF OF CIRCUMSTANCES OR NEED, SUPPORT A MODIFICATION ORDER RAISING CHILD SUPPORT FOR TWO CHILDREN FROM $400 to $1,000 PER MONTH. II. AFTER ACCEPTING UNCONTRADICTED EVIDENCE OF THE FATHER'S RECENTLY REDUCED INCOME, CAN THE CHANCELLOR APPLY THE 20% GUIDELINE TO AN ASSUMED INCOME OF $50,000. III. CAN A CHANCELLOR MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL UPWARD DEVIATION FROM THE STATUTORY GUIDELINES WITHOUT A SPECIFIC FINDING JUSTIFYING IT. IV. ABSENT PROOF OF NEED, CAN A CHANCELLOR ORDER A 10% SUPPORT SURCHARGE ON ALL INCOME OVER $50,000, UNLIMITED IN AMOUNT, WITHOUT A WRITTEN FINDING IN THE RECORD AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE APPLICATION OF THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED IN [Sec. 43-19-101] IS REASONABLE.